No matter how costly they are, metal roofs are bound to leak. But it’s not uncommon.
Business owners and homeowners alike have been plagued by and overcame this problem by fixing it by themselves. Naturally, you can have the contractors who installed the roof fix the leak, but what do you do when encountering the issue long after you’ve had the roof?
The good thing is that it can be done, whether you have water leaking through metal shingles that are layered over old asphalt, standing seams with leaky ridges, or copper pans that need more soldering.
Here’s how to fix a leaky roof – find the cause of the problem.
The most common causes of leaky roofs are the following:
Improper or insufficient slope
A roof’s slope determines how good its drainage is. A good slope and drainage help protect the roof and your home from the elements.
A proper slope allows snow and water to run off to avoid moisture pooling that causes mold or moss to build up, which, when left untreated, can compromise the integrity of your roof.
Poorly secured
Metal panels, shingles, and standing seams that aren’t properly locked, fastened, and sealed during installation can be blown away by strong winds and terrible weather, allowing access to water. For metal shingles, too many layers of it can cause leaking.
Apply the following solutions:
For roofs with improper slopes, you must eliminate the ponds of water before giving more rise to the roof. For metal shingles, for example, the rise should be 4 1/2 inches per 12 inches of the roof. It’s best to ask for professional help for this.
For poorly secured roofs, the solution depends on where the leak is coming from. If the problem is blown-away panels, the easiest solution is to source new panels and have those installed and fastened properly. Also, make sure they can withstand winds that blow at or beyond 110 mph.
You also need to check for less obvious causes of leaks, such as brick chimneys or unmaintained skylights that need to be flashed properly.
For chimneys, you can apply a solar seal around them. For skylights, look under their gaskets and apply a solar seal on all the cracks you see.
