Five Most Common Causes of Residential Roof Leaks: Insights from a New Roof and Roof Repair Company in Alsip, Illinois

The sight of a nasty water stain on your ceiling is certainly a cause for concern for any homeowner. Not only can a leaky roof cause structural damage to your home, but it can also lead to mold growth, which can be extremely hazardous to you and your family’s health.

As the premier roof repair company in Alsip, Illinois, we strive to educate our customers and help them understand what exactly is causing their leak. Without further ado, we’re going to review some the most common causes of roof leaks in a home.

1. Improper Shingle Nailing

Leaks can occur when a roofing nail backs out of a shingle. There should be no problem if the nail strikes good wood, holds fast and snug, and is not overdriven. However, if a nail is not driven far enough into the shingle or is hammered in sideways, the nail head will make its way back up through the shingle. Water will accumulate on the nail head as it falls from the roof and follow it inside when it rains. In other words, if you have a protruding nail head, you almost certainly have a leaking roof, and you need to call a roof repair company in Alsip, Illinois.

2. Plumbing Boot Failure

A boot is a type of roof flashing that goes around the base of your roof’s pipes and waterproofs them. The primary function of a plumbing boot — whether made of lead, plastic, or copper — is to prevent water from flowing down the pipe and into your Alsip home. However, as it cracks from UV radiation over time, water will leak into your bathroom, kitchen, or wherever the pipe exiting your roof is located.

3. Failed Vent Pipe Collar

Gas vents are important because they ensure that any carbon monoxide emitted by the gas stoves and ovens in your kitchen vents out the roof. These vents are usually installed by HVAC professionals who are not adequately trained in roofing practices. They will slip a collar over an unsealed pipe and flange, thinking it will be enough to keep the rain off. This works in most situations. However, water can splash beneath the collar during a heavy rainstorm and run down the pipe.

4. Chimney Damage

A chimney can leak in several different ways. It could be the metal flashing that runs beneath the shingles surrounding the chimney. It could be the mortar joints if you have a brick chimney. It could also be water dripping from the top of the chimney. Water can sneak into the corners where the siding butts onto the corner boards if it is the chimney siding — not only can the exposed boards rot, but so might the boards behind the chimney.

5. Poorly Installed Skylights

Unfortunately, skylights have gained a negative reputation over the years. Some Alsip homeowners we speak with believe that all skylights eventually leak. That, however, is not the case — most skylights come with a 10-year no-leak guarantee and can last for up to 25 years without any trouble. A component or piece of the skylight may have caused the leak, but the most common cause of a leaking skylight is a roofing contractor who fails to read and follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

Looking for the Top-Rated New Roof or Roof Repair Company in Alsip, Illinois?

Are you dealing with a leaky roof? If so, the experts at Prusak Roofing are here to help. As the top-rated new roof and roof repair company in Alsip, Illinois, we’ve been providing high-quality roof repair services for over 55 years. Our crew can identify the source of your roof’s leak and make the necessary repairs to ensure that you get the most out of your roofing system. Contact us today at (708) 422-2624 to schedule a roofing inspection.