The Damage a Leaky Roof Can Do to Your Home
Your home’s roof protects you against a whole range of threats. Some ways are obvious, like keeping out the wind, rain and cold, but others such as a leaky roof can be easily overlooked if you don’t maintain the roof properly. Overlooked, that is, until it’s too late.
Signs You Might Have a Leaky Roof
Damage to your roof often happens after a storm or heavy snow, and it’s important always to check your roof after an episode of heavy weather. On the other hand, it could just be caused by wear and tear. It’s as well to check your roof regularly (a minimum of twice a year), and here are some of the things to look out for:
- Broken, cracked or missing tiles or slates.
- Tears in a flat roof.
- Damaged flashing, e.g. on chimney stacks.
- Moss or mould growing on the roof.
- Discoloured patches on internal walls or ceilings.
- Pinpricks of light visible from inside the roof space.
If you detect any of these, the time to act is now. Otherwise, if you’re lucky, the consequences may only be serious. If you’re unlucky, they could be catastrophic.
Serious Consequences of a Leaking Roof
As water seeps through the holes in your roof, the first effect will probably be discoloured patches caused by the damp. These will be most obvious if they’re on the walls or ceilings, but they could also occur on the rafters, beams or the roofing underlay. At best, you’ll need to redecorate.
Damp can also cause mould or mildew to grow, and this is worse than unsightly. If the spores get into the air, it could damage the health of you and your family, while if any of you suffer from respiratory problems, such as asthma, the spores could make it significantly worse.
Catastrophic Consequences of a Leaking Roof
Unsightly stains are one thing, but if the damp gets into the timbers or the walls, you might be looking at major structural damage. The timbers could start to rot, for example, while damp can also cause drywall fatigue. You could end up having a lot of work to be done on your home.
Or you could lose it altogether. Damp can work its way into the electrical wiring, causing short circuits that could do anything from damage your equipment to start a fire.
One thing is certain — there’s no point in expecting a leaking roof to go away. It will only get worse, and after doing all this damage, it could even completely collapse. The best thing is to get a professional roofing company in as soon as you see a problem. Give us a call if you think your roof might be leaking. Want to temporarily fix a leaking roof until the professionals come? Find out how here!
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