After a while, that water breaks through your ceiling and you’re scrambling to find buckets and containers to catch the drops. You don't know what kind of damage your leak is doing to your home. Other than damaging the structural integrity of the building, it’s also destroying valuable properties especially essential Documents, Furniture, Stained Walls, Structural Damage, Electrical fittings, Foundation Problems etc…
At Rufus Thomas & Co. We have a duty to let you know what could be causing the leakage in your Ware-House, Office, Factory or home. Because we want you have as much information as possible about the hazards & stress, a leaky roof can cost you. We're going to give you idea about the common roof leaks we see and how they're repaired.
LET'S GET TO THE 5 MOST COMMON ROOF LEAKS THIS RAINING SEASON, WHERE THEY'LL SHOW UP, AND HOW TO REPAIR THEM...
1. Pipe Failures
One of the most common Leaks in Most residential homes are due a pipe fails, for those with Tanks directly on the roof. Poorly laid Waterproofing and concrete base of the Tanks are the most common cause for leaky roofs in residential homes for those with tanks on the roof, this also applies to offices or buildings in general with their Tanks at the Roof level. The main reason for this is over flow of water during pumping into the tanks, although most Water pumps comes with auto stop once the tank is filled, however a slight amount will still overflow in most cases before the auto stop sets in.
Over time this builds logs of water resting on corners of the ceiling top, once this meets with any wooden reinforcement, it will destroy it overtime and immediately lead to leakage, once the wooden structures starts to fail, a storm or heavy wind in this raining season can see your roof pulling off, due to the poor structural integrity of the wooden areas of your ceiling, and the damaged wooden structures reinforcing the roofing sheets.
Where will the roof leak show up?
The leak can show up in the master bedroom, a bathroom, closet, etc. basically at corners or edges of the house, automatically once it rains through this same channels you can experience leakages.
How is the roof leak repaired?
The simplest way to repair this leak is to first send a professional to trace the water path. Most times until the water path is traced, you may not even know it’s a poorly laid base for the tank that lead to the initial damage. In most cases the concrete base is made to slant properly and the water directed to a drainage channel, before a carpenter can work on the wooden roof structural repairs.
Before and After Repair of Pipe Boot
2. Improperly driven fasteners
The second most common cause of leaks is when a Roofing fasteners backs out of a shingle. Whether it’s air-nailed or hand-fasteners, if they hits good wood or z-pole line riven, then you shouldn’t have a problem with it. However, if a fastener isn’t driven in far enough or driven in sideways, it will cause the head of the fastener to work its way back up through the shingle. In most cases as it rains, water goes through the head of the nail or fastener as the case may be, as it comes down your roof and follows the nail right inside.
This doesn’t happen to just the roofing nails used on shingles, but also the decking nails. If the decking nail didn’t hit wood when the framing was done, then the sun has a way of drawing that nail out through the shingle.
If you’ve got a nail head that’s sticking up, then chances are you will have a leak.
Choosing a good roofing company with good facility management history like Rufus Thomas & Co. Ltd will lessen the chances of leaks caused by improper roofing. Where will the roof leak show up?
The leak could show up at any escape route where the water will drip down in your home, office, warehouse or factory.
How is the roof leak repaired?
To repair this leak the roofer will have to break the seal on the shingle and reset it where necessary.
At Rufus Thomas & Co. We have a duty to let you know what could be causing the leakage in your Ware-House, Office, Factory or home. Because we want you to have as much information as possible about the hazards & stress, a leaky roof can cost you.
3. Debris in gutters that stop above a roof-line under a valley
A valley is when two roof slopes meet in a V shape that allows water to flow down a roof freely this is common in Ware-houses or structures similar (Factories and building plants). When a valley stops in the middle of a roof, it will have a gutter that runs into it so the water can continue flowing down directly or through a drainage channel.
The problem is with the fascia, which is the board that runs along the lower edge of the roof that carries all the gutters. When there’s no flashing applied to the fascia board, a leak will happen.
This leak won’t happen under normal circumstances. It might be under extreme rain, but when that gutter in the valley gets filled with leaves and other debris, it’ll send water through the path of least resistance.
Debris in Gutters that Die into a Valley
Once that water gets underneath the soffit (the finished underside of the lower edge of a sloped roof), behind the gutter, it can go anywhere it wants, causing all kinds of damage.
Where will the roof leak show up?
The leak will show up wherever the water goes once it gets underneath the soffit. The location of the gutter will determine the area of your ware-house, office or home the water will enter.
How is the roof leak repaired?
Firstly all drainage channels or gutter on the roof most be cleared. Then you can Repair these leaks by loosening the gutter and installing 3 pieces of flashing. The flashing is brought behind the gutter, onto the roof, and then the last piece is tucked under the valley, behind the Gutter.
4. Rust in Fasteners, Aging or Wear and Tear
This is common in old structures, and poorly designed buildings. Once you notice wear and tear in properties less than 3 – 5 years old, please consult professional facility managers like Rufus Thomas & Co. Ltd. In the case of poor roofing structure or design, this can be either managed if the problem merely comes down to finishing, or oversight technicalities due to decay of the roof components.
But in the case of structural compromise or poor overall engineering, consider remodeling all together. On the other hand, for aging buildings, roof ware and tare is common. In most cases a complete overhaul is advised.
How is the roof leak repaired?
If the leak is from an old structure, leakages can come from anywhere and many points at the same time; strangely the same applies to structures with poor designs leading to sudden wear & tear.
To repair the leaks in old structures or poor designs leading to poor engineering finishing, usually overhauling is the best idea. The only exception in this case is when the problem merely comes down to finishing, or oversight technicalities due to topography, climate or weather.
Based on a poor engineering in the roof finishing, technicalities can be looked into to apply quality finishing, like slanting angles, drainage construction, gutter channeling etc.
5. Improperly installed skylights, roofing vents and accessories
Skylights and some roofing vents and accessories, have gotten a bad rap over the years. Everybody thinks they all leak. However, for example, some skylights comes with a no-leak guarantee for over a period of time. But the main cause of a leaking skylight or roofing vents is the installer not reading and following the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
It’s sad to say, but we see these kinds of leakages frequently. This not only reflects poorly on the roofer but also on the skylight or roofing vent company.
How is the roof leak repaired?
Repairing a skylight or vent leak is a matter of taking the cladding and flashing kit and then putting the flashing kit back on. That will give it the watertight seal needed to keep water out.
Rufus Thomas & Co. LTD
Rufus Thomas & Co. LTD are Projects and Facility management Professionals, utilizing the most up-to-date Techniques in Project execution. We pride ourselves as innovative trailblazers, light years and ahead of our competitors. We look forward to helping you with your projects at a competitive rate, delivering exceptional results at any point in time.
Dilapidation cases can become very complicated
Dilapidation cases can become very complicated when the right action is not taken. Wear and tear is a common occurrence in properties. Day to day living means scuffs and scratches happen, but dented walls and broken fixtures are a different story. Need help with your dilapidation problems? At Rufus Thomas & Co. our team of professional surveyors will assess your situation and offer expert advice on how to come to a resolution. rtc.com.ng 0803 704 6367
As a service providers with many years experience in Facility management, Building renovation, Roofing / Repairs, Sewage solution, Drainage services, Waterproofing, Demolition services, Bush clearing and Scaffolding, We’re innovative and well equipped to deliver your needs in any or all the aforementioned services satisfactorily and beyond your expectation. Free Quote available: 08037046367
8 Comments
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