A roof that only leaks during or after heavy rain, rather than all the time, can be confusing to diagnose. It often means the fault is small enough to cope with light rain but gets overwhelmed once water volume builds up, or that a blockage or overflow only becomes a problem under sustained rainfall. Pontypridd sees its fair share of heavy downpours, particularly in the autumn and winter months, so this is a problem local homeowners come across fairly often.
Working out what is happening starts with understanding the main things that can go wrong on a roof during heavy weather.
The most likely causes
Damaged, slipped, or missing tiles and slates are a common cause. A small gap that lets in the odd drip during light rain can let in much more once water is running down the roof in volume. Faulty or perished flashing around chimneys, valleys, and roof joints works the same way, coping with a light shower but failing once water is really moving. Blocked or damaged guttering is another frequent cause, and it is often mistaken for a roof leak. If gutters are full of leaves and debris, or a section has come loose, water can overflow and be forced back under the roofline or down the wall during heavy rain, which shows up inside as if the roof itself were leaking.
On flat roofs, ponding water and worn or split roofing membrane are common issues, since standing water finds any weak point in the covering over time. Storm damage, such as lifted tiles or dislodged lead flashing from wind and rain together, can also cause a leak that only appears once the weather turns bad. In older Pontypridd properties, deteriorated pointing or flaunching around chimney stacks can let water soak in during prolonged wet weather even when the tiles themselves are sound.
It is also common for the leak to appear some distance from where the water is actually getting in, since it can travel along a rafter or timber before dripping through the ceiling. This is one of the reasons a leak that seems mysterious from inside the house is often quite straightforward to trace once someone gets up onto the roof itself.
Getting the leak found and fixed
Because there are several possible causes, and sometimes more than one at once, it is worth having a roofer trace the leak properly rather than guessing. T & T Roofing and Home Improvements Ltd deals with storm damage and emergency roof repairs as well as general roof repairs across Pontypridd, and we offer a free, no-obligation quotation so you know exactly what is wrong and what it will take to fix it. Call us on 07766 547309 if your roof is leaking after heavy rain.
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