Roof leaks can be a major problem for homeowners. The roof is what protects your home from the outside elements, so roof leaks are usually very serious and lead to costly repairs. You may not know that roof leak water damage can also cause mold growth in your home if left untreated. In this article, we will explore roof leaks causes, types of roof leaks, and all of the potential damages they can cause to your home.

Main causes and types of a leaky roof

If your roof is leaking, you must repair it as soon as possible before it affects the health of your home, gets out of control, and may end up costing you a lot more money. Even if the leaks seem tiny, if they aren’t fixed in time, they might grow into major issues that will result in significant damage.
Leaks in the roof usually happen due to one of three reasons. These are age, weather damage, and poorly built roofs that can’t handle high winds or heavy rain. Some common causes include:

  • Cracked or missing shingles.

  • Poorly sealed plumbing vents.

  • Corroded flashing around chimneys or skylights.

  • Leaky gutters overflowing.

  • Mice, squirrels, or other animals nesting in the attic and burrowing holes through vents.

  • Your skylights weren’t installed properly.

  • There is condensation in your attic.

  • You have a cracked chimney.

Understanding Roof Leaks

These are the main 7 types of damage

Depending on where a leak is located, there can be various types of water damage to your home if it’s not repaired quickly enough. Here are some common types of roof leaks you may have.

1- Ceiling Damage

A roof leak can result in water damage to your ceilings if not taken care of. This is because when the ceiling gets wet, it often doesn’t get noticed right away since it’s usually high up and out of sight until you move furniture or something else that reveals a puddle on top of the drywall.

2- Water Stains On Your Walls

Leaks can cause staining on your walls, which is another sign that you may have a roof leak. If the water travels down through your ceiling and into your living space, it will often drip slowly enough for stains to form before anyone realizes there’s an issue in the attic.

If you see the interior paint bubbling, peeling, or otherwise being oddly affected, call a roofing company as soon as possible.

3- Structural Damage To Your Roof And Attic Area

A roof leak that goes undetected for too long can cause structural damage to your home. If the water pools on top of the ceiling instead of running down it, this puts a lot of pressure on the drywall and may even buckle or warp some joists in older homes.

4- Insulation Damage 

If your insulation is soaked, this can cause it to lose its insulating quality and make your home less energy efficient. This also increases the chance of mold growth in the attic area which will lead to many other problems if not taken care of right away with an airtight roof repair solution.

5- Floor Damage

If the water from a roof leak gets past the insulation and runs down joists, it can lead to damage to your floors. If moisture penetrates wood flooring or concrete slabs in basements, this will cause warping, buckling, or other issues that you’ll need an experienced contractor to repair right away.

6- Personal Property Loss

In addition to the damage to your home, a roof leak can affect any personal belongings stored there. If the water from a roof leak gets into boxes or other storage areas in attics and basements it will ruin anything that’s not waterproofed, so be sure to move all of these items out of an attic if you suspect you have leaks up there.

If you have a roof leak, it’s important to call an experienced contractor right away so they can locate the cause and make any needed repairs with quality materials in order to prevent further damage from occurring in your home. If leaks are left untreated for too long, they will eventually become much more complex problems that cost far more money to repair.

7- Foundation Problems

A roof leak can also cause foundation damage if the water is able to seep below your home’s structure. If this happens, you may notice cracks in exterior walls or around windows and doors over time as well as issues with settling that will require an experienced roofing contractor to fix properly.

The best way to find out if your home insurance covers roof replacements is by contacting a property public adjuster.

How serious is a roof leak?

Any roof leak should be taken seriously, as even a small one can cause extensive damage if left untreated. If you’re unsure whether or not you have a roof leak, it’s always best to call an experienced professional for an inspection so they can locate the source and recommend the best course of action for repairs.

Does Home Insurance Cover Roof Leaks?

Many types of home insurance will cover roof leaks as a covered claim, but the fine print is important to understand before you file a claim.

Some policies consider all roof leaks as one type and others may have separate categories for different causes such as wind damage vs. ice dams so be sure to read the policy carefully if you plan on filing a claim.

The main thing to consider with a leaking roof is that you should always get the exact cause of the damage identified and fixed properly in order for insurance companies to cover it, otherwise they will likely deny coverage due to lack of evidence that a covered incident caused the issue.

What kind of leaks are covered by insurance?

Most forms of roof damage due to weather will be covered by insurance, but this is not always the case under certain circumstances.

If you have a new roof put on your home and it starts leaking soon after installation, most companies will blame defective materials instead of storm damage so some verification that water entered through an open seam or another point of entry is crucial.

Some forms of roof damage like ice dams and gutter collapse will not be covered by insurance at all, so it’s important to call an experienced contractor right away if you notice any signs of these issues or other problems with your home’s exterior or gutters that may lead to leaks in the future.

Understanding roof leaks and their causes are important for any homeowner, as even a small leak can lead to serious and costly damage over time. By knowing what to look for and what types of damage are covered by insurance, you can be better prepared in the event that your roof starts leaking.

How to know if your home insurance covers roof replacement

Public adjusters are experts when it comes to insurance claims and can help you file a claim for roof replacement if your policy covers this type of damage.

They work on a contingency basis, which means they only get paid if they help you win the settlement from the insurance company, so there’s no risk involved in working with them.

If you are in the State of Florida call American Premier Claims to get a free claim analysis, they determine if you need a roof leak repair or if you need to have the entire roof replaced.

For additional resources visit and subscribe to our Youtube channel.