How To Check If My Roof Is Leaking

Do you think your roof is leaking? Roof leaks can occur for many different reasons but leaks typically begin small and evolve into larger issues over time. Even small roof leaks can result in significant damage to your home. In addition to the stains that roof leaks can leave on your ceiling, they can also result in mold growth and/or rotting. Additionally, roof leaks can result in troublesome electrical shorts. While checking for a leaky roof is not as easy as changing a light bulb, you can check for them yourself.

What Can Cause a Roof to Leak?

Roof leaks are interesting in that roof leaks are very rarely directly above the damaged ceiling area. Roof leaks typically begin/form at a higher spot on the roof and then show ceiling damage or other evidence of a leak, farther down the roof. In order to find the source of a leak, follow a roofer’s advice and “think like water.” Water typically comes in through worn, broken, or missing shingles; where nails have worked loose; or through corroded or poorly sealed roof flashing around vents, skylights, or chimneys or along the intersections of roof planes. One thing that can prevent roof leaks from becoming a larger issue down the road is to ensure that your attic is adequately ventilated. Improper ventilation in rooms where high moisture is generated (like bathrooms, kitchens, sunrooms) can cause moisture to build up and cause serious damage over time. Be sure these rooms are ventilated properly to avoid problems.

Leaks can be caused by improper installation of the roof itself. This can include the wrong installation of the roof membrane, roof flashing, roof vents or areas around the chimney. The most common problem with these areas is poor installation of materials. Falling limbs or trees, hail or other objects can cause major damage to a roof. Another possible reason is that roofing materials deteriorate with age and become less effective at keeping water out. Temperature Loose Shingles cause a roof to leak fluctuations and weather conditions may cause roofing materials to become brittle and crack over time. Exposure to the hot sun can melt the tar that seals shingles together. Gutters that are clogged with leaves or other debris can slow the water flowing off the roof, giving it time to soak through. Holes remaining after the removal of a TV antenna or a satellite TV dish can draw water into the house. And during our severe weather season, strong winds can rip shingles from the roof, and you may have an exposed area where you can’t see.

How Do I Check If My Roof Is Leaking?

Finding the actual spot where the roof leaks can be difficult because water can enter the roof in one place and run down to another before it starts soaking into the ceiling. If you have an attic, the easiest way to spot the leak is to go up there on a rainy day. Water will reflect light, so bring a flashlight along. Once you locate the source of the water, mark the area. When you are in the attic also checking to see if there are any dark spots on the decking or flooring. This is another sign that a roof maybe leaking. One of the purposes of this decking is to catch small leaks while they are small and before them causing a lot of damage. If it turns out that your decking is water-stained, you can be pretty sure that you have either a roof leak or a condensation problem.

Figuring out which problem you have is something you want to do so that you don’t try to fix something only to realize that it doesn’t fix the problem. Condensation is easily identified because it is generally in the corner near an exterior wall. Additionally, you will typically see some smaller circles with white-colored centers. Rain leaks, on the other hand, can be found anywhere on the decking. Until you have identified the source of the leak, don’t bother replacing the drywall because you may replace the drywall only to find that the source of the leak is still going to impact the newly patched section of the roof.

If you see any signs of a leaking roof in your home in Georgia or Florida give us a call at J&M Roofing. We will come out and inspect the roof and the signs of water in your attic. We will look check the entire roof for potential damage and leaks. If we find any signs of a roof that is leaking, we will provide you with a free estimate.