A leaky roof can cause a huge amount of damage in a small amount of time. If left unrepaired a leak can allow water to seep into your home and damage you insulation, making it considerably less affective. Water that comes in through a roof leak can also damage your belongings, and worst of all, can cause mold to start growing, which can be very dangerous as mold is a huge health hazard. A roof leak can be hard to find and once found, can be hard to repair. Here are some tips from a roofing contractor that will help you find the leak and will let you know what type of roofing repairs need to be made.
Popular Spots for Leaks
One problem with locating a leak is that it often starts at a different spot than where you see the water on the interior of your house. The way water flows along your roof will help you find the source of the water that has breached the roof materials. When water gets through a crack or gap in the roof material, it won’t generally drip into the home at the spot it entered. If there are cracks or gaps in existing shingles or places where shingles are missing, water can seep in through the roof materials at these locations. Also, if there are bad or damaged seals on the roof, water can also seep in there. Once water gets in through the gaps or cracks, it usually flows along the underside of the roof or along the rafters in the attic before it comes into the living space.
Finding the Leak
The only time you should look for a leak in your roof is during daylight hours. You need to be able to see the details of the roof and the roof materials. The best place to begin is in the attic. Look for signs that water has flowed into the space either along the ceiling or along the rafters. You may be able to see marks where the water flowed onto the wood or along the rafters or ceiling. Once you locate water marks they should lead you to the point in the ceiling or roof where the water was able to leak in. Just follow the water mark back up to the highest point where the water marks are visible.
Roof Leak Repairs
Sometimes roof leak repairs can be as simple as replacing a missing or damaged shingle. However, it can often be of great benefit to consult a roofing contractor for repairing any roofing repairs or roof maintenance. A roofing contractor can also check the rest of the roof and the shingles for damage. If you’re able to locate one area where damage created a leak, it’s likely there are other areas that also need attention or repair.
