If you only remember one sentence from this page it should be the following one. "Roof leaks seldom show up immediately." By the time you realize your roof is leaking a considerable amount of damage may have already occurred. So what can you do to avoid the unexpected?
Get to know your roof as well as the guy that constructed it.
Identify the style of your roof – Each style of roof has its own unique characteristics and is designed to perform in a specific way. Flat, Gable, and Hip, are the most common types.
A poorly designed roof will surely leak.
Identify the type of Shingle, Slate, or Metal, etc... – This is the material that covers the entire roof and protects the underlying wooden components. Some kinds of material lasts longer than others but all will have to be replaced at some future time.
Roof materials are typically made from Asphalt, Fiberglass, and Metal. They come in various designs and are made to work with specific roof styles.
Identify valley areas – When two pitched sections of a roof meet a valley is created. Water traveling through the valley becomes concentrated causing it to wear faster than the rest of the roof. For this reason valleys must be reinforced to ensure that they will last as long as the other areas. There are basically two types of valley designs, opened and closed. Open valleys are not covered by the same material as the rest of the roof, i.e.asphalt shingled roof with metal valleys, and closed valleys are.
Identify flashings – All joints and openings in a roof must be protected from moisture penetration. This is achieved by installing “flashings”. Flashings are angled or molded pieces of material that are installed at key areas of the roof as the covering is being installed. Flashings are typically made from aluminum, plastic, and rubber and needed at chimneys, vent pipes, electrical masts, wall intersections, valleys, etc.. All flashings must be installed in a specific way in order to prevent water from getting under roof coverings where it will become trapped.
It is good practice to inspect your roof twice each year, late spring and again in the fall. Assess the overall condition of the covering, be mindful of any weak or soft spots that you feel, and examine areas that require flashing very thoroughly.