Roof Repair Pointers: Finding and Fixing a Roof Leakage
Homeowners can stop leaks by themselves – experience is not necessary. This article will show people how to fix and check for common types of roofing leaks. Most of these problems take only a couple of minutes to repair.
Overview
If there are water stains all over your ceiling or down the walls, there is a big chance that the cause of this problem is a leaky roof. Checking the root of the problem or tracking it down is tough, even though repairing the roof leaking is usually an easy task.
We will show homeowners some tricks for repairing and finding some of the most common types of roof leaks. But if you live in the winter and only have these leaking problems on sunny or warm days, there is a big chance that your house has ice dams. We will not talk about leak repairs in this article. If your house has this kind of problem, better fix it as soon as possible, even if it does not bother you or you are getting new roofing next year.
Minor leaks can lead to more significant problems like molds, rotted sheathing and framing, insulation issues, as well as damaged ceilings. Flashing leaks that can cause expensive repair bills will be evident from ceiling stains for many years. If homeowners repair the problem immediately, the damage, as well as the subsequent repairs, will be at its minimum.
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Finding a roof leak
When tracking down leaks, start by checking at the roofing uphill from stains. First, homeowners need to look for is penetration. Things that penetrate roofing are common source of leakage. As a matter of fact, it is pretty rare for leakage to develop in the open places of uninterrupted shingles, even if the installation is old. Penetration includes dormers, roof vents, chimneys, or anything that stands out through the roof.
These things can be a few feet above the leak or both sides. If the house has attic access, the best and easiest way to find the leakage is to go up there, use a flashlight, and check for leaking evidence. There will always be water stains, mold, or black marks. But if access is not possible, or the house has vaulted ceilings, you will have to go to the roof and check the suspected cause.
The trick for finding leaks
If leaks are challenging to find, ask for someone who can help you and go to the roof using a garden hose. Homeowners need to start low and soak the area above where leaks appear. Isolate the place when running the hose. For instance, soak the side of the chimney first, and the side, going to the top of both sides.
Have the other person stay inside to wait for drips to appear. Run the hose for a couple of minutes in one spot before moving to another. Tell the helper to tell you when there is …