If you suspect you have a leaky roof, whether you notice missing shingles, spots on your ceiling, or dripping water, now is the time to act. While it might not seem necessary and is simply a nuisance when it rains, the problem escalates the longer you leave it unattended. In this article, we’ll cover why a leaky roof is dangerous and what you can do about it.
Compromised Home Structure
Every home is susceptible to water damage, even when it’s a small leak. A leaky roof doesn’t just harm your roof and anything directly underneath; it also affects your home’s foundation. When water leaks down to your foundation, it causes your foundation to start rotting. Other structural aspects of your home that leaks affect are the paint and plaster on your walls, your lights and fans, and your flooring.
Damage to Ceiling
When your roof leaks, the water goes into your ceiling before finding or creating a path downward. To determine if you have a leak in your ceiling, look for darker areas or stains that indicate water. You might also notice bulging or buckling in the ceiling due to the ceiling material holding the water.
Damage to Drywall
During the construction phase, contractors use drywall to divide spaces in the home while constructing the house. It’s vital to never expose drywall to water, but water from a leaky roof will find its way there and damage the drywall in your home. Water in your drywall will cause it to fall apart, sag, or buckle. This is why you need a professional from Castle Builders and Roofing, LLC, to perform a roof inspection if you notice issues with your roof. Such issues include cracked or missing shingles, lifted or curling shingles, or moss growth.
Damage to Insulation
Insulation helps keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer during those chilly winter nights in Orlando, Florida. Attic insulation is particularly sensitive to moisture and loses its thermal resistance when damp. A leak in your roof can make your insulation ineffective by causing your insulation to clump by weighing it down, so it takes up less space.
Electrical Damage
Water can also get into your electrical wiring after it enters your home. Not only does this put you and everyone else at risk for electrical shocks, but it also causes damage to the electrical wiring and can start fires. It’s best to contact a professional if you notice sparks in your electrical wiring or signs of water near a circuit breaker, such as corrosion or rust.
Mold in the Home
Leaky roofs eventually lead to mold growth inside your home. Mold impacts your air quality and makes people sick. People in the home may experience worsening allergy and asthma symptoms, or other respiratory illnesses. Homeowners often don’t realize they have mold in their homes and wonder why they don’t feel well.
Rotting Support Structures
Water not only damages your ceilings, walls, and floors, but it also affects support structures in your house, such as rafters, ceiling joists, and beams. Over time, water weakens a rafter in the roof, causing your roof to sag and allowing even more water inside. Eventually, if the homeowner doesn’t take steps to repair the damage, the house can experience a roof collapse.
Slip and Fall Hazard
If you don’t have carpeting in your home, a leaky roof will likely make your floors slippery. Leaks create puddles, and no matter how careful you or your loved ones are, there’s always a chance that a wet foot or shoe might connect to a floor wrong, and that person can fall due to a lack of traction. They don’t even have to fall to hurt themselves; they can slip and over-correct, which can lead to injuries too.
Other Issues
Another issue brought about by a leaky roof that isn’t as dangerous is that a leaky roof attracts pests. Standing water attracts roaches and other insects into your home, and carpenter ants are attracted to moist wood. Once you have roof damage, other pests like squirrels, birds, bats, and raccoons like to claim your home as their own.
As mentioned earlier in the article, water weighs down insulation, causing it to clump and take up less space, and attic insulation is sensitive to moisture. A leaky roof also lowers your energy efficiency, not just by having a crack that allows water through, but also by damaging your insulation. Your HVAC system must work harder and use more energy to maintain the same comfort level, raising your utility bills.
Don’t fall prey to a leaky roof by waiting to get it fixed. The longer you wait, the more damage you’ll experience and the more expensive it will be to repair. Our contractors at Castle Builders and Roofing, LLC are committed to helping you maintain a safe and healthy home environment with our roof repair, maintenance, and replacement services. Whether you want to prepare your roof for hurricane season or your home is showing signs of roof failure, we’re here for you. Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you with the right services for your situation.