Find and Fix a Leaking Roof

Roof Leak Repair Hicksville NY , DEC 24, 2021

If you have water stains that extend across ceilings or run down walls, the cause is probably a leaky roof. If you have a leaky roof, you'd better fix it immediately, even if it doesn't bother you much or you're getting a new roof next year. Even over a short time, small leaks can lead to big problems, such as mold, rotted framing and sheathing, destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings. We'll show you some simple tricks for finding and repairing most of the common types of leaky roofs.

• How to Find Roof Leaks

When you're trying to track down a leak, start by looking at the roof uphill from the stains. The first thing to look for is any roof penetrations. Penetrations can include plumbing and roof vents, chimneys, dormers or anything else that projects through the roof. If you have attic access, the easiest way to track down a leak is to go up there with a flashlight and look for the evidence.

• A Trick for Finding Difficult Leaks

If a leak is difficult to find, enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Start low, soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. Isolate areas when you run the hose. This process can take well over an hour, so be patient and don't move the hose too soon. If running water doesn't reveal the exact location of the leak, don't be timid. Start removing shingles in the suspect area. Start removing shingles in the suspect area. With them removed, there'll be evidence of the leak and you'll be able to track it down right to the source.

• Solution for a Small Leak

Some roof leaks are tough to locate. If you can't see any telltale flow marks, and since the stain is fairly small, look at the underside of the roof for 'shiners.' A shiner is a nail that missed the framing member, in this case when the carpenter nailed the roof sheathing to the rafters. Sometimes you can spot this if you climb up into your attic on a cold night. The nails will look white because they're frosted. The solution is to simply clip the nail with a side-cutting pliers.

• Fix Plumbing Vent Boots

Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic and metal, or even two-piece metal units. Check plastic bases for cracks and metal bases for broken seams. Then examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe.

• How to Fix Roof Vents

Check for cracked housings on plastic roof vents and broken seams on metal ones. Also look for pulled or missing nails at the base's bottom edge. Replace them with rubber-washered screws. Usually you can also work those loose without removing shingles. Screw the bottom in place with rubber-washered screws. Squeeze out a bead of caulk beneath the shingles on both sides of the vent to hold the shingles down and to add a water barrier.

• Fix Walls and Dormers

Dormer walls provide lots of spots where water can dribble down and enter the roof. Dig around with a putty knife to see if the area is sealed. Dig out any suspect caulk and replace it with a high-quality caulk. Also check the siding above the step flashing. If you still have a leak, pull the corner boards free and check the overlapping flashing at the corner.

• Fix Step Flashing

Step flashing is used along walls that intersect the roof. usted flashing needs to be replaced. That means removing shingles, prying siding loose, and then removing and replacing the step flashing. It's that simple.

• Fix Small Holes

Tiny holes in shingles are sneaky because they can cause rot, a leaky roof and other damage for years before you notice the obvious signs of a leak. Small holes are simple to fix, but the fix isn't to inject caulk in the hole. You'll fix this leaky roof problem with flashing. If your roof still leaks you will need a roofer specialist to have an inspection and to fix the problem. Gold Coast Roofing & Chimney offers you the quality and an appropriate price.

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