What Is Causing My Roof To Leak?
It’s been cold and wet for a few days. Have you noticed anything strange going on with your roof? Read below to know what to look for when the weather warms up to prevent damage to your home from a roof leak!
Leaky roofs rarely happen at a convenient time and can present several challenges for homeowners. Left untreated they can cause significant damage to the interior of your home!
An untreated leaking roof can lead to problems like mold growth in your house, so it’s important to act fast before the situation gets more complicated – and expensive. Leak location is not an exact science as the leak can be cause by a number of factors instead of just one so process of elimination is often required to figure out where exactly the leak is coming from. Going through all the possibilities can be an exhausting challenge as the source of the roof leak on the outside rarely matches where the leak appears on the inside! As a homeowner, this can be aggravating and time consuming. Luckily we’re here to help with some advice for finding the source of a leak.
Finding the Source of Your Roof Leak on the Inside
Your best bet of finding a leak will be to observe it in action as discoloration and staining will not give you the whole story. Begin by locating the leak on the inside of the house. Validate that the source of the water on the inside of the house is a result of a roof leak and not from an issue elsewhere in the house. Then, determine the place of the leak in the living space from two points, which can be perpendicular exterior walls, a fireplace chimney or other parts that extend through the finished ceiling to the attic space or roof surface.
Go into your attic and locate the source of the leakage, and note the surface where the leak is dripping from. The place of the actual entry point of the water into the attic might be a little different than where the leak is showing on the interior of the house so you may need to broaden your search location once you start looking for a leak source. Once found, measure the size of the leak’s source – which is where any water is getting in. Then measure from fixed points such as vent pipelines for bathrooms, chimneys, or on two perpendicular exterior walls so the leak can be quickly located for repair on the exterior.
Finding the Source of Your Roof Leak on the Outside
If you are capable, safely go onto your roof. Please take care while doing this as serious injuries can occur – if you are unsure whether it’s safe to go on your roof fill out our form below so we can help. Please don’t take unnecessary risks – if you are not capable PLEASE contact us today!). Use the measurements from the fixed points taken from the attic space to find the corresponding spot on the roof surface. While searching, take into consideration the depth of the exterior walls, soffit overhangs, and any other fixture when using your measurements.
Using this technique, you should be able to locate the source of the leak. Begin to look further from the place where you identified the leakage is occurring by searching and tracing out concentric circles. These circles will help you methodically look for further damage and evaluate the leak to a fuller extent. As you evaluate the roofing surface keep in mind that any area with an opening in the roof is a place where water to enter your home – even if it doesn’t line up with your internal measurements, so if you see something else make a note as it could be part of the current problem – or the beginnings of a new one.
Leak Sources Other Than Your Roofing system
Not all leaks are the same – and some leaks look like they might be from the roof but are actually from other issues. Water spots and stains on your ceiling or walls should be investigated to make sure there are no leaking pipes that require the services of a plumber to be fixed. Before climbing onto your roof consider other sources of potential leakages in the house include roofing scuppers, clogged drainage pipes like gutters, condensations, and even bug invasions.
Repairing Your Leaking Roof
Without proper leak investigation and repair, more damage can occur to your home. So after finding the source of the link it’s best to contact a roofing expert to make sure all damage is repaired and preventative measures can be taken to ensure a leak-free home in the future. If you want to reach out to us specifically just fill out the form below and we will help you with your leaking roof!
Check out our online reviews.
Here are a few more articles we are recommending for you.
- Picking Your Roof Repair Contractor
- Roof Repair – Why Should You Repair Your Roof After a Long Winter?
- Top 6 Warning Signs That You Need A New Roof
- Do You Have A Roof Leak? Don’t Panic! Follow These Steps…
