Identifying the causes of roofing problems can take considerable time and effort. Therefore, every effort should be made to do the job right the first time.

The two steps in identifying the cause of the problem are:

• Locate the problem area.
• Identify potential problem areas (areas that may be problematic in the near or distant future).

Some of the main causes of roofing problems are:

• Flawed or inappropriate roof or building design.
• Faulty workmanship.
• Defective materials.
• Building movement.
• Abuse.
• Lack of timely, appropriate roof maintenance.
• Age related weathering and deterioration of the roof system components.

The list of possible problems or issues are limitless and the conditions of each situation could vary. This section will cover only the most common problems.