How to Detect A Roof Leak

How to Detect a Roof Leak



As most people know the roof of your home or business is vital to the protection of the assets and belongings within.  The most obvious sign of a roof leak is water on the floor of the structure, however their are other ways to find a roof leak before it gets to that extreme.  When a roof is leaking bad enough that water is making its way to the flooring system, their is probably already a lot of other damage to other aspects of the building.  Most structures have a ceiling and insulation between the roof and the living space to help improve the energy efficiency of the HVAC system.  If a roof is leaking bad enough to make it through the insulation and ceiling material, then you have probably incurred a lot of damage already.  By this point your not only looking at the cost of a roof repair, but also cost to replace damaged insulation, sheetrock, and maybe even structural repairs as well.

In this blog post we hope to educate customers on how to detect a roof leak before it gets extreme.  We are going to list common signs of a roof leak, common causes of a roof leak, how to prevent roof leaks, and reasons why you should use a roofing contractor instead of hiring a handyman to work on your roofing system.  The first thing we want to talk about is how to detect a roof leak.  There are a lot of ways homeowners can inspect their home without getting on the roof.  Here are some signs we look for when inspecting roofs for homeowners.

1. Checking the plywood or underside of the roof sheathing material for dampness or water stains. This is the easiest way to spot a roof leak, as the plywood will retain water for a short period before it starts to make it through into the structure.
2. Checking the side walls or gable ends for water stains coming down the wall, especially where there may be a change in elevation on your roofing system.  If you have a leak in this area, your probably not going to see it on the ceiling in the home because it may be going all the way down the exterior wall of your home causing major damages.
3. Looking for missing shingles, damaged tile, blown off metal, or any breaks or damages to the roofing material on the roof. These are obvious signs, but the underlayments on the roofing system will protect the home for a short period, however these repairs should be made immediately because underlayments are not designed to be exposed to the elements.
4. Water marks on the ceiling of your home. Even though most leaks that make it this far into the structure can cause a lot of damage, if you catch it on the first time then you can save a lot of money by having your roof repaired immediately.

These are just a few ways to routinely inspect your home for roof leaks. Generally a roof leak can almost be detected immediately, however if a roof is installed properly, the underlayment will often offer some short term protection against a lot of water coming in your home.  When we say short term, we mean until the rain stops the same day you find out you have a leak.  Roof leaks come from a variety of causes, and can happen anytime, even after you get a new roof if your not using a qualified and licensed roofing contractor.  Flashing, underlayment installation, vent installations, and other penetrations on the roof confuse a lot of handymen leading to an improper install of your roofing system.  Not only will this require another trip from the contractor to repair the already new roof, it can also negate the roof warranty that most roofing material manufacturers offer with their products. Regardless of the age of your roof, a leak can happen at any time and for a variety of reasons.  Here are some of the most common causes of roof leaks:

• Storm/Wind Damage - One of the most common causes of roof leaks on a properly installed roofing system still within the warranty of the roofing product.
• Old Roof - Over the life of a roof, exposure to the elements begin to deteriorate the roofing system leading to failures in the product.
• Improper Flashing - If steps in the roof, chimneys, skylights, etc. are not flashed properly then water will eventually find its way into the home. Flashing around these areas correctly are very important to installing a quality roof, so its important that you hire a roofing contractor that has the experience to know how to do this.
• Missing Shingles/Damaged Tile/Raised Metal Panel - Sometimes roofing systems may be damaged by a neighbors limb, an animal, or a number of other reasons and obvious sign that your home or structure has a roof leak.  Also some roofing systems can be damaged from walking on the roof improperly as well.
• Skylight Damage - A number of our roof repairs come from damage or aging of a skylight. Skylights have a lot of different problems over the life of the window, so sometimes roof leaks either get in through the skylight, flashing around the skylight, and sometimes condensation. In these instances the skylight should be repaired or replaced immediately.

We hope this blog post has been informative, and helps you in preventing roof leaks and major damages to your home or business.  The best way to prevent roof leaks if properly maintaining your roof system according to the roofing products manufacturer's recommendations such as cleaning the roof and keeping it free of leaves and debris. Maintenance recommendations vary from product to product, but the main thing is to keep your roof clean. Routine inspections, proper maintenance, and hiring a qualified and licensed roofing contractor can help make your roof last a long time and protect your home from the elements of the outside world.  The owner Retro Solutions Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, SC has been in the roofing business for 20+ years and we look for the same qualities in the people we hire as you should as a homeowner.  Training and hiring quality roofers is what makes us a successful and top rated roofing contractor in North Carolina and South Carolina.  If you live in North Carolina or South Carolina and would like a free roof repair estimate or a free estimate on a new roof then contact us through the information listed below.  Check out our other blog post for more home improvement ideas, product reviews, and other information on keeping your house in top notch shape.

Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Phone: 706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |

Energy Star Rated Metal Roofing Systems

Benefits of Energy Star Rated Roofing Systems in South Carolina

Energy Star Rated roofing systems offer homeowners in North Carolina and South Carolina many advantages over a traditional shingle roofing system.  Although shingle roofing systems are sometimes a cheaper alternative to metal roofing systems, a metal roof offers many more advantages over a traditional roofing system. Shingle roofing has come a long way in the last 20 years since we started in the roofing business, customers often have to pay more for shingles that have warranties and guarantees that are comparable to that of a metal roof.  This is one of the main reasons that their has been a big increase in popularity among homeowners and business owners alike in using metal roofing when building new or replacing an existing roof. Most metal roofing systems have long term warranties on the metal itself, when properly maintained and repainted as required by warranty terms, and the technological advances in the paint industry have made some of the warranties of paint on metal roofs meet or exceed warranty terms of traditional 30 year shingles.  For most homeowners a metal roof is a lifetime roofing product when installed, as most metal is guaranteed for 100 years or more when properly maintained.  Maintenance on metal roofing is also more inexpensive then that of shingle roofs, and painting after the 20-30 year normal paint warranties on most metal products cost less then that of re-shingling a roof.

Now most homeowners and customers in search of a new roof already know that a metal roof generally outlast most traditional shingle roofing systems, although one advantage that metal roofing offers over traditional shingles is energy savings.  Metal roofs have been proven to out perform shingles in energy savings by so much that most metal roofing systems meet the requirements for an Energy Star rating saving homeowners up to 20% in energy cost.  Given such high energy savings this gives metal roofing a big advantage over shingles in that over the life of the roofing systems customers receive a huge payback in the form of energy savings on their utility bills. With utility cost rising all across the country, homeowners are searching for any way they can to cut down on energy consumption, and metal roofing is a unique way homeowners are cutting down on energy consumption.  Energy savings with metal roofing or any other "green" building product also improves overall sustainability of the home or building with a metal roofing system.

Another reason that homeowners are making the switch to metal roofs is that it is becoming the new trend and style. Metal roofing offers a variety of colors and styles, making it a trendy way for homeowners to distinguish their homes from others in the neighborhoods. With standing seam being the most popular style of metal roofing, customers also have the options of a wide arrange of lap system metal roofing products as well.  As metal roof manufacturers look to distinguish their products from competitors, homeowners are given a lot more options when choosing a metal roof in today's market.  In South Carolina and many other states rich in tradition of preserving historic homes, metal roofing is also the perfect match to historical roofing systems.  Metal manufacturers and experienced roofers, like Retro Solutions Construction Company of Myrtle Beach, can help homeowners match color and style from historic home roofing systems, thus speeding up the process of getting approval from historic home preservation committees.

The last major advantage that Energy Star Rated metal roofing systems have over traditional shingles is the tax credits that have been offered by the US government to help cover the cost of materials to homeowner and business owners.  The US is a leading country in trying to help reduce energy consumption of individuals, and trying to lower the carbon footprint of homes and businesses in America. Metal roofing is a "green" building solution the the US government approves of, so they offer huge tax credit incentives to homeowners and business owners looking to improve sustainability.

In conclusion, we hope this has been a informative blog post on why energy star metal roofing is a good choice for homeowners looking for a new roof.   We plan to have more blog post to come on other energy star rated roofing products like tile, white TPO, and other roofing systems that have received the coveted Energy Star rating. In summary on metal roofing systems, here are some of the advantages homeowners and building owners can benefit from by installing a metal roof in South Carolina:

• Energy Savings
• Lifetime Roofing Solution
• Trendy, Popular Roofing System
• Improved Sustainability
• Tax Credits
• Wide Variety of Style and Color Options
• Historically Accurate Roofing Solutions for Historic Homes
• Helping the Environment by lowering the Carbon Footprint

So if your a homeowner in the South Carolina or North Carolina area looking to install a Energy Star Rated Metal Roofing System, then give us a call today:

Retro-Solutions Construction Company
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
706-951-0158
http://www.scroofingcontractors.com 

Energy Efficient Roofing Systems | Spray Foam Insulation | Wall Foam Insulation | Crawl Space Encapsulations | Solar Energy Powered Hot Water Heaters | Solar Energy | Energy Monitoring | Standing Seam Metal Roofs | Tile Roofs | Slate Roofs | Historic Home Retrofits |