The Dangers Of A Leaky Roof

While common sense dictates that a leaky roof probably isn’t a good idea, there are a host of reasons why mums need to get to grips with the health of their roofs, for their own sake, and that of their children.

Leaky roofs can cause lots of problems which threaten both the family finances and health, so sorting out any problems quickly is a significant priority.

Here are some of the dangers of a leaky roof and what you can do about it.

The Risk Of Mould

Why are so many children these days suffering from asthma and allergies? Some researchers and medics think that it could have something to do with exposure to mould in the household. In the past, children would spend most of their time out of the house, playing in the garden or doing work. As a result, they weren’t constantly exposed to potential hazards within the home. But as they became more sedentary, travelling out less, mould became a more significant threat.

Mould can get into the airways and irritate the lining. When this happens, it sets children up for allergies and asthmas, both of which are becoming far more prevalent. When your roof isn’t in good working order, it can result in leaks which then provide the water needed by mould to become established. Water can get into the roofing materials, working its way down through the walls and collecting in certain parts of your home. PH Roofing recommends that people with leaky roofs have them fixed immediately to prevent further hazards to their family.

The Risk Of Structural Issues

You might think that your home is built to stand the test of time. But it can only do so if the roof is in good working order. If it isn’t, then there’s a high probability that the house will suffer severe weather damage which could cost thousands to repair.

A leaky roof can cause damage to the foundations. Under normal circumstances, the guttering of a roof will take water away from the edge of a house, and funnel it down to a drain below which then returns it to a local river or the sea. But if the gutters are clogged, water starts pouring over the edge, down the side of the building, and into the foundations. Once foundations become waterlogged, you risk not only rising damp, but also structural integrity. Wet bricks aren’t as strong.

Repairing foundations is expensive, so it’s a good idea to sort out the guttering before it starts causing issues. You can climb a ladder and clean out your gutters yourself. However, in most cases it’s safer to hire a professional to carry out gutter cleaning. It could be worth getting them to check for damage while they’re up there so that you can schedule any repairs to the pipes if necessary (damage is mostly likely to occur following violent storms or long periods of sub-zero temperatures)

Your House Loses Value

Lastly, a leaky roof can lead your home to lose value. If you’re looking to sell your home, a surveyor might produce a negative report which means that you can’t ask for as much money as you’d like. Getting a roof repaired, or installing a new roof, can boost the selling price of your home, helping you to recoup some of the costs.

So there you have it: a leaky roof can cause all kinds of problems, both financial and health-related.

~A~

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