If you wonder how to find a roof leak, it's not as difficult as you may imagine. Homeowners should first look inside the home for signs of water. The first, and most obvious, would be water spots, standing water or mold. If you have a wet spot on your floor, look directly above to the ceiling for any signs of leakage. Such signs may include water spots, a soft or of sagging ceiling and damp areas anywhere on the ceiling or wall. A water spot on the ceiling would generally start out small, but grow larger with a brown ring defining its shape. The longer this is left untreated, the larger the spot will become as the water adds weight to your ceiling.

If a leak is not immediately visible from the interior of your home, consider that the problem area may be more obvious from an outside inspection. Using a ladder or binoculars, look for visual signs of roof damage or other structural problems. If it is raining, or if the roof is still wet from a previous rain, do not walk on the roof under any circumstances. Walking on a wet roof can be dangerous for an individual, but also for the structure of the roof itself. During your visual search, look for any debris that may be causing problems with blocking snow or rain from flowing from the roof's slope. If there is a large presence of ice, this is a good indicator of possible ice damage. Once the ice begins to melt, the water may travel in through the damaged area.

Bad flashings are usually the cause for a roof leak

If possible, examine flashings and the chimney area for any signs of a problem. In addition, inspect any points at which an antenna or satellite dish connects inside the home. Possibly the most obvious damage sign, during the outside inspection, would be missing or damaged shingles. If you have warped or cracked shingles or shakes, replace them immediately. If they are damaged beyond repair, they will need to be replaced completely. If you need to replace one, or several shingles, this does not necessarily mean that the entire roof will need to be replaced.

If you have experienced a storm with heavy winds, look for signs that debris may have damaged the structure of your roof. The debris may no longer be located on your roof, but the damage that it caused will be. If you are still uncertain about how to find a roof leak, or are uncomfortable with heights or inspecting your roof in general, call a contractor for a professional evaluation. In addition, a contractor can show you exactly how to find a roof leak in the future. When inspecting your roof, take special care when climbing ladders or repairing any problems.

October, 2005

Copyright 2005 Roofer 911.com. All Rights Reserved

by Steven Briesemeister. Reprinted courtesy of Roofer 911.com, roofing contractor serving Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, NY and northern Virginia.