You must have realized that infiltration generates a series of negative consequences, right? Well, besides presenting risks to your structure, this problem also affects the aesthetic quality of your home and compromises the feeling of comfort it should offer.
One of the best ways to avoid the appearance of this mishap is to know its causes. In the last topic we, riverside roofing pros, explained that there are several causes for roof infiltration, remember? Because it is multi-causal, the process of roof construction needs to be done with extra attention to ensure that all possibilities of its arising will not appear.
To help you identify the causes of your leaking roof, we have separated the main reasons for its development below. Take the time to put pencil and paper aside and write down all the possibilities that interfere with your quality of life and, of course, that of your property.
1. Change of roof tiles
Roof tiles are fundamental elements in any construction. Besides offering an incomparable aesthetic appeal, they are responsible for protecting the structure of your roof, offering thermal comfort and guaranteeing that no infiltrations will occur. However, when applied in the wrong way, they can have the opposite effect.
This means that instead of offering safety to the structure and preventing roof leaks, poorly applied and broken tiles allow rainwater to pass through and damage the health of the slab. As a rule, this problem occurs due to four main aspects:
- poor placement of the tiles during construction;
- misapplication of the product during replacement and maintenance;
- damage caused by environmental problems such as wind, rain and hail;
- poor product quality.
However, all is not lost! We have good news for those who suffer from this mishap: it is the easiest to solve. When identified quickly, all you have to do is perform corrective maintenance, changing the damaged tiles and investing in an efficient gutter system, in case your region has a high frequency of rain.
2. Clogged gutters
Gutters are fundamental elements in any property, especially homes in areas with high rainfall. Besides avoiding drips and infiltrations, they make it possible to develop a sustainable home that can invest in the reuse of natural water if they so wish.
As it is an element that is exposed daily to the effects of the environment, it can generate some problems such as clogging, especially when it does not receive proper maintenance and cleaning. As a consequence, we have houses with gutters full of water that impair the health of the roof tile and favor the appearance of infiltration.
And more: by keeping the water stagnant, they favor the development of diseases such as dengue and put your quality of life at risk. But don’t worry, just like badly positioned or damaged roof tiles, clogged gutters can be easily fixed by thoroughly cleaning and unclogging the channels.
It is also worth remembering that if your gutter presents cracks or stiffness in the clogging, it is often more interesting to change the material to ensure that this problem does not happen in the future. Thus, it is enough to perform periodic preventive maintenance, cleaning it preferably every three months.
3. Leaking pipes from the slab
Going a little further, slab pipe leaks are deeper problems that require more attention in order to properly handle the situation. Since this is a fundamental structure for the livelihood of your home, you need to keep an eye out for signs of stains, bubbles in the paint, and cracks in the ceiling.
This way it is possible to identify possible pipes that may leak and verify the need to change them. It is also necessary to check the condition of the water tank to make sure it does not have any cracks, as this also influences the chances of infiltrations.
For environments that have underground pipes, paying attention to the cracking of floors, soil humidity, and backflow from drains is also an excellent way to identify the origin of roof leaks and set up an efficient strategy to control and adjust the mishap.
4. Fissures and cracks
At the beginning of this article we mentioned that cracks and fissures in the ceiling and walls are signs that may indicate the presence of an infiltrated roof, right? As a rule, this indication indicates that there is a lack of waterproofing in the slab, damaging the structure of your home, but they can also facilitate the emergence of this problem.
This is because, when the crack is not the result of a roof leak, it can destructure the area and facilitate the development of an infiltration, as well as increase the humidity in the environment. Thus, the waterproofing is compromised and you need to identify the source of the crack.
5. Flaws in the design and execution of the roof
To conclude our list, we could not fail to mention the flaws in the design and execution of the roof, right? Many people, in order to save money, seek inadequate solutions for their constructions and compromise the roof structure, allowing roof leaks to appear.
For example, one of the strategies used to economize in the execution of the work is to use low-quality waterproofing sheets to protect the slab. Over time, it loses its usefulness and makes it easier for water to enter the roof. Aligned with this, the choice of poorly produced tiles and the incorrect fitting also favors their breakage and the development of roof leaks and drips.
Understand the problems caused by roof infiltration
Besides the traditional consequences we have mentioned, infiltrations cause a series of problems not only structural, but also esthetic and health problems. When not well treated, they can develop mold, oxidation of the roof, rotting of the slab and roof, and generate high costs with repairs and maintenance.
In addition, intense roof leaks can pave the way for termite infestations, since damp and dark environments are perfect for the reproduction of these insects.
As a consequence, in the long term the structure of your home is compromised and it will be necessary to invest in roof and wall maintenance, as well as furniture replacement.
Therefore, knowing what the problems caused by infiltration are ensures a certain motivation for residents to invest in efficient attitudes that prevent them from arising, do you agree? Below, we list other challenges that you may encounter if this setback strikes your home:
- paint damage, associated with deterioration of the coatings;
- detachment of plaster moldings;
- short circuits in the electrical system;
- puddles of water under the sinks;
- cracks and fissures in the walls;
- stubborn stains on the ceiling;
- deterioration of furniture, especially when there are leaks;
- appearance of fungus in the environment, favoring the development of respiratory problems such as asthma, rhinitis and bronchitis;
- increased water and electricity bills.