Are roof leaks causing your family sleepless nights? Indeed, leaks can make your life very uncomfortable, cause ill health, and damage your home items. However, roof leaks don't happen simultaneously unless the roof is damaged in a natural disaster like a strong storm. In many cases, leakages happen from old roof components that come apart and leave space for water to infiltrate the roof. Therefore, you need to identify and fix leaks as soon as you notice leaks. There are different residential roofing repair methods for leakages depending on the cause of leakage. What are some of these causes?

1. Pipe Boot Failure 

Pipe boots are rubber boots that cover the pipes to protect them from rain, snow, and ice. Water can easily enter your home when the pipe boot is damaged or worn out. You will notice this when you see puddles of water accumulating in your attic or on your ceiling. 

What you need to do is replace or repair the pipe boot. If the drywall ceiling is badly damaged, take it down and replace it with a new one. 

2. Improperly Driven Nails  

Nails that are not driven into the framing correctly can cause roof leaks. For example, the nails may be too short or have bent heads that allow water to seep through easily. If you notice that some of your nails are not driven in properly, replace them with new ones. 

3. Chimney Wear and Tear     

If your chimney has been damaged by water or by strong winds, you might see cracks or holes on the exterior walls of your house. Water can seep through these cracks and cause damage to your roof and other parts of your home. Roof repair involves replacing the flashing or applying waterproof cement to cracked mortar joints.

4. Improper Installation of Skylights  

Skylights are installed in some homes to bring natural light into the rooms. However, improper installation of skylights can cause leaks. The skylights may have cracks that allow water to seep through. They may also have improper flashing. If you notice these problems, you should call a residential roofing professional to inspect your skylights and make the necessary repairs. 

5. Gas Vent Collar Failure  

Gas vents protect the gas pipes from water damage. If the gas vent collar is damaged, it may allow water to seep into your home through the gas pipe. To prevent this, you need to have the gas vents inspected and repaired if necessary.

A leaking roof can cause serious damage to your home, not to mention the discomfort that comes with it. Contact a residential roofing company like Tri-County Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc if you have questions about a leaking roof.