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Wrestling with Alligatoring, Roof Flashing and Roof Repair

Let's take a quick look at some of the more common roof maladies including roof flashing and roof repair.  Although all of these conditions do not translate into replacing the top of your home, they do call for action.

Alligatoring, which gets its name because the blistering effect looks like an alligator's back, is caused when tar or gravel becomes extremely dry through sun exposure. Eventually alligatoring can create cracks in the roof's surface, leading to extreme leakage problems. Most often found on flat roofs, it usually signals the end of a roof's life-span.

Open joints and splits are both caused by freezing and thawing cycles, which work at moving and separating roofing elements. An open joint can occur wherever two planes meet at an angle. A split is simply a crack or fissure in the roofing membrane. If not repaired, both of these conditions will cause the roof membrane to fail with the result being damage to insulation, ceilings, walls, and the roof deck.

When moisture builds up under the roof's surface the result is blistering. Although blisters unto themselves won't destroy a roof, added stress, such as foot traffic, can create ruptures in the covering.

Bare spots and cracked flashing indicate problems that can quickly become severe. Flashing, which is used to seal joints, can eventually succumb to extreme weather conditions. Bare spots, created by brittle and cracked roof coverings, exposes your membrane and deck to the onslaught of moisture. Potential damage to wood sheathing can create an expensive problem.

Finally porous walls, created by moisture finding it's way into chimney mortar, can seep into ceilings and walls resulting in cosmetic and structural damage. A chimney cap can control this condition.

Your roof is meant to last at least fifteen years. One way to insure it does is to check for these conditions at least twice a year. Repairing flashing, attending to blistering, and resealing open joints are a few of the things you can do to extend the life of your roof, save money, and maintain a healthy house.