When you notice water stains on your ceiling extending all the way to your walls, it’s usually a sign of roof leak. Although minor leaks have an easy fix, tracking their source can be difficult since it’s often away from where the leaks appear. Some Palo Alto, CA roofing contractors share simple tricks for finding the source of roofing leaks.

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Look for daylight holes. Look for water marks and discoloration on the roof. Turn off the light and try to find holes on the roof where daylight shows through. A wood-shingle roof has many of those, but overlapped shingles only has them where they leak water.

Scan the roof surface. Using a bright flashlight, start above the area where the drip is coming from and work your way up the roof, checking along the framing members for wetness. Be careful to step only on secure framing members and not on insulation of the ceiling below as these cannot support your weight.

Check roof penetrations. Water tends to seep into depressions or penetrations in the roof. These penetrations include chimneys, dormers, plumbing, roof vents, and anything else installed through the roof.

Do the water test.  Do this only when the weather is fine. Jave an extra pair of helping hands for this so one person can go on the roof with a water hose while the other goes in the attic with a flashlight and a bucket. The person in the attic observes carefully for the leak source while the one on the roof pours water on it. In soaking the roof, isolate the areas. For instance, flood the downside of the chimney first, then the top of each side. Once the leak is found, mark its location with a nail for rooftop repair.

Caulks and flashings may be sufficient to remedy minor leaks but not when roof deterioration is severe. You’ll need contractors who perform roof repairs from Palo Alto companies like Shelton Roof, especially if you notice the following signs:

  • Shingle pops. Hail damage may cause some shingles to appear bumpy against the flat roof. The effect is the same when attic temperature rises above 120 degrees.
  • Loose nails. Snow damage and windstorms can loosen your nails or cause them to completely pop out, leading to detached shingles.
  • Excessive granule loss. If you notice piles of granules in your gutters or downspouts, it’s a sign that your roof shingles are already worn out.

Roof leaks can cause a variety of damage to your home: damp furniture, broken electronic equipment, mold infestation, rotten framing and sheathing, or destroyed insulation, just to name a few. Have your roof fixed the soonest to avoid additional unnecessary costs.

 

(Source: 6 reasons to call a roofing contractor, Angie’s List)

(Source: How to Find & Fix a Roof Leak, Home Tips)