Inspecting the attic for leaks.
How to inspect a roof for leaks.
Assuming you are safe comfortable and know how to walk inside an attic let s take a look at how you can spot roof leaks.
You can prevent leaks and minimize damages by inspecting your roof twice a year early spring and late fall.
There are a few telltale signs that can point to a roof leak.
How to find a leak in a roof may be the hardest part of fixing a leaky roof.
If you notice visible damage leaks or other problems be sure to call your roofing contractor to inspect your roof or ask around for a reputable contractor if you don t already have one on speed dial.
Inspecting your roof for leaks helps you in a number of ways.
Eaves where the roof meets the wall penetrations flashing areas.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
Rooftops are inherently dangerous places to work.
Y our roof may be leaking and you don t know it.
If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.
Most importantly it can help you make repairs quickly without having to replace your entire roof.
They never occur at a time which is convenient and they can lead to significant damage to the interior of your home.
Finding the actual spot where the roof leaks is difficult because water can enter the roof in one place and run down to another before it starts soaking into the ceiling.
We recommend you leave roof repairs to a professional.
How to inspect a roof for leaks.
Their effects can linger long after the repair has been made in the form of mold growth on the interior surfaces of your home.
Sealants are extremely affordable and can be found at your local hardware store lowe s or home depot.
You can have great success sealing roof leaks yourself using clear silicone based or copolymer synthetic rubber sealants and without having to pay a roofer.
The goal is to identify and treat minor problems before water damage is visible in your home.
Our final step of inspecting is looking inside the attic for leaks.
Common places for leaks.
A small leak may be doing slow damage but hasn t gotten bad enough to give you any obvious clues like a stain on the ceiling or worse.
Inspect the underside of the roof for objects that have pierced it or have been attached to it.
Know the signs of a potential leak.
Brown water spots on your ceilings peeling paint around skylights and pieces of your.
Roof leaks present multiple challenges for homeowners.
Here is a quick roof inspection video to get you started.
A leaky roof can cause extensive damage to your home and to your belongings and result in expensive repair costs.
