Is Water Damage from A Leaking Roof Jeopardizing Your Home?

1. Is Water Damage from A Leaking Roof Jeopardizing Your Home?

2. There can be a number of causes for a leaking roof, such as improper installation, damage from a storm or a lack of general maintenance, and any one of them can cause significant damage to a home if left undetected and unrepaired. While roofs are durable and long lasting, they don’t last forever, with most having an average lifespan of between 20 and 30 years. It’s important that if you suspect your roof to be leaking, you determine the cause, and this is best achieved by asking a roof specialist to assess it and the damage. If a repair job is needed, that’s what they’ll recommend, but if your roof is old and in need of multiple repairs, it will probably make better financial sense to replace it.

3. Here are some of the ways in which a leaking roof can jeopardize the health and safety of you, your home, and any other occupants and how it can affect your finances, too: A leaking roof can quickly lead to higher utility bills: Detrimental to the insulation in an attic, chronic water intrusion from a long-term leak can significantly deplete the insulation and cause your home to lose cool and hot air, resulting in higher utility bills.

4. Mold and mildew from a leak can cause problems inside your home and for your health: Mold can rapidly spread throughout the structure of a home, to the HVAC system and even to the rest of the house through vents, where it can invade carpets, furniture and even clothing. Unsightly and hard to eliminate, black mold attacks wood frames, ceiling tiles and wall and floor coverings. When it comes to your health, mold spores can lead to allergic reactions, asthmatic symptoms and other, more serious health problems. For those with high sensitivity, it can be especially debilitating.

5. A leaking roof presents a fire hazard For many homes, there is electrical wiring in attics or ceilings, and a leak in a roof (even a small one), can pause a significant fire threat should the water short any of the wires. If your roof is leaking close to an electricity supply, seek help from a roofing specialist and electrician as soon as possible. Damage to the attic and ceiling Naturally, the initial risks from a leaking roof are to the attic and ceiling directly below it, and you might see ceiling paint darkening and ceiling plaster bubbling and expanding. Damage may not be limited only to the attic and ceiling closest to the leak, and if left untreated, it could cause damage to ceiling-mounted lights and fans, too.

6. A leaking roof can compromise the structural integrity of a home Damage to rafters, ceiling joists and wall frames can all pose a significant threat to the structural integrity of a home, and the longer such a leak is left, the more costly the repair work will be to both your roof, and your home. If a roof repair is left untreated, weakened and water-damaged wood can result in peeling paint, damaged ceilings, buckled wall coverings and much more, and ultimately, structural damage is inevitable. Seeking professional help to get your roof fixed or repaired if it’s sprung a leak, is always going to be money well spent, and while you might not relish the prospect of paying roof contractors, they will help preserve your home, and your health.

7. RZ Construction Group Inc is a fully inclusive construction and roofing contractor in Astoria NY. From initial design to final clean up, our results speak for themselves. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to provide both commercial and residential construction services to customers in Astoria and the surrounding area. Proud to serve New York State for 25 years. No job is too small nor too big. If you are looking for a general contractor or roof repair in Astoria NY or want to know more about our wide range of professional but affordable construction and repair services, reach out to us at (718) 938-9887.