How to Figure Out Your Roof Leak in 5 Easy Steps — and Fix It

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One of the most annoying maintenance problems around the house is dealing with an unidentified roof leak. It’s a major problem during wet weather because your ceiling gets ugly marks and even starts to depreciate quickly, incurring more maintenance bills. As a premier roofing company, we have dealt with a LOT of leaks.

The worst part about these leaks is when you have paid roofing contractors to try to fix this leak, but they do a shabby job, and the leak remains. That’s money lost with the problem still unfixed.

This article will show you how to identify where that leak in your roof is coming from and the steps you should take to fix it.

Identifying Your Roof Leak in 5 Steps

For non-experts and even some so-called roof experts, tracing a leak might seem daunting. But it’s really not, as long as you know what to do. Let’s get right into a bit of detective work.

  • Look For Tell-tale Signs

Obviously, you must have noticed a leak before you raised the alarm. But it doesn’t hurt to be double-sure. If you think that there is a possible roof leak, lookout for the usual tell-tale signs. If you ever need the services of a roofing contractor in Greenville, it’s necessary to show them these. So, what should you look out for? Mold or water stains on the ceiling, wet and bulging patches on the walls inside the house, musty smells in a room, or missing shingles. Suspected leaks might not necessarily come from the point of these tell-tale signs. Sometimes water travels down from the exact leak spot and lodges at the point where you can now see signs.

  • Check in Your Attic and Trace the Leak

Carefully climb into your attic with your flashlight. Be careful not to put your foot through the ceiling, only step on the joists. Again, be on the lookout for water stains, dark marks along the rafters, or moldy spots. If it hasn’t rained recently, your best bet is to look out for moldy areas. If you find mold, the chances are that that’s where the roof leak is. If you don’t have an attic, perhaps, you live in a townhouse, then you would need to inspect the roof directly. Any Greenville roofing company should be able to handle that.

  • Make Fake Rain and Do a Roof Inspection

For a direct roof leak inspection, you would need the help of a friend or family member. This is because one of you would have to climb up to the roof with a garden hose to create fake ‘raindrops’ while the other goes into the attic to watch where the leaks would come from. This works when there’s been no rain for a while. Also, it’s not advisable to climb on the roof during a thunderstorm. Spray water directly on different parts of the roof for several minutes, like during rainfall. Whoever is watching for the leak inside the attic should holler when they finally see it and place a bucket directly beneath it to collect the water.

  • Get to Fixing

When you have successfully located the roof leak, there are a few things to do to curb the leak for good. If you like to get handy, here is your chance to. Fixing the roof primarily depends on what type of leak problem it has. For example, you may need to replace the damaged shingles, reapply caulk around the flashing to seal the leak, or fix the plumbing vent boots. Whatever method you choose, ensure that it’s the right one for the leak damage.

  • Quick Fixes for an Emergency Leak

Sometimes, you can try a fast roof leak fix for a leak caused by a hole. Here is what you need to do. Get a 12 by 12 inch galvanized sheet metal flashing. You can find this at most hardware stores. Lift the damaged shingle on the roof and slip the galvanized metal sheet beneath it to cover up the hole. If necessary, pull up some nails on the shingle to allow the metal slip beneath easily and cover the entire hole. This way, rain can no longer go through the hole.

Roofers in Greenville SC Can Do the Job!

Not many people are thrilled by the idea of having to get on their roof. It’s risky, it’s scary, and often not advisable — especially if you’re no expert. Also, you may have tried all the temporary fixes for your roof, and still, a leak remains. Don’t fret. Lanier Roofing is a reliable Greenville roofing company with years of experience in roof repair and other related services. Contact us today and get a free quote. Let’s solve your roof problems once and for all!

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