MOST COMMON CAUSE OF ROOF LEAKS?

I just read n the internet that the most common cause of residential roof leaks is shingle damage. I disagree. I think the most common cause of roof leaks is from the flashings, roof to wall, backed up gutters and valleys. So who is right, some random article or me? I might add I am not a roofer so tell me roofers what do you think?

Poor Workmanship! End of story!  :)

In-ground pool?

I am having problem with the pool pump from last few weeks, also the slab beside the pool is also leaking. I am thinking to call the leak detection and repair company for help , can anyone here suggest some names of such firms.

I notice it's A language barrier. You ask, " are you A {fill in trade}" ? The reply is ALWAYS the same. " oh jes I eng goo roofing meng".

Flashing issues it is.

wywoody....Most all the correct details have been available & previously practiced...It's just that we, (as an industry), continue to take short-cuts out of greed.

Debris accumulation is dramatically reduced or eliminated, if appropriate flashing/counter-flashing & tile placing techniques are practiced.

Not only tile. Up here in the mountains, most shake tear-offs reveal simple 'L'-metal side-walls...No step flashing!,,,Oh, but it's copper!

A lot of places in the west, still use L-metal w/comp at side-walls. it works w/so little rain/snow.

Will a roof leak if its ugly? If it has no granules on it will it still not divert rain? With no granules to protect it, it's still water repellant asphalt or is it water logged paper?

As one who spends the majority of work time on tile leaks, I agree that clogging and damming are real issues with tile. They no doubt take up more of my time correcting them any other cause. But the equivalent of shingle damage, broken tile, is right up there as a cause of leaks. But fixing a broken tile takes far less time than, say, replacing a valley metal and repairing the underlayment below it, a very common repair that I do.

TomB, step flashing is definitely the superior system for sidewalls, then a channel flashing with a counterflashing above the tile to keep debris out and least desirable channel flashing alone. Unfortunately, when manufacturers give roofers the option of picking the sidewall flashings, too often they pick the easiest and cheapest (channel flashing alone).

Another common repair that I see is when the backpan above a chimney or slylight dumps the water to the sidewall channel instead of keeping the water above the tile. This overwhelms the channel and causes it to overflow or clog where it has to dump out over the tile.

As to blame on these type of issues, the workmanship may be perfect so you can't necessarily blame the roofer, the specs may be just as laid out by the installation guide, so the specifier is off the hook. That leaves the manufacturer or the TRI manual as the culprit.

Of course w/step-flashing it most-likely wouldn't be an issue.....To reiterate; Your assumption is correct Vickie...Flashing issues are the predominant cause of leaks.

Here's more. Sooooo many dormer sides get closed at the window sill it isn't funny.

I little trimming with the Multi-Master and some more flashing.

"I guess as long as we're assuming premature failure I agree with what has been said already, though nobody but Vickie mentioned clogging of parts. In some tile systems (among others) that's a huge factor." I've had to take many Ludwicki apart and put them back on for that reason. Corners left on valley shingles causing clogs and leaks. Many valley repairs are a matter of just cutting the corners/tips off. :laugh: :huh: Slate debris in keyways. Channel flashing that's closed instead of leaving an inch open for water flow and/or the tops not clipped catching debris.

Incorrect.

Corrected.

GKRFG Said: Eric, Have you guys had the organic shingle failures in your area? Around here there are a lot of CertainTeed and Globe shingle failures from the 90s. Usually if I see a roof with no granules left its one of the above. Its sad to see all of these 30 year roofs going bad at half their life. But its been GREAT for business. :)

I've re-done lots of past customers also. I am also surprised at how many returned to CT for their new shingles.

Eric, Have you guys had the organic shingle failures in your area? Around here there are a lot of CertainTeed and Globe shingle failures from the 90's. Usually if I see a roof with no granules left it's one of the above. It's sad to see all of these 30 year roofs going bad at half their life. But it's been GREAT for business. :)

We get a bit of that here with wind claims, Gerry. Wind can blow off shingles pretty well when they are on the south side and have no granules left.

RoofGuy - said Rain. Almost made me laugh out loud. :laugh: Rockydog - incorrect installation of roof flashings, etc. is what I meant. I wished I would have saved that article.

As you can tell I have a storm chaser attitude. I only do residential so I look at everything from that angle. We don't get too many hail storms with large stones. I'm sure some areas get some real damage but not around here. I get so disgusted by what I see as insurance fraud. The roofing industry has been taken over by companies whose business model is to work storms and insurance companies. I see way too many roofs that still have over 10 years of life left in them being replaced because of greed. Or roofs at the end of thei life span being replaced by insurance companies. The cost of insurance just keeps going up anf this plays a huge part. That's how I see it any way.