Oh NO!  Look up, Ma!  The Ceiling is Leaking!

When a leak occurs in your house, it’s a crisis! Buckets are set out, and sometimes Good Ole Uncle Jim is called for advice because, everyone in the family knows that Uncle Jim built a couple houses a while back. He’s the family expert. He’s the guy who knows how to use a hammer (and he’s also the guy whose other favorite other tool is duct tape!)

If Uncle Jim is really “good,” the first thing he will check is the flashings around walls, pipes sticking through the roof (penetrations), and around the chimney. check all penetrations into the roof including snow guards and the solar mounting used on your solar panels. If your roof has lots of valleys, dormers, or “cut-up” sections (which designers love because it adds interest to the overall look of the building), there is a good chance that is where the leak is coming from. Even with a straight gable roof (roof with just two sides and a ridgeline), you can have leaks that are NOT caused by a worn out or faulty roofing product.

The flashings in these areas might have worn out or might not have been installed properly. Let’s face it, when you bought the house did you even look up? Roofing isn’t the most interesting issue when buying a house, right?  And sometimes flashings are installed unprofessionally, or corners are cut to save money. Oftentimes no one realizes this until there is a leak.

Good Ole Uncle Jim

So, if you’ve got this issue, and there’s no Good Ole Uncle Jim around to help, think like a raindrop and see where you would flow.  (Hint – This is always down!)  Sometimes you’ll head for an obstruction rather than flowing right off the edge.  So check around penetrations, in the valleys, the walls that abut to the roof and locations where flashings are supposed to divert water from going under the roofing material. If these are cracked, loose, or just plain absent, it’s time to install new flashing.  Or do what smart Uncle Jims do. Use duct tape – roofer’s duct tape!

TRA Snow and Sun has something we like to call the “roofer’s duct tape” and it works like magic!

VersaFlash and TileSeal are flexible aluminum rolled flashing that attaches down with a butyl adhesive and is flexible. You can use it in areas like around roof-to-wall abutments, around chimneys and pretty much everywhere else. They work like magic as flashing for tile roofs! It’s super easy to work with and competitively priced.

With the warm weather that many areas of the US are experiencing this fall season, it’s a perfect time to complete a few more projects on your home and be prepared for winter.

Start at the top by checking your roof for any leaks, breakages or deformations. It’s hard to believe that winter is just around the corner, but soon enough the snow will begin to pile up and rain will beat down on our houses. Don’t get caught off guard!

Checking Your Roof

It’s a good idea to check your roof two times a year to repair the natural wear and tear that weather brings. When looking for damage, you’ll want to look for different things depending on the type of roof you have. For example if you have an asphalt roof, you’ll want to check the gutters for buildup of granules indicating that the tiles are wearing down. If you have wooden shingles check to see if they’re warping or rotting. Be sure to use proper safety equipment while performing this inspection.

Be sure to check flashings where pipes come through the roof to be sure they are in good shape. Valleys, hips and roof-to-wall junctions also have flashings that should be checked. These are common locations for leaks and relatively inexpensive and easy to fix.

What is Flashing?

Flashing is a metal material installed on your roof that prevents water from leaking into your house. It is typically applied around the chimney, pipes, skylights and junctions where the sidewalls of the house meet the roof. TRA Sun and Snow provides a variety of copper and aluminum flashing that are congruent with all sorts of roof types—asphalt shingles, cedar shingles, corrugated metal, flat seam metal, metal panel, simulated slate, slate, standing seam metal, tile roofs and wood shakers. TRA has the very best option on the market for tile roof ventilation and flashing.

Why You Need Good Flashing

The purpose of flashing is to help water properly run off of your roof to avoid any chances of seepage into your house. With flashing you can avoid problems associated with water damage like mold and structural damage. Put away those buckets you use to catch water from a leaking roof! Appropriate flashing will keep your home dry and safe even when the winter rain and snow beats down on your home.

While the weather is still relatively warm, check your roof to make sure it is ready to withstand the coming winter storms. Your roof is what protects you and your family from wet and snowy weather, so it’ll be worth the look. Use our flashings to make sure your roof is water tight.