Quick Tips for Roof Leak Detection

Signs of water stains running down walls or extending across ceilings is probably a sign of a roof leak. Roof leaks are often caused by small holes, missing shingles, or gaps in metal flashing around vent pipes. While fixes for the leaks are pretty easy, it’s the tracking of the leak that can turn out to be a headache.

Not being able to locate the source of a leak can cause tremendous damage to your home’s interior–drywall, lighting, flooring, furniture, the list goes on. In this guide, our East Bay roofing contractors discuss a few simple tips for locating roof leaks quickly and easily.

1. Try to notice the leak as it occurs

Easier said than done, we know, but making an effort to track a leak as it occurs will save you a lot of time and frustration. Tracing a leak back to its original source using stains left behind on walls and ceilings can be very tricky and may not tell you the whole story. Try to spot the leak the next time it rains or snows and see if you can notice it.

2. Take precaution

Alternatively, if you aren’t sure that you’re dealing with a roof leak, head to the attic with a flashlight and use a garden hose to wet the roof to create a human-made leak. Then, closely examine the rafters and roof decking in the attic above the spot where you created the wet spot.

3. Follow it up

Follow any existing wet spots or water stains through the roof decking or up the rafters to reach the highest point. Take measurements from the roof peak to the leak’s highest point, and over from the gable end to the source of leak.

4. Head over to the roof and keep looking

Once the roof has dried off, go there and transfer the measurements you took to the roof. Closely examine your house’s roofing to find out the exact location of the leak. In the off chance you are unable to find out, keep on looking higher up on the roof as there’s always a chance of water running down the shingles before coming down in the attic deckers.

Contact Us for East Bay Roof Leak Detection and Roof Leak Repair

Identifying the location of a roof leak isn’t always as easy as it sounds, and if you’re still unable to find the leak’s source, it’s time to call in the pros. The team at Century Roof Tile are Bay Area roofing contractors that can make your life a little (or a lot) easier. We provide the most advanced infrared/thermal imaging roof leak detection and roof leak repair services to fix the problem once and for all. To say good riddance to your roof leak(s), call (888) 233-7548 or contact us online.