When it comes to maintaining your roof for the long term, there are four steps that you should always take care of from time to time: repair, inspect, maintain, and replace. Leakage happens when we do not take care of our roofs with these proper measures.
However, there are various other factors that you must keep in mind to save the roofing system from leaks. Leaks and long-term damage can also result from actions like screw fastening or drilling the roof, sweeping it, using incorrect cleaning supplies, coating the roof with extra liquid chemicals, pressure washing, etc.
Here in this article, we are talking about some of the major mistakes that are the primary reasons for roof leakage. This is one of the “must-read” articles if you want to keep your roof safe.
Screw Fastening and drilling: Knowingly damaging the shingles
If you have shingles installed on a roof, there are primarily three layers: Underlayment, flashing, and the topmost layer, which is the shingles. There might be one more layer to get protection from ice and water damage in extreme weather conditions above the underlayment.
As the shingles are the topmost layer of the roof, they are meant to protect the layers beneath them. But when we are drilling or screwing through it, we are knowingly harming the shingles. We often damage the outer layer when we screw or drill accessories like satellite dishes, antennas, solar panels, clotheslines, CCTV cameras, etc.
Installers often say that with the help of sealant, they will prevent leakage. These sealants, however, do not last long. You cannot fix the hole permanently with the sealant. So, the best move will be not to drill or penetrate in any way into the shingles.
Coatings Should Not Be Applied To Shingles
To change the look of your shingles, painting seems like an interesting idea, but painting can ruin your shingles more than it can benefit them.
Your roof can be damaged by the natural moisture that gets trapped inside the shingles and the plywood. Furthermore, if the coating allows water to penetrate it in some way, your ceiling may begin to leak.
Poor Layering
Layering is the installation method for a new roof. If the layering is done properly, there will be no chance of leaking as the roofing materials will work together like a waterproof roof layer. The catch with layering is that the procedure changes as the roof designs change. This is where mistakes happen; if the layering is not done properly, it might need a whole roof replacement, or you will have to deal with leaks.
Don’t pressure-wash your roof
Using pressure washing to clean your roof is a fantastic idea, but you cannot apply it to all kinds of roofs. Particularly shingled roofs. The protective granules on the shingles will wash away with both pressure cleaning and a broom sweep.
If you believe that pressure cleaning with a controlled PSI will not harm the shingles, you are mistaken. You must not do it either, as it will wash away the granules over the shingles, which will ruin the roof in the long run.
Instead of applying home remedies, you should consult with a skilled roofer.
Use no cleaning products on your roof
If your roof has algae and mosses, and you intend to clean it with a chemical. Please keep these points in mind before buying any cleaning chemicals. One of the most well-known names for cleaning roofs is bleach. But before you apply any random chemical, you should know whether the chemical is even suitable for a roof or not.
For example, if the roof is made of tar, some of the chemicals can react with it and wash it away with water. Secondly, you must know that there are certain instructions for using the chemical. For example, when you need to dilute a chemical before using it. So, these are mistakes that you must avoid before using a chemical roof cleaner.
Don’t attach things that will blow off your roof
If you attach various things to your roof, you need to remove them immediately if your region faces a lot of strong winds. As it will blow your roof away with the wind and also increase the chances of getting leaks.
It is better if you do not attach anything to your roof, as things that you attach to your roof are first carried away by the wind. They also take the adjacent shingles or tiles. This might lead to a hole in your roof.
Don’t let your drain screens become clogged
Drain screens often get clogged because of dirt, leaves, and other materials. Clear the drain screen and allow the water to flow during rain to ensure proper maintenance. When water accumulates on the roof, it places additional strain on the structure. If the roofing system is newly installed, it can bear the weight of the water. But if the roof is old, it might collapse or bring out other problems as well.
Conclusion
Your home’s exterior needs proper maintenance just like the interior does. There are many things we do incorrectly when it comes to roofing. Sometimes we don’t know if we are doing things wrong, and we do it. This is why we’ve outlined a few of the most frequent and serious mistakes individuals make when maintaining their roofs, which lead to leaks.
If you’re a homeowner in search of a roofing related query or solution, visit our website, as we’ve got expert blogs for your help, or contact us right away!
