There are many reasons that a leaky roof in Norfolk can develop. Some of them are fairly simple to fix, while others signal that it’s time for more serious repairs. Here are some of the types of leaks you may experience and what can be done about them:
Leaks around chimneys and attic vents often occur because the flashing around these protrusions has failed. The flashing is usually a metal or plastic strip that surrounds the object, and its purpose is to provide a watertight seal. If the problem is caught fast enough, such leaks can be fixed by installing new flashing and properly sealing it to the surrounding roof. As with any roof leak, however, delays can cause water damage to occur under the shingles down the slope from the leak. This will require more extensive work.
When a leak is in a random area of the roof, it could mean that something like a tree branch has scraped or poked a break through the roof’s shingle layer. This type of leaky roof in Norfolk can be fixed easily enough if it is caught quickly, but like flashing leaks, can result in extensive damage if allowed to remain for too long.
Another reason for a randomly leaky roof in Norfolk is general shingle failure. This occurs simply because the existing shingles have worn out. Roofs that are about 30-40 years old often have this problem develop, but it can happen much sooner if cheap shingles were used the last time the roof was done. If this is the problem, the only solution is to have the roof completely reshingled. If it’s merely patched, a worn-out roof will just leak through somewhere else – possibly the same day.
The one thing that is always true of a leaky roof in Norfolk or anywhere else is that time is of the essence. Leaking water gets down to the roof deck, which is the underlying structure the outer covering is attached to. If left wet, the roof deck can rot to the point that it needs replacement. This will add many thousands of dollars to what could have been a routine reshingling or patching job.
