Attic Insulation
While many roof leaks are noticeable due to the stains and drips that develop on walls and ceilings, some leaks will go undetected because they stop within the attic space. The attic’s insulation may absorb some of the moisture. Homeowners might not even notice the problem until they need to access the attic or until the insulation is fully saturated and water starts to leak through the ceiling from the attic floor. Any time wet insulation is discovered in a home’s attic, a trustworthy Toms River roofing contractors contractor is essential in diagnosing the cause of the leak and repairing the problem before the damage gets worse.
A common cause of wet insulation in the attic is a missing piece of flashing. Flashing may become loose and then blow off in a heavy gust of wind. Fastener failure may also cause flashing to fall off the house. When a strip of flashing goes missing, water can seep into the roof’s valley, through the underlayment and decking, and into the insulation inside the attic.
If the home has a whole house fan, missing flashing around the fan’s opening could allow water to leak through a larger area, which would quickly saturate most of the attic’s insulation in just a single rainstorm. A roofing contractor can easily replace missing strips of flashing to correct this problem.
Overexposure of the shingles is another reason why attic insulation may become saturated with water. Overexposure causes a variety of problems with a roof’s exterior, including added wear and tear on the granules and less protection against uplifting winds. The only way to correct an overexposure problem with shingles is for an experienced roofing contractor to remove them and correctly install new shingles in their place.
During the summer months of the year, inadequate ventilation in the attic could cause too much humidity to build up. As the moisture condenses out of the air at night, the water would soak into the insulation and cause it to become wet. Repeated cycles of condensation over several weeks or months could cause most of the insulation to become wet, while the daytime heat could initiate the growth of mold. Roofers can install more attic insulation as a way to combat condensation problems. Continuous soffit vents, additional box or gambrel vents, or placement of an attic fan are all ways that ventilation can be increased in order to lower the attic’s temperature and humidity levels. The roofing experts at Fortified Roofing of Toms River NJ can answer your questions about roof repairs or new roofs.
Roofing term provided by Fortified Roofing, Toms River NJ:
Overexposure
Overexposure is a problem with the installation of shingles in which too much of the shingle’s surface is exposed, leaving an insufficient amount of overlap between courses of shingles. Overexposure may be a cause of a leaking roof.
Toms River roofing contractor Fortified Roofing answer a question:
What should a homeowner do with insulation that has become wet?
In most cases, insulation that has become saturated with moisture will need to be professionally removed and then new insulation will need to be placed within the attic in order to protect the roof. This is especially important if any mold has begun to grow within the insulation, as the mold will release spores when it is disturbed. Exposure to mold spores during insulation removal may cause illness in a person who is not wearing the proper protective gear.
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