7 Unexpected Dangers of a Leaking Roof

Most people know that a leaky roof is an inconvenience and can be expensive to fix.  A leaking roof can increase your water bill and damage furniture, personal belongings, the structure of your home and make you spend more time indoors.   However, there are several unexpected dangers of a leaking roof that many people don’t realize until it’s too late. If left untreated or repaired improperly, a damaged roof will cause problems in your home that may go undetected for a long time.

What are some basic dangers of a leaking roof?

If there’s water accumulating around the foundation of your home, then you should examine it closely to see if there are any signs of cracking.

The water will seep into the soil around your home and cause the ground to move as it becomes saturated with water and expands or contracts depending on the weather conditions outside.

This movement can actually crack and warp your foundation over time so that leaks become more severe and much harder to repair later on down the road.

To take preventive measures early on, book an appointment for all roofing services with our experts at Energy Roofing.  They’ll provide an honest, complete roof inspection, repair, and solutions to the dangers of a leaking roof.

Unfortunately, in some cases, you or your family members could even get hurt from a leaky roof if it’s not repaired quickly and correctly.

Damage caused by a leak is also likely to increase the price of your homeowner’s insurance.

With all of these possible dangers at stake, it’s best to have a damaged roof inspected by an experienced contractor as soon as you notice something is wrong.

7 Things to look out for if you have a Leaking Roof

But beyond those inconveniences, here are seven unexpected dangers of a leaking roof that you may not have known about.

1) Mold and mildew

Mold thrives in dark, damp places with excessive moisture where there isn’t adequate air circulation. You can find mold on any surface that has been damaged by water.

Water damage from a leaky roof can lead to mold growth on walls, windowsills, carpets, and even inside the walls of your home’s exterior. Mold is very allergenic and can cause health problems in people with asthma or allergies. In some cases, prolonged exposure to toxic mold can result in serious infections that result in death.

Repairing a leaky roof as soon as you notice it will go a long way toward preventing mold and mildew growth around your home and will improve the air quality inside your house.

For this reason, repairing a damaged roof should be one of our top priorities if we discover we have a leaky roof during our annual inspection.

Our experts recommend hiring an experienced contractor who can help you eliminate the dangers of a leaking roof so you can prevent unnecessary problems in your home.

2) Health and Safety Risk

A damaged or leaky roof is a great health and safety hazard.

If you repair your roof yourself, it’s important that you don’t attempt the job while standing on an unstable ladder.  Also, make sure to use fall protection equipment and safety gear whenever possible.

Repairing a leaking roof can be both dangerous and time-consuming.  Many people attempt the repairs without taking all of the safety precautions they should be using during this type of work.

Falling from a ladder

Falling from a ladder on your own property could potentially result in serious injuries, especially if there are hard surfaces below where you land when you hit the ground.

Some DIY homeowners have even fallen through their roofs while attempting to repair leaks and broken shingles, which can result in serious injuries such as broken bones.

Termites and carpenter ants

Your roof is like an open buffet for termites and carpenter ants.  They will see the leaks as an invitation to come feast on the wooden support beams of your home.

These bugs can build nests in or around your house that affect both the exterior structure of your home as well as the interior.  If this isn’t taken care, it will cause extensive damage and structural problems.

Carpenter bees

Carpenter bees will also see your roof as an invitation to move into your home because of the dampness and darkness that leaks provide outside.

These large bees will bore holes into wood surfaces around your home and lay eggs. Eventually, this turns into larvae that feed on whatever they can risk your health.

3) Damage to your personal belongings

If you haven’t noticed a leak in your roof until it starts raining, the potential for damage to your personal belongings is much higher than if you catch a leak early on because water can seep into an area over several hours or days without being spotted.

If you have a rooftop deck, this may also cause damage to items stored there when it rains. In addition, objects stored inside the attic are at risk of being damaged from leaks through the ceiling or floor.

For example, antique furniture or family heirlooms stored in an attic could be ruined if they become because of a leaky roof.

4) Water stains on your ceilings and walls

Over time a leaking roof will begin to discolor drywall finishes and ceiling tiles as well as cause wood surfaces in contact with leaky water to rot and mold.

It is important for homeowners to be aware of these risks so they can take preventative measures against potential problems.

A leaking roof can cause extensive damage to a home’s interior.

The leaks may not be visible from the outside, but the water often travels along hidden pathways that spread out across ceilings or seep into walls and floors inside the house.

Over time, this moisture will begin to discolor drywall finishes as well as ceiling tiles. In addition, any wood surfaces in contact with leaky water will also be damaged over time by rot and mold growth.

We recommend scheduling an annual inspection of your roof during times of drought or periods of heavy rain.  This is when it is more likely for roofs to develop leaks because these are the most common times for homeowners to notice potential problems with their roofs.

5) Failed roof inspections and appraisals

A common problem that pops up for home buyers and sellers is a failed roof inspection or appraisal.

There may not be any way to predict this happening, but if you’re selling your house, you should tell the buyer about any problems with your roof before you agree on a purchase offer.

Some states require disclosure of material facts such as these, so it’s important to know what your state laws stipulate so as not to get caught in a legal bind later on.

Sometimes sellers will try to hide leaks from potential buyers because they don’t want to lose some of their investment value, which can also cause issues down the road if the repairs weren’t made correctly or there was some type of negligence that occurred when trying to fix the problem.

6) Damaged shingles

If you have a damaged or leaky roof, one of the most common repair jobs homeowners attempt is to replace individual shingles that are damaged by weather or rotting due to moisture damage.

While there’s nothing necessarily wrong with using asphalt shingles when you’re attempting repairs, many people choose this material simply because it’s cheap and easy to find at local home improvement stores.

If not installed properly, however, asphalt shingle roofs can lead to leaks in your roof later on when the seams between individual shingles expand because of heat and wind.

Another danger of a leaking roof that homeowners face when they attempt roof repairs is replacing damaged asphalt shingles. This material tends to be inexpensive but also very weak once installed incorrectly.

These roofs can lead to problems years down the road due to poor installation. So if you need help with shingles installation, contact our experts here at Energy-roofing.

7) Water damage in your living spaces

Finally, if you don’t take care of your leaking roof, there’s the potential for water damage to your living areas, which could lead to costly repairs if not addressed immediately.

If you have a leaky roof on your home that’s allowing rainwater into your attic or basement, then you should take immediate steps to repair it. It’s important to note that once ignored, a leaky roof can cause huge destruction at a massive level.

Don’t wait until the problem becomes more serious because this will only make the necessary repairs more expensive and difficult when it comes time to fix them.

To Sum up

Lastly, it is important for homeowners to be aware of the dangers of having a leaking roof so that they can take preventative measures against potential risks related to their homes. Keeping an eye out for leaks during periods of heavy rain can help reduce some of these risks.

However, some damages may go unnoticed until extensive damage has already occurred.