Anyone who has spent any time in Adelaide recently will know that a solid, watertight roof is an absolute must. Rain has well and truly been on the menu in South Australia in the last few weeks, with 24 hour periods seeing as much as 25mm of the stuff, even leading to flooding in some areas.
When faced with these situations – like heavy wind, rain and thunderstorms – we need to have the confidence that our property can stand up to what is thrown its way. Seemingly minor problems like a leaky roof can quickly become big problems, and so need to be sorted out right away.
Mott Plumbing have trained plumbers to help you make sure that every possible cause for a roof leak is covered before the drips start. Get in contact for a quote today!
We’ve compiled a list of the most common reasons for leaky roofs in Adelaide, read on for details.
Cause Number 1: The Age of Your Roof
This might seem like a simple one, but age is the primary factor which causes a leaky roof. Over time, materials like roof tiles and metal roofing materials can deteriorate due to continual expansion and contraction and weather wear and tear. The integrity of some roof structures can also be affected by time and age. Arrange a check-up for your roof to make sure it is within its life-expectancy.
Cause Number 2: The Chimney
A sure fire way to cause a leak in a roof is to make a huge hole in it, and that’s exactly what a chimney aperture is. A chimney stack can be professionally sealed and protected to make it as watertight as possible, but it is still a major risk factor for your roof.
Cause Number 3: The Plumbing
Similar to your chimney, there may come a time when a plumber must run a pipe through your roof – exhaust flues, vent pipes, and fan ducts all need to be plumbed through your roof space into the open – creating a hole which must be sealed. Even when professionally flashed and sealed, these are points where a potential leak can begin.
Cause Number 4: The Skylight
Skylights help to create a light and airy feel in an attic area or in the property where natural light is too limited, and for the most part they are pretty good at resisting leaks. However, this can change over time. If you begin to notice water staining around skylight edges, you need to get the skylight checked out.
Cause Number 5: The Stuffed Gutter
Water needs to flow somewhere and if your gutters are clogged up with leaves and other debris, that somewhere is not going to be where you want it. To prevent water flowing back into vulnerable places in your roof, give your gutters a regular cleaning and make sure the water can easily be transported away.
Cause Number 6: The Dodgy Flashing
Flashing is very useful for sealing over joins and other points where water can potentially leak in, but it needs to be done properly. If flashing is faulty or substandard, you are leaving the back door open to potential leaks, so make sure that it is slammed shut.
Cause Number 7: The Notorious Box Gutter
Internal box gutters can be a nightmare when they are not designed and installed properly. If they are in locations where leaf debris can accumulate this can cause massive blockages and overflows and roof leaks in storm conditions. If they are old they can also begin to rust out and leak. Get all your box gutters checked for proper operation every year.
Cause Number 8: The Valley Gutter
Valley gutters collect the water from two pitched sections of roof and channel rainfall run off down to lower perimeter gutters. Wind velocity and direction, and the sheer volume of rain can allow excess water to shoot over the edge of older valley gutters where turn backs have been crushed and flattened. Most walking on roofs is done up and down valley areas because it is safest, but untrained feet can cause valley gutter problems and create leaks, which would need to be traced to the source to repair.
