Roofing problems – a hole in a gutter. What to do?
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ToggleTracing Leaks On A Roof
Tracing leaks can be complicated and arduous work, for several reasons. Here, today, we start a several part series that delves deeper into the topic of tracing leaks. There are many techniques in the approach or effort to search and hunt for leaks, Often there will be telltale signs, we often refer to these types of visual indicators as water trails. Often though, the location of water trails or visually apparent evidence on the exterior of a building does not always correspond directly to water entry points or points of visible evidence on the interior of a building. Sometimes the difference in location can be significant to the point that it’s counterintuitive and even complicated or confusing.
When you look closely at how water molecules work and act, based on their chemical properties, on a scientific level, you can see that water sometimes will naturally do things that seem counterintuitive. Water trails can, at times, be visually identifiable without destructive removal of finishes. At other times, in other circumstances, assemblies must be opened (and therein destroyed) to search. The search normally begins at the interior where exterior water entry and related searching justifies the prospective cost of destructive searching. But many searches are not directly productive and instead each iterative attempt may merely rule out a potential source candidate.
A Hole In The Roofing Gutter Can Be The Source of Leakage
The picture below shows an example of a rear facade in Washington DC where water pours directly down the face of the building at each precipitation event.
When you look a bit more closely, you can see a dark area around and just below the middle window on the top floor of the building. This darkened area has been exposed to a concentrated flow of water at each rainfall for a significant amount of time. The mortar at this location has deteriorated and other areas of the building are affected by the concentrated flow of water.
From up on the roof, you can see that the source of the leak is evident and obvious. There’s a hole directly in the gutter.
The next picture below shows a close up view of that location. This is the type of leak source that iso easy and obvious cover it stands as a good point of comparison against all of the other more difficult and complicated types areas of water entry. Nonetheless, to everyone’s surprise, this leak went undiagnosed for so long that it calls significant damage to the building. This circumstance stands as an example of why it’s helpful to have a skilled roofing contractor submachine as Dupont Roofing check a building’s roof system on a routine basis.
Avoiding Rooftop Damage From Rainwater
Smart proactive replacement, construction, upkeep and maintenance of low slope roof systems requires an enthusiastic interest and understanding of waterproofing principles and building science. Here in Washington DC, historic and modern residential and commercial buildings are extremely expensive and the roof and related systems provide the shield that preserves the building.
We encourage all of our clients, and all readers of this article and to our blog in general, to prioritize the value of quality construction and building maintenance, and develop a relationship with our company. You can learn a lot more on our blog. Feel free to check it out. If you have questions about the roof and related systems of your building in Washington DC, contact us or fill out the webform below and drop us a line. We will be in touch if we can help.