Chasing Roof Leaks - Repair or Replace?

The first you may know of something being wrong with your roof is the discovery of a leak or a draft in the house.

Roofs may seem to be a simple structure,

but are generally composed of a number of layers, including tiles or metal roofing, battens, trusses, flashing, a vapour barrier, insulation and penetrations such as chimnies and vents.

We repair roofs throughout the Northern Tablelands for many reasons.  Some repairs are minor while others take significant work.

There are a surprising number of things that can go wrong with a roof. Here are some of the signs you need to call us for inspection.

Water Leaks

This is the most obvious sign there is something amiss. Even small leaks can cause significant damage to your home and to your health.

Water has been known to flow under special circumstances. It can enter the roof and travel quite a distance in bizarre directions (even uphill) before finding a weak spot and penetrating your ceiling.

Any noticeable leak should be investigated right away. The most common reasons why roofs leak is:

• Missing, cracked or broken tiles

• Corrosion of corrugated metal

• No sarking to catch leaks driven in by wind-blown rain

• Heavy rain (and blockage) causing the valleys to overflow

• Downpipe and gutters not draining quickly enough

• Eaves gutters overflowing into the wall cavity

• Corrugated metal roof leaking at laps

• Top-end of roof sheets leaking due to ‘turn – up’ problems

Drafts and Increased Energy Bills

If you notice a draft or a sudden increase in your energy bill, there’s a strong chance you have a roofing problem. Air conditioning costs and heating costs will increase if warm air is leaking out through the roof. 

Age

Many houses throughout the Northern Tablelands were constructed over 50 years ago. With proper installation and quality materials, you can generally expect a roof to last up to fifty years however the lifespan is subject to climatic conditions such as temperature, storms, snow and drought. Beyond 50 years, roofs begin to lose their structural integrity and repairs become fruitless.

A good builder will be able to assess the merits of a roof repair vs a roof replacement. Here at Meader Constructions, we guarantee our workmanship and have unfortunately had to declined to repair some roofs due to the age and integrity of the existing roofing.

If your home still has it's the original roof and is over 50 years old, chances are it's beyond its lifespan. Although a costly exercise, its often better to just 'bite the bullet' and replace the offending roof off and save you the headaches.