How to Stop Water Wicking on a Low-Pitched Roof

Materials

• One way to ensure that you avoid water wicking on a low-pitch roof is to avoid using traditional asphalt shingles. Trained Eye Home Inspection points out that these shingles are not made for roofs with less than a 3/12 pitch. This means that the low-slope roof, coupled with asphalt shingles, will naturally attract water up under the shingles. This can lead to significant damage in the long run. It proves to be especially problematic in winter months when roofs are prone to ice damming, which slows down and prevents the flow of water.

Flashing

• The use of flashing is integral to stopping the flow of water in the wrong direction on low-pitched roofs. Flashing is usually a metal material that is used as a sort of underlayment on certain parts of the roof where there is the potential for water to naturally accumulate and remain. In particular, flashing needs to be used around chimneys and other places in the roof where seams may exist between the shingles.

Sealant

• Using a high-quality sealant will also help you to avoid water wicking on your roof. Rubber roofing or ethylene propylene diene monomer is one of the more common types of sealant used for metal roofs. Using this type of sealant can help ensure that the water wicking phenomenon does not occur. It can also be helpful to coat the heads of your roofing nails with this type of sealant so that the water cannot penetrate the hole that they make.

Reflective Material

• Using some form of reflective material or paint on your shingles or roofing surface can also help eliminate some of the water wicking and ice damming that may occur in the winter. Roofs with reflective paints and sealants will stave off the deteriorating effects of ultraviolet radiation which can lead to deterioration of shingles in the long run. Preserving the longevity of the shingles will help to ensure that water will not back up in the first place.