Maintenance · 6 min read
The 7 Most Common Sources of Roof Leaks
Published
In fifteen years of chasing leaks around the Miami Valley, the same seven culprits account for the overwhelming majority of calls.
1 and 2: pipe boots and chimney flashing
Rubber pipe boots crack from UV exposure at around the 12-year mark, and they're the single most common leak we repair. Chimney flashing is second: mortar-embedded counterflashing fails as the mortar ages, and 'repairs' made with roofing tar buy about two years.
3 and 4: valleys and skylights
Valleys carry the most water on the roof and take debris packing from trees. Skylights leak at the head flashing when the shingle course above is detailed lazily.
5 and 6: ice dams and wall transitions
Ice dams push water backward under shingles at the eave. Wall transitions — where a lower roof meets a vertical wall — need step flashing woven into each course, and a continuous strip of aluminum instead is a leak waiting for the right rain.
7: nail pops
Fasteners back out over years of thermal cycling and eventually puncture the shingle above them. They're a small repair and a common cause of mysterious, intermittent drips.
If any of this applies to your own home, our asphalt shingle roofing crews handle it every week, and you can see how we work in your area on our Troy, Ohio roofing page. Inspections and written estimates are free either way — call 937-749-7767.