Tracing Roof Leaks

It's a beautiful sunny day, but it doesn't mean you can ignore the fact that your roof may be leaking. You may not know what to do when this happens, so here are some tips on how to find out where the leak is coming from and how to fix it. Let's dive right in!

1. How do roofers find leaks?

You might think that roofers have some secretive techniques that they keep to themselves. And that's true to some degree. After all, roofing is a licensed trade. But really, all they need in terms of equipment are a ladder, an infrared camera, some lights and some patience.

The first step in finding out what might be causing your leak is to climb up on the roof with a flashlight or headlamp. Your goal will be to find where water has dripped down, pooled, or seeped through any visible cracks in the shingles, tiles, slate, etc.

Here comes the question. What if it's a sunny day and there's no visible water dripping?

The answer is simple. It's time to get out the ladder and climb up on your roof with a flashlight or headlamp again, this time looking for any evidence of moisture like discoloration in shingles from moist conditions below them, dewdrops condensing where it shouldn't be possible, etc.

As previously mentioned, there are really no magic tricks here. A leak is a leak, and it will be found with the right approach.

2. What are some common causes of roof leaks?

The most common cause of roof leaks is age-related deterioration or damage to shingles.

The second most common cause of roof leaks is improper installation, which can lead to rotting and leaking. That's exactly the reason why you should always use a reputable contractor and not try to do the work yourself unless you're a roofer yourself of course.

The third most common cause of roof leaks is improper ventilation, which can lead to an accumulation of water on your shingles that you'll eventually see as leaking or buckling before too long.

3. How do you find a leak in a hidden roof?

Hidden roofs can be tricky because they're hidden. (duh.) But in all seriousness, with a difficult-to-reach roof, you're going to need to use something like an infrared camera that can detect heat in order to find leaks. Keep in mind that this is not something anyone can just do with an infrared camera. Experience in detecting roofing leaks plays a big part in this game.

It's important to note that if you're looking at a difficult-to-reach roof, it may be best to call in an expert. This is something where experience and expertise can make all the difference when diagnosing your problem.

4. What to do if your roof is leaking?

If your roof is leaking and the leak has been detected early on, there are many things you can do from home before seeking professional help.

If you think that your roof may be leaking and want to find out, the first step is to contact a qualified professional for an inspection. If they determine that there's been some damage due to age or improper installation, they will always behoove you to hire them because not only are they trained in fixing leaks, they will also be able to help you with repairing the roof.

However, if it's a minor problem or your own handyman skills are up for the task, there are things that can fix most leaks from home - and usually cheaper than hiring someone else. But this is a topic for another post.

There you have it - tracing roof leaks and repair them. Take this knowledge with you. Get out there and start fixing some roof leaks up!