Sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse, the weather in Calgary changes frequently and in a single month we can see much of what nature has to offer. These variations all take their toll on your roof and the parts that make up the roofing system on your home.
The purpose of your roof and siding are to shed water so that the interior of your home stays dry and the structure is not compromised by rot. The dominant cause of roof leaks on a Calgary home is flashing, which exists anywhere the roofing product meets a penetration. In these cases there is usually a small opening by which the water enters, and often-times the fix is easy.
Chimney leak in Calgary and a roof leak repair.
This B-Vent chimney base in Calgary was at one point protected by caulking, but the previous roofer used run-of-the-mill tar to seal around the storm collar. Because of expansion and contraction due to heat, and because the tar is exposed to UV rays without protection, the tar has crumbled and the storm collar is no longer doing its job. This roof installation is compromised. The proper solution is to use silicone to seal the storm collar so that it can properly channel water away from the chimney itself. Because the chimney column goes straight up from the furnace, any water than makes it past the storm collar will run straight down the chimney and into the furnace roof. This leak is the most harmless.
Rusty flashing is causing a leak on this Calgary roof
This ancient phoenix vent is corroded and well past-due for replacement. The roof installation is compromised and need professional attention. The solution for this problem is repairs to the roof vent or complete replacement of the roof. The cause of the problem was that the vent was re-used, taking it long past it’s suggested life-span.
On this Calgary roof the step flashing was installed incorrectly and caused a leak.
This chimney was not wrapped in metal properly, and no diverter (or kick-out) was installed at the corner. For a roof installation in Calgary this element is particularly important. This installation leaked and caused problems for the homeowner. After calling Stalwart roofing for help, we diagnosed the problem and fixed it easily.
Poor installation of the plumbing flashing created problems inside the home.
This plumbing flashing was not sealed properly and water was making it’s way down into the home. In Calgary this is particularly important because the pipe attracts water, A simple bead of tar around the collar would have solved the problem.
These are just some of the problems that can arise due to poor workmanship or inattention to detail. We’ll cover the rest in our later instalments!