If you see signs of water damage from the ceiling right below the attic then it s a certainty that you re dealing with a leaking roof.
Water leaking from roof.
Chronic roof leaks lead to wood deterioration and weakened rotten roof framing causes serious problems that require assistance from a professional contractor.
Identifying roofing system leaks.
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 often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.
Finding the actual spot where the roof leaks is difficult because water can enter the roof in one place and run down to another before it starts soaking into the ceiling.
The most obvious consequence of a leaking roof is the damaged rafters ceiling joists wall framing and even fascia boards and exterior trim can become victims of water intrusion.
The goal is to find the leak before the entire roof goes bad.
Roof leaks are typically just signs of a much larger problem.
If there signs of water damage or dripping water coming from the ceiling that is directly below an attic space or directly below the roof surface itself there is almost no question that the true cause is a hole or other type of damage in the shingles or other roofing material that make up the roof system.
But it s equally important to fix the roof leak as soon as possible to prevent more damage.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
Sometimes the roof water leak is more subtle showing up as a very small spot.
Sometimes water leaks behind walls and leaches straight into your hardwood floors or floor underlayment and causes damage there as well.
Roof vent leaking is always a problem.
Some roof leaks are tough to locate.
Be vigilant search for leaks and talk with your contractor about the condition of your roof regularly.
Slow roof leaks sometimes show up in the strangest places too like water leaking from wall outlets or light fixtures.
Both danger and the probability of structural erosion increase if unaddressed.
Look for cracks in the base of flexible rubber flashing or broken seams in metal varieties of vent pipe flashing the rubber gasket that surrounds the vent pipe could be rotted.
Regular inspections are your best defense against a leaky roof.
Check plumbing vent boots and roof vents if water is entering from that area to cause the leaking roof.
When the water leaking through the roof it will cause a big mess and more than just that it can also cause water damage to the roof and attic structure that can expose your family into a dangerous risk of collapse structure and possible mold infestation.
You know the roof is bad if shingles are missing or obviously damaged or when water stains the ceiling or walls.
