A leak in a roof can cause major damage inside the home. Insulation can become wet and moldy and ceilings can become stained and require repair. Roof leaks can be as much as 10 feet away from where there is visible damage on the inside of the building. Once located, repair the leak as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to the home. If a temporary solution is all you can do at the time, it is better to use some caulk to keep the damage from getting worse while waiting to schedule a permanent repair. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Go into the attic with a flashlight. Locate the area where there is visible damage on the inside, and inspect the area above the damage.
2. Consider all possible common areas for the leak, and inspect each area from the inside closely. Look at all areas within 10 feet to the left, right and above the visible damage on the inside of the building.
3. Use a flashlight to inspect around vents or vent pipes, around chimneys, close to the bottom edge and the peak of the roof, which are all common sources of leaks. Turn off all lights and examine each area for light shining through possible worn flashing or missing roofing cement around vents, vent pipes, chimneys or other openings in the roof. If the source of the leak is not readily apparent, note the location on the inside and go outside to inspect the roof.
4. Set a ladder in a secure location to access the roof. Place close to a chimney or other solid structure to aid in getting on and off the ladder safely. If you have any hesitation about being on a roof, ask a friend or a professional roofer to help locate the leak from the outside.
5. Locate the approximate area where the leak was noticeable from the inside. Look at the roof approximately 10 feet to the left, right and above the area with obvious water damage.
6. Inspect all areas with flashing and roofing cement first, as these are the most frequent locations of roof leaks. Look for chips, cracks or missing sections of roofing cement or caulk around each protrusion through the roof. Use a 1-inch putty knife to see if it can slide under roofing cement. If so, the roofing cement may have lifted out of position enough to allow rain water to run back in under the area.
7. Look for torn, worn, chipped or broken shingles. Check that all shingles are lying flat against the roof. A raised or bubbled shingle indicates that the nail holding the shingle to the roof has lifted out enough to let water seep back under the shingle and into the building.
