How To Inspect Your Roof For Leaks

Perform an indoor inspection.

How to inspect your roof for leaks.

Cleaning and inspecting a roof video how to find roof leaks video repairing an asphalt shingle roof video video transcript danny lipford. Some roof leaks are tough to locate. Unless of course you ve got a pesky roof leak that you just can t find. If your roof is leaking right now go into the attic with a flashlight and some chalk to mark with while it s raining.

Looking for roof leaks on the outside of your house. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. Run the water over the place where you think the leak might be located. The key to finding a leak is l.

On a day like this when the spring showers are moving in you can feel pretty good about having a roof over your head. If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof. Moisture marks brown yellow or grey stains and peeling paint on walls and or ceilings could all indicate a damaged leaking roof. Be patient in the process and you will be able to find most leaks.

Also look for a thin stream of water flowing down one of the rafters. Inspecting your attic on a rainy day is one if the easiest ways to check for leaks. Finding a roof leak like a pro is a process and takes time. Inspect the underside of the roof for objects that have pierced it or have been attached to it.

Be sure to start small. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. Be sure to bring a flashlight so that you can inspect each area of your roof until you identify where the water is entering your home. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house.

Isolate areas when you run the hose. Review the active leak and note the surface where the leak is dripping from. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic. Most noticeable to the eye are leaks caused by an object for example an errant nail that s managed.

Don t go crazy with the water. Often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. Also take a peek in your attic where damp rafters or leaks could additionally point to roof damage. Look for damp spots on the underside of your roof.