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WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT ROOF LEAKS
Identifying a roof leak can be difficult, but here are a few signs that something might be wrong.
Musty Odors
First, notice any musty odors that you smell in your home. If a room smells like must, there’s a good chance there’s water damage and early mold development. Even if you don’t notice a water stain where you smell a musty odor, the water could be behind the wall.
Water Stains on Your Ceiling
If you see a water stain on your ceiling, it’s likely your roof has a leak. Water stains have a dark ring on the outside with discoloration on the inside. If not treated, they will grow and could affect the integrity of your home.
Bulging Drywall
If your drywall is bulging or bubbling, there’s a good chance it’s due to water damage. Disfiguraton in your wall could indicate a leak in your plumbing, but it could also be a roof leak. Sometimes water from roof leaks travels beneath the wall and is invisible from the outside.
Damaged Shingles
If your shingles are damaged or warped, there’s a much higher chance that water can come in through your roof. It’s important to routinely inspect and maintain your roof to catch these issues early. If you don’t, they can be costly in the long term.
Spots on Your Exterior Walls
Just like on your interior walls, spots on your exterior walls are a bad sign. They could indicate an issue with the step flashing, which is where the roof meets the wall. It could have become loose or deteriorated overtime, allowing rainwater to leak through and leave dark spots.
First Steps If Your Roof Is Leaking
It can be hard to know what to do after you first notice a leak in your roof. There are a few initial steps you should take before jumping into cleaning up and repairing the roof.
Catch the Water With a Container
If you can see water dripping from your roof, you should place a large container under the leak to catch the water.
Puncture the Ceiling
If all you see is water damage or bulging walls, it’s likely water is pooling on the other side of that spot. Again, you’ll want to place a large container under the water stain. Next, you’ll want to puncture a hole in your ceiling. This will allow the water to flow through. If the water is allowed to continue to pool in the ceiling, it could collapse.
Tarp Your Roof
If you know where the leak is coming from, you can place a tarp on the exterior surface. If you’re not sure you can safely access the leak, you should call a professional. Keep in mind that during inclement weather, a professional will not be able to tarp the leak until the weather stops.
Check Your Attic
If your home has an attic, check rafters and roof sheathing for water marks or signs of mold. It’s possible that water may have pooled on the floor of the attic, so watch your step when investigating.
Treat the Leak Quickly
The most important thing to remember is that you should not ignore a leaky roof. Leaks do not go away on their own, and they only get worse. It’s best to treat the leak as soon as you see it so it doesn’t grow larger and cause more damage down the road.
Clean Up Procedures
Cleaning up after a leak can be challenging, but it’s necessary to prevent further mold growth. Here are a few steps you can take to clean up after you find water damage.
Document the Leak and Damage
If you have homeowner’s insurance with roof coverage, you’ll want to document the leak and water damage thoroughly. Take photos from several different angles to provide to your adjuster.
Extract the Water
Use a wet dry vac and dehumidifier to extract the water from your ceiling, floors and other belongings. The longer water sits, the more likely it is to spread and cause mold.
Clean and Disinfect
While water leaking from a roof won’t be as toxic as a plumbing leak might be, it could still lead to mold and mildew. Clean and disinfect all surfaces with detergent, followed by bleach and water.
Continue to Monitor Moisture Levels
Open windows and keep a large dehumidifier near the leak to dry out your home. Monitor improvement by checking affected areas daily with a moisture meter.
Here are a couple quick tips to know about roof leaks:
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Roof leaks always start small but when you roof is leaking, it can lead to bigger issues like mold growth, rotting wood, and interior damage.
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When a leak appears, chances are it isn’t brand new. A professional roofer can often diagnose the leaky roof and any accompanying roof damage!
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If you suspect a leaky roof, get a temporary fix to hold you over. Sometimes you will want to get the roof repaired; other times you might need a roof replacement. It also doesn’t hurt to see what insurance has to say!
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Find the leak! Some will say you can use a garden hose to find a leak on your roof, but this can cause further damage and if you notice water dripping or water stains, well you know you have a leak. Performing regular home maintenance and roof checks is proactive. Your best option is to all a toofing professional!
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF ROOF LEAKS
Knowing what causes a possible roof leak is vital to being able to diagnose and then fix the said leak. In general, the shortlist of possible roof leaks may include:
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Missing shingles due to wind or storms.
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Loose or broken shingles in the yard or visible from the ground.
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Pipe collar seals & rubber boot collars that are cracked (usually won’t know until it’s too late).
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Flashing leaks (areas around chimneys)
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Ridge vent leaks
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Skylights, dormers, and chimney areas where moisture can penetrate
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Clogged gutters (causing heavy rain)
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Roof vents or any area where something sticks out of your roof
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Holes in roof
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Rotting fascia boards
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Age of roof (really old roofs that no longer work)
While there could be another cause, such as a giant windstorm like a Noreaster, in most cases, many roof leaks are slow growing. Put another way, the leak starts small and gradually grows and increases over time.
The most obvious sign that you have a roof leak is when you see a water stain on your top floor ceiling on your drywall.
It isn’t uncommon for someone to wake up one morning and to go into a room or their bathroom and see discoloration on their ceiling after a heavy rainstorm. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean you need a new roof, in fact, it probably means you need a few shingles repaired or a pipe collar replaced.
Either way, here are some straightforward tips to stay on top of your possible roof leak issues and what to look for):
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Always keep an eye out for missing shingles. Missing shingles are easy to spot; if you see some missing, handle them immediately before the problem becomes too big!
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Do an annual attic inspection. Look for wetness, mold, stains, and moisture. Hopefully, you won’t see anything like this!
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Find a roofing inspector for free. Most roof companies will inspect a roof for free. Now, many might try to sell the idea of a new roof, but if you want to get a solid inspection simply, call a roof professional.
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Look at the common leak areas. Leaks can occur in skylights, pipe collars, roof vents, and roof flashing areas. Also, if you see a dip or sag in your roof’s shingles – you might want to do #3 above and have it inspected.
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Exposed nail heads & nail pops. If you see a few nail heads aka nail pops, chances are you could have a roof leak in that area. When a roofing contractor installs a new roof, they not only have to use roofing nails, but they also need to make sure they follow the proper nail patterns. Improperly driven nails can be a cause of your leaky roof!
If you follow the list above and you can say yes to any, this could mean you might have a possible roof leak. Be sure to act fast!
Roof leaks never get better with time; they only get worse! Below is how to go about addressing a roof leak issue!
A Trick for Finding Difficult Leaks
If a leak is difficult to find, enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Start low, soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. Isolate areas when you run the hose. For example, soak the downhill side of a chimney first, then each side, then the top on both sides. Have your helper stay inside the house waiting for the drip to appear. Let the hose run for several minutes in one area before moving it up the roof a little farther. Tell your helper to yell when a drip becomes visible. You’ll be in the neighborhood of the leak. This process can take well over an hour, so be patient and don’t move the hose too soon. Buy your helper dinner. If running water doesn’t reveal the exact location of the leak, don’t be timid. Start removing shingles in the suspect area. With them removed, there’ll be evidence of the leak and you’ll be able to track it down right to the source. You’ll see discolored felt paper or water-stained or even rotted wood directly below and around a leaky roof. Your best option would be to call a professional!
Fix Plumbing Vent Boots
Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic and metal, or even two-piece metal units. Check plastic bases for cracks and metal bases for broken seams. Then examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe. That can be rotted away or torn, allowing water to work its way into the house along the pipe. With any of these problems, you should buy a new vent boot to replace the old one. But if the nails at the base are missing or pulled free and the boot is in good shape, replace them with the rubber-washered screws used for metal roofing systems. You’ll find them at any home center with the rest of the screws. You’ll have to work neighboring shingles free on both sides. If you don’t have extra shingles, be careful when you remove shingles so they can be reused. Use a flat bar to separate the sealant between the layers. Then you’ll be able to drive the flat bar under the nail heads to pop out the nails.
