Roof Leak Repair

You should contact a roof leak contractor or roof repair specialist as soon as possible to schedule an inspection. Unfortunately, you will have to wait until it stops raining in order to fix the leak from the outside of your home. Roof leaks have to be fixed on the roof and it is NOT SAFE to walk on a roof that is wet. If the leak is active, you can place a bucket or container underneath the leak to catch excess water. If the leak is located near known electrical outlets or switches, you can shut off the circuit breaker that powers the corresponding room. If you have a dehumidifier or fan, place that in the room affected by the leak to dry out the interior as much as possible.

Roof leaks can be caused by a variety of reasons, but the most common sources are missing or damaged shingles, flashing, ice dams, valleys, and vents. 

• Missing or Damaged Shingles: Hail and wind damaged shingles can cause tears or deterioration in the moisture barrier in the roofing system. That allows moisture to penetrate the home and cause leaks in ceilings and walls. 
  
• Valley: The valley on a roof is a channel where two slopes of a roof meet. A valley is designed to divert rainwater off a roof and
• Flashing: Flashing is a thin metal that is applied to areas on the roof where different surfaces join with the roof, such as chimneys, walls, gutters, dormers, gables, etc. The purpose of flashing is to direct water away from and seal these areas. Flashing is easily damaged by hail and caulk can fail from normal wear and tear, resulting in an exposed gap that water can easily penetrate.

Ceiling leaks usually occur from 2 main sources: plumbing leaks or roof leaks. Plumbing leaks tend to originate from water pipes that have corrosion, failing seals at the joints or improper installation. If the ceiling leak persists during a period with no rainfall, it is more likely to be a plumbing leak. However, if the ceiling leak appears or drips during or shortly after it rains, the roof is the likely culprit. Ceiling leaks from the roof tend to originate in areas with vents, flashing or damaged shingles. Another trick to determine the cause of your ceiling leak is to shut off the water in your home. If the ceiling leak stops shortly after the water supply has been shut off, it is likely a plumbing problem rather than a roofing issue.

Your ceiling is leaking water because water has penetrated the interior of your home and has nowhere else to go. The old adage, “water follows the path of least resistance” is helpful in understanding a ceiling leak. If water enters the home through a roof, a failed seal around the chimney flashing, or a vent it works its way down in the gaps and spaces of your rafters. It then works its way into the gaps of the ceiling joists and begins to pool on the underside of the drywall or plaster that is covering the ceiling.

There are 2 main reasons why a bathroom fan would drip water: a leak at the roof vent or condensation buildup in the exhaust system. If your bathroom fan leak is caused by a roof leak it is most likely due to a failed seal on the accompanying vent or damaged shingles near the vent. If the bathroom fan is dripping water during a period of no rainfall, it is probably a condensation issue. Condensation occurs in the exhaust system when warm, moist air from the bathroom touches cool surfaces near the vent and causing water droplets to drip back down the exhaust pipe into the fan. This can happen in winter and summer but is more common in the winter. Likely culprits of bathroom fan condensation drip are poorly designed / poorly installed exhaust or not enough insulation in the exhaust line near the vent.  

One of the most frustrating things about a roof leak, and what makes it difficult to diagnose, is that it may only leak sometimes. If the roof leak is caused by damaged shingles, you might only notice a leak if certain conditions are present: wind speed, wind direction, rainfall intensity and duration. The same is true with damaged seals on vents and flashing. For example, it may take a half inch or more of rainfall to cause enough pooling near the chimney flashing for the water to enter an exposed crack in the flashing. Likewise, if you have wind damaged shingles on the eastern slope of a roof, you may not notice any leaks if the direction of a storm is west-to-east. This is especially true with recent damage, but over time these intermittent leaks may become more frequent as damage spreads or gets worse.

If you are the handy-man DIY type, you can check some common problem areas on your roof that can cause roof leaks and fix them yourself. First, try to determine if the leak corresponds to an area on the roof with flashing or a caulk seal. Chimneys are notorious for causing this type of leak. Other areas to check are around skylights, vents and plumbing stacks. If you notice dents or dimples in the flashing or vents, you should call a certified roofing contractor to come inspect the entire roofing system for hail damage. Likewise, if you notice missing shingles or flapping shingles, you should call a roof inspection specialist to assess your roof for wind damage. Any time you climb up on a roof remember – SAFETY FIRST. Make sure the roof is dry, wear shoes with good traction on the soles, and that your ladder is long enough to extend past the roof line. Also make sure you either have a phone with you or someone else is home in case your ladder falls or is blown down. It’s never fun being stuck on a roof.