When you are relaxing at home, look up, and see signs of water damage and potential restoration, you need to investigate right away. When water enters your home through the ceiling, can you assume it is from the roof? Determining the source of the roof leak can be a challenge. The source of the roof leak on the outside of the home rarely matches where the leak appears on the inside of the home. While stains can be used to locate roof leaks, they may not reveal the entire story behind the roof leak.

Water Damage Restoration In Pittsburgh

Locating the source of a roof leak is not an exact science; it is a process of elimination. Several contributing factors and may not always be the direct result of one specific problem associated with your roof.

Most Likely Causes for Roof Leaks 

Bad weather conditions such as heavy rain or wind can cause any loose or damaged materials to break off your roof; after a heavy storm you could wake up to a few shingles scattered across your yard.

Leaves, pine needles, twigs or silt buildup will buildup and trap water and cause a capillary action where water tracks underneath the tiles or shingles and seeps into the home. When wet leaves collect on your roof, they collect even more water and clump together. They then can rot, and the moisture gets into the shingles and can cause rotting there, too. Then, as more water collects and drips down, it can leak into the building. Gutters clogged with debris will slow drainage or cause water to backup, seep through and cause leaks

After years of exposure, vent pipes or plastic vents may have gaps around gaskets, missing nails or cracks. If there is a leak in or around the base of your vent, then it is likely that there will be dark spots forming around the area and can create a musty smell. Roof vents are usually sealed with flashing and roof mastic around the base where they extend from the roof base. If there is a leak that is linked to the vent, it can be because there is a crack in the flashing seal or damage to the vent itself. Also, cracked and dry calking make your roof vulnerable to leaks at roof seams, chimney or skylight edges.

Improperly ventilated or insulated attics that cause condensation buildup during extreme temperatures. While this causes water damage, it also creates mold or mildew hazards. Finally, roofing materials deteriorate with age and prevent them from effectively keeping the elements out. For example, scuppers provide an outlet through parapet walls or gravel stops on flat and built-up roofs to allow drainage of excess water. If any of the components break or get clogged, the roof could leak. 

Causes Other Than Failing Roof

However, when you sell a ceiling stain, don’t assume that your roof is the problem Ask our water damage restoration professionals to investigate other causes such as:

• Plumbing leaks
• Air conditioning leaks
• Condensation
• Pest infestation

In Pittsburgh, trust the team best equipped to investigate and solve your leaks.

Building Damage Services

When disaster strikes, G.S. Jones understands that quick and professional response is not an option, it is mandatory. We have developed our professional reputation over the years with homeowners, facilities and risk managers, insurance agents, brokers, and adjusters. If your property suffers building damage, our water damage restoration team can help with both the equipment and the expertise to quickly repair the damage.

Water Damage Restoration In Pittsburgh

G.S. Jones provides restoration and reconstruction services after the natural disasters and plumbing problems. As part of our reconstruction and water damage restoration efforts, the team will provide you with clear communication with regard to scheduling, payments, scope of work, selection of materials, change orders, contents, and communication with the Insurance Company.