5 Common Places Where Your Roof Can Leak

Leaks occurring in a roof are a big problem and they can be costly if left alone. Finding the exact location where the leaks are coming from can be tricky. In fact, you may need to play detective or hire a professional to spot them. That being said, here are 5 common places where your roof can leak.

5 Common Places Where Your Roof Can Leak

1. Valleys

The area where two roofing planes intersect is referred to as a valley. Roofers may use metal flashing, rolled roofing, or lace the roof shingles together. If the shingles aren’t trimmed correctly, the valleys can present a big problem, often causing leaks.

2. Wide Shingle Areas

In older roofs, leaks can occur beneath the wide surfaces of the roof. When you walk on the roof, you may cause cracks. To help spot damage, look for missing granules or nails that have backed themselves out of the roofing shingles.

3. Chimneys

The flashing around chimneys can be a prime location for roof leaks. The counter-flashing going into the joints of the brick mortar needs to be just right. If a hairline crack forms above the flashing, it can let in water that runs behind the flashing. A roofer should look at the soldered corners to see if they’re broken or have developed holes.

4. Head Wall Flashing

On a roof that stops at a vertical wall, a strip of metal flashing is installed to help direct the water that streams down the wall. Roofers insert the flashing behind wood siding or within the front part of a brick wall. When fitting the flashing, it needs to extend over the roof shingles about three inches. For a masonry or brick wall, the flashing should bend and extend about an inch into the mortar joint.

5. Furnace and Type B Gas Vent Flashing

Like plumbing vent flashing, poorly installed or deteriorated B-vent or furnace flashing can lead to leaks. Your B-vent has a metal storm collar fitting tightly around a vertical pipe exiting the roof. When the storm collar is loose, the resulting space can allow water to leak into your attic.

These are some common places where your roof can leak. If you feel uncomfortable on your roof, or if you want to lean on a professional’s experience, call us! Consider hiring a qualified roofer to check your roof, identify the source of the leaks, and repair them.

Sometimes, a roof replacement may be required to address the leaks. If that’s the case, you’ll be glad you called a licensed, trained roofer in Chattanooga Roofing Company. We’ll give you all the information you need to decide whether to repair or replace – and then take care of the work quickly to restore your confidence that your home is a secure structure. Call us for your free estimate today.