Winter rain storms hit Melbourne hard. Leakage of roofs is a common result of rain. The rain does not cause the leak. It is just a reminder that something is not working as it should.
It could be a problem with the roof tiles. It could be a faulty installation of solar panels. It could be overflowing gutters.
There are many possible causes of a leaking roof. They all have one thing in common. They let water in places you don’t want. Leaking roofs in Melbourne can be a nuisance or a costly nightmare.
We’ll be looking at the most common and least common causes of roof leaks. The risks they pose if left untreated, as well as the roof repair options that can be used to protect your home.
Emergency Roof Repairs
Let’s get started before we go into detail. Vivify Roofing is available to assist you with emergency roof repairs if your roof is leaking badly. While you are searching for a permanent solution, we can keep your head above the water. We have 15 years of experience in roof repair in Melbourne, and our customers trust us to deliver quality work at an affordable price.
Common Causes of Roof Leaks In Melbourne
Diagnosis is the first step to fixing a leaky roof. As with any type of repair, it is impossible to fix the problem without first diagnosing the cause. This section will help you determine the root cause of your roof problem.
yourhome.gov.au says that Roof Leaks are most easily detected when it is raining.
Broken Roof Tiles
Broken roof tiles most often cause leaking roofs. Roof tiles are quite sturdy and have a very long life span. Both concrete and Terracotta tiles won’t often break by themselves. It is usually necessary for an outside force to cause them to burst. It could be a falling tree limb, a child throwing a heavy object, or someone walking on the roof.
Rain, wind, hail and storm damage
Melbourne hail is so large that even the strongest roofs are no match for the city’s weather. Winter can be very harsh with strong winds up to 100kph, heavy hail, flash flooding, and falling trees. Extreme circumstances have seen sheets of old tin roofing ripped off by storms.
According to the study by James Cook University, Townsville (Queensland), Australia, windstorms are responsible for most of Australia’s housing-related damage.
Problems with Ridge Caps or Missing Ridge Tiles
Ridge caps, also known as tiles or shingles, are the protective tiles or shingles that cover the roof’s peaks where the two angles meet. They are an essential part of rainwater drainage. If they are not installed correctly or damaged, leaky roofs can result. Even if your ridge caps were perfectly installed, it is possible for the pointing to and the bedding underneath to begin to wear down over time. If your roof is very old, it could be the cause of your leaks. These types of leaks can be difficult to identify. It is possible to locate the leak source below the ridge cap without removing it.
Faulty Chimney Waterproofing
Leakage is possible anywhere angles meet on your roof. There are four walls to a chimney, so there is a chance for something to go wrong. Flashing is usually installed where the chimney and roof meet to prevent water seepage.
The flashing can fail over time due to poor installation or rust. Cracking or rust is often the problem. These can be repaired with a simple application of a sealant. Sometimes, the flashing will need to be replaced entirely.
Stuffed and damaged Gutters
Your home’s water protection system is dependent on your gutters. Your gutters will help direct water away from your home safely and orderly if the roof does its job.
Gutters that are not properly installed can cause clogs in your gutters. This will eventually lead to a leak.
If gutters become clogged or damaged, water can instead find a place to go, usually through your windows. Visual inspection can often help you determine if your gutters are clogged. Cleaning them can resolve a leaking roof if they are full of leaves, twigs or even a small garden.
Plumbing problems
The pipes that connect to your roof can cause major leaks. They are just like chimneys and add another area that must be sealed. You should inspect the sealing around your roof’s exit points for cracks and deterioration if you have exhaust flues, vent pipes, fan ducts, or other plumbing.
Vivify Roofing has a qualified plumber on-site for these purposes. This type of work should not be subcontracted. We have enough experience with roof plumbing. Our plumber is skilled in diagnosing and fixing roof leaks due to faulty plumbing.
Flashing Faults
The most crucial step in any roof installation is flashing your roof’s edge. Roofers must find the right balance between functionality and aesthetics. If it is done wrongly, leaking can occur almost immediately–even on a new roof. Flashing can also become worn and cracked over time. If you want to stop your leaks, it doesn’t matter if the flashing was not installed correctly or other environmental factors.
Solar Panel Problems
The possibility of roof leaks is a major concern for homeowners looking for panel installation. As long as licensed professionals install the solar panels properly, your roof should not leak. If your solar panels were not installed properly by licensed professionals, they could have caused damage to your roof.
Leakages that occur soon after installing solar panels are likely to be the root cause. You can fix the problem, but you need to act quickly to avoid further damage. You won’t be able to fix the problem yourself. You’ll need to call a professional roofing company skilled in solar panel repair.
Deteriorating skylights
Skylights are great for adding natural light to the dark corners of your house. They are also a common cause of leaky roofs in Melbourne.
They can cause disruptions to your roof’s normal function, so it is easy for them to be misplaced. Your skylight is likely to have a shorter life span than your roof. Even if your roof is in good shape, your skylight could leak. Leaves, dirt, and other debris may build up around your skylight and cause water to pool, eventually leaking into your home.
Risks associated with leaky roofs
Knowing a little bit more about why your roof may be leaky, it is important to think about what you might be at risk if the problem continues. You might think that a bucket is all that’s needed to stop a drip from your kitchen. If left unattended, even the smallest roof leak can cause major damage to your home and cost you a lot more than if it was fixed immediately.
Damage to your Attic and its Contents
Although it is rare in Australia to have a roofed attic, if water begins to leak into your home, it will be the first to get rid of. This could cause damage to any property you may have stored there. In the long-term, attic leaks can also lead to damage to your insulation electrical components and wear on the wood and sunroof.
Walls and Ceiling Damage
The leak may be coming through your ceiling, even if it isn’t in the attic. This could cause unsightly water stains and bubbling paint, and ruined plaster. Water loves to travel, so ceiling damage can quickly spread to adjoining walls. Water that leaks around ceiling fans or light fixtures can pose electrical hazards.
Structure Damage to Your Home
What is worse than water falling on your head! A whole house is falling on your head.
Although it might seem exaggerated, water leaks can cause serious structural damage to your home’s frame and ceiling joists. Wood shouldn’t be exposed to water for long periods. Wood will warp, rot and become brittle over time. If left untreated, structural damage to your home could lead to unsafe living conditions for you and your family.
Wasted Energy
Water leakage can quickly cause damage to insulation in your walls and attic. As your home struggles to maintain the right temperature, you will see increased utility bills.
Electrical Risk
Water damage can increase your chances of getting burned. Water can cause the insulation to wear if it comes in contact with wires and junction boxes for a prolonged period. If left unattended, open connections can become hazards for electric fires.
Water that comes in contact with open wires can also cause electrical shock. If you suspect that your roof leaks reach your electrical system, immediately shut off power and contact a licensed electrician.
Reducing the life expectancy of your roof
Budget concerns can lead to you putting off repairs for leaks. Consider the long-term cost of not fixing the leak right away. Water damage can severely reduce the lifespan of your roof if it becomes serious. Repairing a leak today will be much cheaper than replacing your entire roof 10 years later than you should.
Mold and Mildew Growth
The most important reason not to let leaky roofs continue is the danger posed by mildew and mold. These fungi love warm, humid places to grow. They love to breed in damp places like your ceilings and roofs.
Your entire house can be affected by what starts on your roof. Mold can quickly grow on insulation, which is hidden behind walls. Your air conditioner and ducted heating can suddenly become compromised.
A mold infestation can affect your property’s value and pose a serious health risk to your family. Mild symptoms may include a stuffy nose and a sore throat. However, severe mold reactions can cause fatigue, headaches, nerve damage, and other health problems.
How to Repair Your Leaking Roof
What are your options for leaking roof repair in melbourne? We hope that we’ve made it clear that you should not wait for the problem to resolve itself. There’s too much at stake. Here are some steps you can take to stop the leakage.
Do-it-yourself Leak Repair
While it is possible to fix your leaks in certain cases, you should be ready for some of the most difficult home repairs you will ever encounter. You may not be able to identify the source of your leak if you don’t spend every day working on roofs. You can make repairs once you find the source. If you don’t do it correctly, it will be there again in the next storm. You’ll do it again and again.
This is not always true, of course. However, we want to demonstrate how repairing a roof leak can be quite different from replacing a deck plank. It is not always an easy job.
The problem you are trying to solve will determine the type of roof repair that you need. You can repair small cracks in roof tiles with roofing cement. This will seal the source of the leak. You will need to replace tiles with larger cracks that are not easily sealed.
Sometimes the source of the leakage is no obvious damage. It could be due to problems with the membrane underneath the tile. These can be more difficult to find, but you’ll need to replace the tiles once you have them. It’s best to hire professionals.
Professional Leak Repair
You don’t want to fix your roof yourself. Instead, you should call a professional licensed to take care of your home. Your roof is the most important part of your home. Make sure you get insurance. You don’t want amateurs causing damage to your home without the proper insurance.
Be wary of storm chasers as well as door-to-door roofers. These people will use high-pressure sales tactics to prey upon those suffering from severe storm damage. They will often use high-pressure sales tactics and prey on people suffering from severe storm damage.
Choose a local roofer who has a proven track record in your area. Online reviews are a great way to make sure you hire a high-quality team. Here are a few reasons why Vivify Roofing is different from the rest.
With 15 years of experience in Melbourne’s roofing industry, we know how the weather affects the roofs and what to do about it.
Our in-house plumber is available. This is vital because not all roof leaks can be blamed on your tiles. If pipes are the problem, a plumber is needed.
We are experts in solar panel leak repair. It is a niche market. Our team can help keep your home dry and not damage your panels.
We are experts in roof restorations. Our over 15-years of experience have allowed us to work on nearly every type of Australian house roof. We can handle any roof repair in Melbourne. We often take on the most complex and difficult projects that inexperienced companies would be too afraid to tackle.
Roof Leakage Repairs
Sometimes, even the worst times can surprise you with leaking roofs. Guests are staying. There’s a family event. Maybe unwanted water is ruining your birthday. Sometimes your roof will be fine, but then a storm can knock a branch off it and send rain into your living space.
No matter your situation, even if you aren’t ready to do a full roof repair, a professional can help you get your roof watertight again until you find a permanent solution or file an insurance claim.
