Roofing: 4 Ways to Prevent Water Damage

Water has a way of getting into places it shouldn't be. And it's relatively easy for water to wreak havoc on roofs. After all, roofs to fully-exposed to the elements.

In the Naperville area, we occasionally have severe weather such as high winds, storms, and blizzards. Each of these weather events is detrimental to the integrity of the roof, especially over time.

It can start with the smallest crack or tear. As time goes on, and as more weather events happen, the crack or tear gets larger, which allows water to enter underneath the protective barrier of the roof.

Water damage to an attic is a serious and potentially-expensive problem. The word that comes to mind is mold. Not only is mold destructive, but it's detrimental to health as well. But, water damage to a roof, and under it, is preventable.

In this article, we're going to share four ways you can prevent water damage to your roof. Following each of these will give you, and your family, a piece of mind knowing you're doing everything you can to protect your home.

The four ways to prevent water damage to a roof are:

• Clean your gutters
• Seal leaks
• Install flashings
• Schedule regular inspections

Let's jump right in and learn about cleaning your gutters first.

Keep Your Roof Safe with Regular Gutter Cleaning

It’s easy to forget about the importance of cleaning gutters until it’s too late. We assume that, just because they're up there, they will always perform for us.

Keeping your gutters clean is an essential part of maintaining a healthy roof and preventing water damage in your home. In this section, we're going to discuss:

• How gutters work
• Why it's important to clean them
• The long-term benefits of cleaning gutters

Let's examine how gutters work first.

How Gutters Work

Gutters are designed to direct the flow of rainwater away from the roof and foundation of a house. The less time water is on a roof, the better.

The gutter system collects water from the roof, channels it along the downspouts, and deposits it away from the house, usually into a drainage system or dry well.

The Importance of Regular Gutter Cleaning

When gutters become clogged with leaves, dirt, twigs, and other debris they can no longer do their job properly. This could cause water to collect around the foundation of your home or leak inside through walls or ceilings.

And, as described earlier, water will only cause damage if it gets under the roof and into the home.

Regular maintenance should also include checking for rust spots on metal gutters and loose screws/nails that may be present at the seams. It also helps to ensure that all downspouts are securely connected so that they don’t come apart during storms.

Long-Term Benefits of Clean Gutters

Regularly cleaning out your gutter systems not only prevents water damage but also extends the life of your roof. This is because clean gutters protect it from excess moisture which would eventually lead to rot and other forms of decay.

Additionally, it helps keep pests (carpenters ants, termites, etc.) out since they often seek shelter in dark places like clogged gutters where they can build nests and breed rapidly.

Sealing Leaks to Prevent Water Damage

Sealing leaks in your roof is one of the most important ways to prevent further water damage. Knowing there’s a leak means you have to act fast. Let’s explore why sealing leaks is so important and how it can prevent further water damage.

What Causes Leaks?

Leaky roofs are typically caused by improper installation or wear and tear over time. For instance, if you have an older home with asphalt shingles, those shingles may start breaking down after a decade or so.

When shingles break down, this could result in missing patches or open gaps where rainwater can penetrate your roof. In any case, it’s important to identify the source of the leak and fix it as soon as possible.

How Does Sealing Help?

When you seal a leaky area with caulk or another material, you create an additional barrier against water penetration. This prevents any further water from entering your home through that particular area of the roof.

Additionally, sealing leaks can help with lowering energy costs. Here’s how: Sealing helps to keep warm air inside during cold winter months and cool air inside during hot summer months.

The Importance of Flashings to Prevent Water Damage on Your Roof

Installing flashings is an important way to keep your roof healthy.

In this section, we’re going to describe:

• What flashings are
• Why flashings are necessary
• Getting flashings installed

Let’s take a look at why flashings are necessary and how they help protect your roof from water-related damage.

What Are Flashings?

Flashings are metal strips or sheets used along your roof where two planes meet, such as around chimneys or skylights. This allows water to flow away from the edge where these planes meet instead of running down into walls or other structures which could otherwise cause serious damage.

Flashings come in various sizes and shapes, depending on the particular application for which they will be used. They also come in several different metals, such as copper, aluminum, galvanized steel, and lead-coated copper.

Why Are Flashings Necessary?

Flashings provide an additional layer of protection against water seeping into places that it should not be able to reach.

Without properly installed flashings there is a risk of water penetrating vulnerable areas of your roofing system, leading to leaks and other forms of water-related damage inside your home. This may lead to mold growth and structural issues that can become very expensive to repair over time if left unchecked.

Getting Flashings Installed

Do you have flashings installed on your roof? If not, consider getting them installed.

At Rhino Roofing, we can help ensure your flashings are installed properly so they last. And, if you don’t know whether or not you have flashings, one of our professionals will be able to determine that during a routine inspection of your roof.

Speaking of roof inspections, that’s the next topic. Let’s get right into that next.

Roof Inspections: Why Prevention is Key

Maintaining a roof is essential to ensure that it remains structurally sound and secure. Regular roof inspections are an important part of this process, as they can help to identify potential problems before they become serious.

This is especially true when it comes to water damage since prevention is the best way to protect your roof against costly repairs in the future. Let's take a look at why regular roof inspections can help prevent water damage to a roof.

Identifying Potential Problem Areas

A thorough roof inspection will typically involve examining all aspects of the roofing system for signs of damage or wear and tear. During the inspection, any potential problem areas will be identified and addressed before they can cause lasting damage.

This includes checking for:

• Loose shingles
• Cracked sealants
• Rusting metal components
• Any other visible signs of wear and tear on the structure

Fixing these issues after an inspection can save you from having to eventually pay for more expensive repairs. These more expensive repairs will likely be due to water damage caused by these issues not being properly addressed.

Check for Leaks

In addition to identifying potential problem areas, a good roof inspection also includes checking for any existing leaks. If a leak is identified, our inspector will make a recommendation which may include using sealants or patchwork techniques.

Inspect Gutters and Flashing

Finally, another important aspect of a good inspection involves inspecting gutters and flashing. It’s especially important to check areas around vents or chimneys for signs of damage or dirt accumulation.

Trouble areas around vents or chimneys could potentially block drainage systems and cause water buildup on parts of your roof. While this might seem like a minor issue at first glance, it can quickly turn into a major problem if left unaddressed. This is due to its ability to trap moisture on certain areas of your roof which can lead to extensive water damage.

Therefore, it’s important to clean out gutters regularly or replace damaged flashing around vents and chimneys accordingly.

Contact Rhino Roofing

Maintaining your roof is critical to extending its life for as long as possible. And, in order to maintain your roof, you need to take steps to prevent damage.

The first step is to contact your roofing contractors at Rhino Roofing. We’ll inspect your roof to ensure there are no issues. If there are none, great! It’s important to know, however.

And, if there are small cracks, we can repair them so the problem doesn’t get any worse.

If you think you have a leak in your roof, you’ll want to contact Rhino Roofing immediately. Maybe you noticed a dripping sound or a water spot has developed in your ceiling. In these scenarios, you’ll have to act fast to fix the problem.

Whether you want to fix an active roofing problem and get your roof inspected, head over to our contact page next to get in touch with us.