Are Roof Valleys the Cause of Your Leaky Roof?

Its winter/spring and you've noticed your roof is leaking. Before calling a repairman, you troubleshoot some options in hopes of saving a couple of bucks. Your checklist may sound something like this...

Shakes/Shingles - check! You've thoroughly examined your shakes or shingles, even looked for pooled water but your roof is still leaking.

What could be the problem?

Have you tried inspecting the roof valleys to see if they are open? Are the roof flashings properly in place or deteriorating? Have you checked the chimney, vent pipes and walls?

Roof valleys, roof flashings are terms you may be unfamiliar with, so let us help you to understand.

A valley is a line where two roof planes intersect. Commonly, there is an increased volume of rainwater or snow where two roof planes come together. If your planes are not constructed or laid out properly then it can become a major leak source.

There are 3 types of layouts for roof valleys that are commonly used; closed valley, open valley or a woven valley. The closed valley layout is not only the most popular of the three but it also maintains the highest recommendation. A closed valley layout is one where shingles are woven over an underlying peel and stick material.

A roof flashing is used to direct water away from a particular area on a roof. If various metals are used in conjunction with flashing, rusting may occur due to the electrolyte properties of water.

Sunlight can also lead to a deterioration of the flashing depending upon the materials used.

Chimneys are one of the more common sources for leaking. They contain four different types of flashing and if poorly constructed can cause leaking on all four sides of your chimney.

Some roof leaks happen at wall step flashings. You find these flashings where a roof climbs alongside a vertical wall. There can be a variety of ways water entering where your roof meets a vertical surface. Step flashings are installed in between shingle courses and can cause leaking if one is missing or out of place.

Vent pipes allow air into your plumbing system. If the systems pipes are not properly treated or maintained then the seal around it can deteriorate which may lead to leaking.

Although there are many causes of roof leakage, it is important to locate the source of the leak before any further troubleshooting can be done. A simple roof repair fix may be needed if the necessary attention is given to the leak initially.

Visit us at Allied Home Improvement for more information.

Article written by Mike Durso of Allied Home Improvements