The 5 Roof Leak Prevention Tips You Need

9/20/2019 (Permalink)

Roof leaks might take time to develop, but they’re often discovered when it’s too late. A leaky roof is damaging to a home, and it can cost a lot to repair. Rather than wait until the roof leaks, take some time to focus on prevention. Preventing roof leaks isn’t hard, and it gets easier the more you’re on top of it.

Tip One: Caulk the Chimney

A lot of homeowners assume the ceiling is a leaky safe space. While most ceilings are built with leak prevention in mind, a lot suffer wet spots due to lacking caulk. Get your chimney caulked, and make sure the technicians know about any problem areas inside. Check for cracks often, and keep the shutters functional.

Tip Two: Clear the Gutters

Your gutters are important tools for water misdirection, wall protection, and roof relief when a storm rolls through. Clean them often, removing leaves, dirt, old water, and mold. Otherwise, you might experience less drainage. Clogged gutters can overflow, dumping water into your home’s walls.

Tip Three: Trim the Trees

Overgrown tree branches can dump water across your roof. Trim them often, and keep any loose branches away from the gutters. If you know a storm is coming, get them trimmed again. High winds can misplace lose branches, damaging a roof’s gutters and shingles.

Tip Four: Look Out for Damaged Shingles

Speaking of shingles, you should examine your roof for loose, or missing, shingles often. If any shingles are peeled back, have them replaced. Damaged shingles open the floodgates, during a storm. While roofs are built to take a beating, shingles are easily damaged.

Tip Five: Check Out the Layers

The wood directly beneath a roof’s outer layer deserves attention. If it’s soft, you’re facing eminent water damage. Soft roof wood is indicative of pipe bursts. While this situation doesn’t necessarily mean your home will be leaking soon, it’s a big red flag. If you have soggy layers, get the pipes checked.

Source: https://idesigncorporation.com/Blog/entryid/72/the-5-roof-leak-prevention-tips-you-need