The drip from your ceiling isn’t too bad, and it only forms when there is a bad rainstorm. Is it really necessary to immediately find – and fix – the reason for your leaking roof?

The answer is a resounding “yes!”.  Your roof has likely been leaking for some time once you see evidence of it inside your home, and it is the unseen damage that may be the most insidious. This list of possible effects of a leaking roof is not meant to scare you, but instead to encourage you to call an experienced roofing professional at the very first sign of a problem.

Possible Damage from a Leaking Roof

Let’s start from the top and work our way down:

• Further Roof Damage: Water finds the path of least resistance. Once your roof has experienced damage from a storm or is simply aging to the point of deterioration, the water is likely to continue to run through the damaged area. This will continue to erode the roofing material, making your leak larger, allowing more water to intrude, and eventually causing even more problems inside the home.
• Damage to the Soffits and Gutters: If the water is seeping down through the soffits, your wood can begin to rot from the inside out, causing soffits to cave in, and attached gutters to sag. If your gutters are not performing as they should, water can be further misdirected and cause a secondary issue of intrusion along the foundations.
• Damage to the Framing and Eaves: If you can, climb up into your attic occasionally and inspect the framing. Damp wood, damaged or stained wood, or growing mold are all evidence of the internal damage your leaking roof can cause. AS these items are structurally integral to the home, this damage can be exceptionally costly to repair.
• Damage to Your Ceilings and Drywall: As the water seeps in and travels down ceilings and walls, mold can become a major issue inside your structure. Stains and mold evidenced on the inside of your walls are proof of an ongoing problem which much be addressed as soon as possible.
• Damage to Electrical Systems: As electrical wiring runs through the walls, water may cause short circuits and damaged circuits. If you notice your lights flickering for no reason, or a breaker keeps tripping, have an electrician check out the situation immediately. Faulty wiring and circuits can result in a fire and should be taken care of sooner rather than later.
• Damage to Possessions: Although a leaking roof is rarely ignored long enough for the water to cause dramatic damage to furniture, rugs, and possessions, there is one group of people who should be especially wary. Here in Sarasota, we have a large population of part-time residents. When a home is vacant for 6 months at a time, it is possible that a leaking roof can become tragic, not only reaching the interior of the home over time, but also possibly resulting an infestation of mold.

As you can see, a leaking roof can wreak a lot of havoc in your home. That is why it is good practice to visually check your roof for damage after every major storm, have your roof inspected annually, and to routinely check the inside of your home for any signs of roof damage. Although an older roof is far more likely to show evidence of roof leaks, a newer roof can be damaged in our severe weather – so it is best to be diligent.

If you have any suspicions at all about your roof having a leak, call a professional roofing company. At Avery Roof Services, we are committed to making sure the roof over your head is safe and secure.