How to Find Where Your Roof is Leaking.
- Jan 26, 2017
- 3 min read
A roof leak doesn't have to mean the end of the world, it could be caused by a small issue. However, don't leave it too long before getting it looked at and, if you're not sure please contact a professional rather than tackle anything yourself.
As water travels, finding the exact source of any roof leak can be tricky as it is very often away from where it is found. In order to trace it back, the advice is generally to 'think like water'. The most common sources of a leak are from worn, broken or missing tiles. This can caused by nails that have loosened, damaged or poorly sealed flashing around vents, skylights, chimneys or intersections of roof planes.
Once water passes the roof, it tends to follow the sheathing, along the roof rafters or across the ceiling until it finds a place to drip. The best time, if it's not an immediate emergency, is to check it out on a dry day. Use a flashlight to investigate your attic space and start above the place where you noticed your leak in the first instance. Be careful where you put your foot as you don't want a hole in your ceiling to be added to your 'fix list'. Work your way back along the roof frame and test for any dampness.
Water marks or stains will also help to indicate where the source of your leak is coming from. With the light switched off, you should be able to tell if there are any holes that could be allowing water in. As a temporary measure, you can put a bucket under the leak to trap the liquid and avoid it being able to travel anywhere else.
If the leak isn't apparent in the attic area or by investigating your roof visually, you can carry out a test outside with the help of someone. This should be done on a dry day with a ladder and a garden hose. One person will take the garden hose and turn it on to let water spray across the roof working from the bottom towards the top. Meanwhile the other person will be inside the attic again with a very strong light to detect where the water is leaking through. When it's found, a nail or another implement can be pushed up through it and used to pinpoint it's location on the outside. It can also be marked with chalk on the inside, if necessary.
Remember that getting up on a high surface can be dangerous so make sure it's properly secure before you attempt it. If you're in any doubt whatsoever please call a professional roofing contractor.
If you would like more information on replacing your Soffits and Fascias or would like to book a FREE consultation to have a roof review completed please contact us on 087 923 3663 or email iymbuilder@gmail.com 'I'm Yer Man: Building and Roofing Specialist' has over 30years experience providing roofing solutions projects. See more at Roof Replacements and Repairs and read what our clients say about our work.
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