Roof leaks are far more than just a nuisance or an inconvenience – it is a potentially destructive situation that cannot be ignored or deferred until you have the time and/or the money to get it repaired. A leaking roof may start slowly, almost inconspicuously, but even the smallest of leaks can lead to extensive damage and costly roofing repairs for your home or commercial property.
Possible sources of a leaking roof include:
- Missing, damaged, or loose shingles/roofing materials
- Loose, torn, or cracked boots around vents and pipes
- Loose or missing flashing around the base of a chimney
- Gaps or cracks in caulking around skylights
- Clogged gutters or downspouts
- Missing or damaged siding on upper stories of the home/building
- Protruding nails – on the exterior or interior side of the roof
- Open mounting holes (from satellite dishes/antennas that have been removed)
If you suspect or detect that your residence or commercial property has a leaking roof, there are several ways to either confirm your suspicion or attempt to identify the source of the leak. Some types of visual inspections that you could perform would be:
- From street level – any obvious signs such as sagging or missing shingles/flashing?
- From a ladder – visually observing gutters/downspouts, shingles, flashing, loose nails
- Walking around on the roof – looking for stains/discolouration, sources of water entry
- From the inside – signs of mold or water staining/discolouration on walls or ceilings
- In the attic (especially on a rainy day) – any protruding nails that are wet or shiny?
- Sitting on the roof – slowly run water from a garden hose over the roof one section at a time and have a partner inside the premises report when dripping or leaking occurs
As the ice and snow that befell Toronto this past winter slowly melt away, the extent of any damage to your roof will emerge. To perform an inspection for potentially roof leaks in your home or place of business, you might consider the services of a Toronto roofing repair professional such as Avenue Road Roofing.
When Is It Best To Hire A Toronto Roofing Contractor To Repair Roof Leaks?
You may choose to repair roof leaks on your own, particularly if the job is relatively straightforward – and if you are relatively comfortable working on a ladder or the pitched surface/slope of a roof. Such repairs as:
- Re-caulking around chimneys and skylights
- Cleaning gutters and downspouts
- Securing loose shingles
- Replacing or refastening flashing or boots
- Plugging open mounting holes
can be completed in a short period of time at an affordable cost, and rather immediately upon detection of the issue or problem.
In many cases, a roof may be leaking for some time before the leak is actually spotted. By the time a leaking roof does become noticeable, a considerable amount of damage may have already occurred beneath the surface, so to speak, that may or may not be readily visible or apparent:
- Growth of mold or fungus
- Compromised insulation
- Rotted sub-structure or framing
- Peeling paint on walls or ceilings
- Yellowish discolouration on ceilings
- Water-soaked/softened drywall
Water also has a tendency to travel before it finds a spot to seep through, thereby making it more challenging/difficult to discover the actual source of the leak. For these reasons, it may be advisable to contact a Toronto roofing repair contractor to inspect your entire roof (outside and inside) and to help resolve any issues as soon as possible.
Does your residential or commercial property have a leaking roof that needs repair? Avenue Road Roofing is a reputable Toronto roofing repair contractor with more than 40 years of experience in getting the job done right. Call Avenue Road Roofing today at 416-785-5129.
