Nature and Negligence: the Most Common Causes of Roof Damage

Roofs encounter a multitude of problems as they age. Some are caused by natural forces like weather, others by negligence. But more often than not, these two factors come into play in the deterioration of your roof.

Wind Damage

A natural force that cannot be prevented from harassing your roof is the wind. You see roof segments being peeled from their rafters during a tornado touchdown simply because no roof structure is designed to withstand winds of that intensity. However, even with moderately strong winds of 50 to 75 miles per hour, roofs still tend to get damaged. The damage results primarily from the partial vacuum created by the wind blowing over the roof edge.

To neutralize this partial vacuum, high-pressure area in the house rushes outward to balance off low-pressure area coming from the wind. Over time, this outward rush loosens the fasteners and adhesions, making them susceptible to damage next time a moderately strong wind blows in. The damaging effects of this wind uplift can be counteracted by adequately fastening the roofing and insulation to the roof deck.

Weathering

Depending on the kind of material used, roofing materials will deteriorate as they get exposed to the weather. Hail, in particular, is a weathering agent that can damage all roof types whether organic or inorganic. Likewise, pollutants and other corrosive, industrial chemicals in the air contribute to the accelerated deterioration of certain roofing materials.

Faulty Flashings

Flashings are among the most vulnerable parts of a roof. Their function is to create a watertight junction between roofing structures and other parts of the house. Any form of error or defective craftsmanship during their installation can contribute to faulty flashings, with roof leakage being the damaging result. For this reason, the roofing contractors Worcester MA residents prefer are those who have extensive experience in the proper installation of flashings.

Design Defects

Defects in the design of the roof are a serious cause of roof problems, and usually, they can only be corrected during re-roofing. Examples of these defects include sagging roof structures, an inadequate roof slope, and insufficient drain locations; other design problems involve incompatible roof materials. As such, the roofing contractors Massachusetts homeowners deal with make sure that when they lay down a house’s roof foundations, the design is properly laid out.

While many roof problems are the result of natural forces well beyond your ability to prevent, you can mitigate their damaging effects through regular and careful inspection. So if you think your roof is beginning to demonstrate any of the above problems, then consider contacting the roofing contractors Massachusetts residents trust most. To find out more about roof problems and repairs, you can go to buildings.com.

Alejamuel Sultz - About Author:
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