If your house has an older roof, it may most likely leak someday. The most common place for the leaks is at the roof valley. It can lead to some major expenses, if roof valley repair is not done in time.
The roof valleys are those points where the two sloping roof surfaces meet together at some angle. The water from the valleys flows into the gutters to go down from the roof. The roof valleys are constructed in different ways. These are normally made using metal flashing, shingles or a rolled roofing.
Causes of Leaks:
There are some common causes of the roof valley leaks. Usually there is a build up of plants, if the roof is not cleaned. This can block the water from flowing. The water crosses the breadth of the valley and finds its way under shingles. Another reason can be improper placing of roofing nails at the time of the installation process. These nails should be placed at more than six inches from the seams.
If the nails are fixed very close to the valley, these can cause some tension and cracks on the shingles. If the shingles are very old around 20 years, those might have worn out or cracked. Sometimes these are even blown away by heavy winds. This can expose the inner roofing elements causing leaks. Such a situation may call for replacement of shingles. Most of the time the sealants, used for repairs done earlier, crack or chip away and the roof starts leaking again.
Roof Valley Repair:
Different techniques can be used to repair roof valleys. The method of repair will depend on the condition of the roof and the type of material that has been used to construct the valleys. It is important that repairs are done regularly to avoid any major damage to the roof. Installing a roof valley can be really very tricky.
Most homeowners opt for the less expensive ways for repairing roof valley leaks rather than changing the complete roof. It is worth considering hiring the professionals for roof valley repair as they can handle it more judiciously.
Normal Repairs:
The normal repairs involve cleaning the roof and brushing it. The roof is allowed to dry. The valleys are inspected to find gaps, shrinkage or cracks in materials; worn out, cracked, broken or missing shingles and various spots, which can cause leaks. A sealant is applied with a putty knife on roof pitch to seal any cracks or holes. The individual bad or missing shingles are replaced. Roofing tar is applied at the edges of shingles at flashing joint. The edges of the valley are also sealed. The loose shingle can be secured by applying roofing cement under them. A portion of the roof and flashing may be replaced, if required. Roofers commonly use a V-shaped piece of metal flashing in the valley.
Professional Help:
The professional roofers use a number of tricks to flashing to help direct water into gutters rather than getting accumulated in the roof valleys. The roofing felt layer is put across the valley. A protective sheet also runs down the valley to shield from the ice and water. This sheet seals against the nail punctures.
A metal valley is placed over it before installing the shingles. The licensed roofers have expertise in shingled roofing and can help you in repairing roof valley repair and prevent roof valley leaks. You should get a professional help.
It is important to check your roof on a regular basis and do the gutter cleaning to minimize your roof leakage problems. However, it is better to go for the professional help as they can use the best roof valley repair methods. If you need help to repair roof valley leaks, contact us.