Roof Leak Repairs
We undertake all types of repairs and maintenance to fix leaking roofs, faulty or damaged gutters, and vehicle damage to garages.
A roof leak repair finds where water is getting into the roof and seals or replaces the part that has failed, whether that is a flashing, a lap, a fixing, a tile or a section of sheet. Roof leak repair in Hobart starts with finding the entry point, which is often some distance from the wet patch inside.
Where roof leaks start
Flashings are a common source: where the roof meets a wall, a chimney, a skylight, a vent or a flue. The sealant around flashings dries out and cracks, and the flashings themselves lift or rust.
Other sources are the laps between sheets, fixings that have rusted or lifted, cracked or slipped tiles, cracked ridge mortar, and valleys that have rusted or filled with leaves.
Why does a leak show up away from where it starts?
Water that gets past the roof runs along the underside of the sheets or tiles, along the sarking, and down the rafters or battens before it drips onto the ceiling. On a low-pitched roof it can travel a long way. The stain on the ceiling marks where the water came down, which may not be under the fault.
Leaks from gutters and box gutters
Some leaks come from the gutters. An overflowing gutter can push water back under the roof edge or into the eaves, and a box gutter that overflows puts water straight into the building.
Leaks that keep coming back
A leak at a flashing or fixing can be repaired on its own. Leaks in several places, or leaks that come back after repair, are a sign that the roof as a whole has worn out.
Skylights, vents and flues
Every penetration through a roof needs its own flashing. A skylight is sealed at its upstand and flashed into the sheeting or tiles around it. Vents and flues pass through a flashing collar that is sealed to the pipe.
When the seal or the collar fails, water runs down the outside of the pipe and into the roof space, and the stain inside may appear well away from the pipe.
Roofs we have been called to
Common questions
Do you repair roof leaks?
Yes. We repair leaks, damaged gutters and downpipes.
Where do most roof leaks start?
At the joins: flashings around walls, chimneys, skylights and vents, the laps between sheets, fixings, ridge capping and valleys.
Can a leak be fixed without a new roof?
A leak at a flashing, lap or fixing can usually be repaired on its own. Leaks in several places, or leaks that keep returning, point to a roof that has worn out.
Can an overflowing gutter cause a leak inside?
Yes. Water from an overflowing gutter can get back under the roof edge or into the eaves, and an overflowing box gutter sends water straight into the building.
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Send us the details of the job. You can also ring us on 0437 987 661.