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?

Definitely NOT shingle damage. At least from what I see.

I would say number #1 is poor workmanship. a close second would be flat to pitch tie-ins, then flat roof edgemetal failure and then failure at any roof penetrations. Am I allowed four answers? :P

Was the question "what caused them" or "where are they from"? :unsure: Flashings don't cause leaks, but thats where they happen.

Rain.

Your correct Vickie

Hey Roofguy, at least we have one smart guy/gal in the group.

Improper workmanship at penetrations, valleys, walls, etc. Though only water resistant, and not water proof, the shingles themselves don't cause the leaks. Flashings are considered water proof, so they, themselves aren't the problem.

I have today's example right here.

I noticed a curious phenomenom today. Leaves hung on step flashing.

A little probing and I find the counter flashing has been cut and installed so it catchees water and guides it behind the step flashing to cause a leak.Several, in fact.

I cut the tips off squarely to stop this leaker.

Roof damage sounds like a storm chaser trying to convince people that they have damage. IMHO most of the hail "damage" that I see is just normal wear and tear that will have minimal effect on the life span of the shingles. Granted there are differing degrees of hail but the nickle/quarter size hail should not be a concern.

The most common leaks that we repair are caused from poor workmanship, especially at the bottom of valleys that end at a wall. Most of our repair calls are from: 1) deteriorated rubber pipe boot flashings. 2) blown off shingles, usually misnailed shingles. 3) leaking skylight flashings. 4) improper chimney flashings. 5) valleys as mentioned above. 6) poor ventilation. 7) nail holes in the roof left by other trades. 8) wind bolwn rain or snow getting under flashings or into roof vents. 9) garbage ridge vents. There are numerous causes of roof leaks. These are the ones we seem to see the most often. The only shingle damage that I have seen cause a leak from a storm is when a large area is blown off.

GKRFG Said: Roof damage sounds like a storm chaser trying to convince people that they have damage. IMHO most of the hail damage that I see is just normal wear and tear that will have minimal effect on the life span of the shingles. Granted there are differing degrees of hail but the nickle/quarter size hail should not be a concern.

Usually, not always. I saw most of the commercial roofs in Spur, Tx replaced after nickel sized hail. The unusual storm hit in February when the temp was 45 (brittle asphalt) and driven by 75 mph wind.

This is why we don't like it when Haag Engineering incorrectly says that it takes 2" hail to damage a BUR.

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.

But, then, as always it comes down to the intent of the question which provoked the discussion in the first place, so if we are speaking literally, and if we ascribe a liberal 30% for roofs which have premature problems, well then the remaining 70% (which presumably go full-term) do seem to fail from damage to the material albeit naturally-occurring damage.

In truth, including all the failures I have ever encountered, most were due to degradation of the material. Nonetheless, I still join everyone else in being suspicious of the original statement, and the greatest likelihood of leaks occurring is in the flashing zones, whether because of defective parts, badly-designed parts, or poorly installed parts, and that includes Rocky's perimeter metal, which is also flashing.

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.

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.

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.

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. :)

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.