How Roof Maintenance Prevents Leaks

LIVERMORE — There are a lot of reasons why roof maintenance is important, but the most significant is probably leak prevention. Whether you have a tile roof or an asphalt shingle roof, rainy weather can cause problems if it hasn’t been properly maintained. Regular maintenance will prepare your roof to withstand wet weather and enable you to catch potential issues before the rain begins to fall.

The most common areas where roof leaks occur are valleys (areas where two roof slopes meet and create a channel for water to flow) and protrusions in the roof such as chimneys, skylights, plumbing pipes, and vents. The main reason leaks occur in these areas is debris. Over time, dirt, moss and other types of debris become lodged beneath tiles/shingles, which blocks the water channels and causes water to spread out into more vulnerable areas of the roof. This scenario can also result from a broken or out-of-position tile/shingle, which can occur due to natural movement or expansion/contraction caused by weather changes.

Because there’s no way to know when these types of issues occur, it’s best to have your roof inspected and maintained by a professional every five to 10 years. If you have lots of trees around your home, you’ll want to have this done more often. Ultimately, you’re better off preventing roof leaks than having to call for repairs after the damage has already been done.