Common Roof Repairs in Louisiana

You may discover that your roof has been subject to more wear-and-tear over the years than you expected, or that a major structural flaw exists, which may require immediate repair. The average lifespan of a roof is 30 years, but without the right upkeep and regular maintenance, your roof could reach its end much earlier. While you don’t have to know all the ins and outs of best roof repair and maintenance, it’s important to have an idea of the types of repairs your roof might need. Here we explore five of the most common roofing problems that must be repaired by professionals.

Leak Repair

Leaks in your roof are a sign of immediate deterioration and need to be dealt with immediately to avoid water damage to your home and foundation. Have a roofing professional to check your roof so they can find the source of the leak. Whether large or small, leaks need to be dealt with immediately before they escalate and cause further damage.

Draining Standing Water

Flat roofs can end up collecting water that pools on the roof. This happens due to a variety of issues, including sun damage and poorly-installed drainage systems. Allowing water to pool and remain on a roof could result in roof leaks, which can cause further structural damage. To completely resolve the issue, make sure your roofer can pinpoint the cause of the collected water to find a long-term solution for your roof.

Fascia Replacement

The fascia is a long wooden board that protects the lower edges of a roof. It is typically found behind the gutters and supports the roof as the first layer of protection against the elements. This makes it susceptible to problems like water damage, animal infestation, mold growth, cracks, and holes. Fascia boards can be replaced in parts or as a whole, depending on the amount of damage and the age of the board. Replacing the fascia is usually best done by professional roofers.

Flashing Repair

Problems with roof flashing are usually a result of improper installation. Flashing is used around chimneys, walls, pipes, and other flat surfaces to direct water away. When the flashing hasn’t been properly mounted onto the roof, the water can flow underneath it, causing your roof to rot. Periodically checking your flashing can help take care of a problem as soon as it arises, but you will likely need a professional roofer to repair or reinstall your flashing.

Shingle/Tile Replacement

Shingle and tile roofs can experience a lot of wear and tear over time from hurricanes, sun exposure, or other factors like pests. This can lead to your shingles and tiles lifting, curling, breaking, or shrinking. Even if just a small section of your roof needs repairs, the rest of your roof could become compromised if moisture is able to get in, so be sure to have your roof repaired as soon as you see signs of damage.

The best way to fix any repair is to prevent one. Having as much information as possible before dealing with a stressful situation like a leaky roof, so here is an explanation of the most frequent types of roof leaks and when to call a professional.

Poor Maintenance

A leaking roof might be the result of improper maintenance as well as carelessness. Leaks can be caused by unhealthy behaviors such as walking on tiles. Absent asphalt shingles are another sign that the roof has not been maintained properly. Roof leaks might have their origin in improperly installed roof valleys. This can be a very expensive problem.

Collaborate with a professional contractor who is familiar with the appropriate measures and high-quality sealing materials. However, excessive moisture and ice dams that have formed over time can also damage the material with which the roof valley is sealed. Examining the seams for any signs of water should alert you to the existence of this issue.

Look for Cracked flashing. After some time, the tar used to seal your flashing may deteriorate and lose its cohesive properties, leaving your flashing vulnerable to the elements. Strong gusts and heavy rainfall are two examples of the kinds of unfavorable weather conditions that might accelerate tar degradation. Cracked flashing is similar in appearance to sheet metal. After being adequately protected, it will be finished with a rubber covering on top.

Damaged Vent Booting

A broken vent booting might potentially be the source of a roof leak. A boot is a sort of flashing used to seal the openings around the bottom of pipes that protrude from a roof.

A deteriorating roof or inadequate flashing might lead to a vent booting crack. Depending on a number of variables (such as location, weather, and animals), a pipe boot’s expected lifespan may be anything from a few months to ten years.

Flashing is commonly used by roofers to secure the vent booting around the openings.  A roofer can choose to use lead, plastic, copper, or any number of other materials for their boots.

Pipe boots, regardless of their construction type, are used to prevent water from entering a residence via the roof. Pipe boots can’t withstand the elements for the duration of the roof’s existence. If the vent booting is broken, you will see dark blotches on the walls. Oftentimes, there is a musty odor in the leaking region.

Debris and dust can accumulate in gutters 

If gutters become clogged, water might pool, causing the roof to deteriorate and ultimately leak. It can do extensive harm when water finds its way beyond the gutter and underneath the soffit (the completed bottom of the lower edge of a sloped roof).

A valley is formed when two sloping roofs meet to form a V, which allows water to run off the roof without collecting. To ensure that water can continue to drain off the roof, a valley will typically have a gutter connected to it at its midpoint.

When debris collects at the end of the valley, the gutter becomes clogged. Under normal circumstances, this leak wouldn’t occur. Even in the heaviest downpour, water will follow the path of least resistance if the gutter in the valley is clogged with leaves and other debris.

As soon as water makes its way underneath the soffit, the leak will be visible there. If you move the gutter to a new place, the water will flow into a different part of your house.

Improperly Installed Skylights

Leaks in the roof are often the result of improperly installed skylights. Over time, skylights have earned a poor reputation. Common belief is that every skylight has a leak.

Skylight sealing materials are also susceptible to weathering and damage from persistent rain and high winds. When it rains a lot, water will pool around the skylights and trickle down.

It’s not hard to anticipate the location of a skylight leak. Water will eventually trickle down from the ceiling or floor below it when one of these starts leaking.

Nails Driven Incorrectly

Your roof is more likely to spring a leak if there is a protruding nail head. When a roofing nail backs out of a shingle, it causes the second most frequent type of roof leak.

If the nail hits good wood, holds tight, and isn’t overdriven, it shouldn’t cause problems. If not pushed far enough or in the wrong direction, the nail head will pop back up through the shingle.

Rainwater will eventually make its way inside your home after catching on to the head as it slides down your roof. Both shingle roofing nails and decking nails are susceptible to this problem.

The decking nail will eventually work its way out through the shingle if it didn’t touch wood during construction. Hire a roofing company with a good reputation to minimize leaks caused by nails not pushed in all the way.

When the roof finally leaks, there’s a chance the leak might appear anyplace. The location of the badly driven nail on the roof is likely to be the first place you notice water leaking into your home.

A professional can spot most of the issues discussed in this piece before they cause costly structural damage to your property. When it comes to roofing, leave the repairs to professional roofers to save both money and time. There are too many potential hazards with DIY roof repairs. Remember that routine maintenance of your roof is the best way to prevent leaks and other issues from occurring in the first place.