When to Conduct a Roof Leak Assessment?

Conducting a roof assessment can help you detect leaks that can put your family and property at risk. If you suspect a roof leak, you need to find the area that leaks and fix it quickly before it causes more damage to your property. How do you find a roof leak?

Finding and fixing a roof leak can be overwhelming for many homeowners. Even if you manage to detect a roof leak that requires significant repairs, fixing it yourself can be quite a tedious task. You’ll have to hire a roofing contractor to help you do the job.

This guide explores the signs that your roof needs a roof leak assessment. You will also learn how to detect and fix a leaking roof. Keep reading to learn more.

Signs that You Have Roof Leaks on Your Property

If you notice some water running down your walls or water stains on your ceilings, the chances are that your roof is leaking. It’s vital to examine the roof for signs of leaks.

Most roof leaks usually occur after a significant storm or natural disasters like hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornados. Hailstones can also cause roof damages.

If you suspect a roof leak, examine your property’s interior and exterior for signs of a roof leak. The state of your property will help you detect the sources of roof leaks.

Signs for Water Leaks from the Ceiling

If you notice water stains on the ceiling, especially after a significant storm or rainfall, that could be an early sign of a roof leak.

Here are the other signs of water leaks from the ceiling.

Damp spots on your ceiling, fireplaces, and around interior air vents
Drywall or paint around light fixtures and electrical outlets looking moist or damp
Noticeable musty smell in the house, specifically in the attic and upper floors
Unexplained sounds of dripping inside your house
Water drips or moisture on your walls after a major thaw
Water stains on the roof rafters or sheathing in the attic or upper floors
Interior paint peeling or bubbling after subsequent heavy rainfalls

Exterior Signs of Roof Leaks in Your Property

When you notice the following signs on your roof, know that it’s time to perform a roof leak assessment.

Loose shingles laying around your property or in your yard
Curling or buckling of shingles on the roof
Extremely discolored or degraded shingles
Appearance or color of the roof changed at particular spots
Damaged or cracked flashing around the roof vents
Loose or exposed nails on the roof
Cracked sealants around the chimney
Debris piles in the lower spots on the roof or around the chimney
Rotting spots or peeling paint under the roof eaves
Loose or clogged gutters and downspouts
Shingle granules and other debris in the gutters
Mold or moss growing on the exterior walls

All the signs highlighted above are indicative of potential leaks in the roof. After doing a visual inspection, you’ll need to investigate further to identify the exact point of the leak.

Roof Leak Assessment: How to Detect a Roof Leak

You can identify the spot where your roof is leaking before hiring a roofing contractor. Begin the search by examining the higher roof parts. Look for holes, penetrations, or other visible damages from the outside. They are the common causes of roof leaks.

Most roofing issues that cause leaks, such as roof penetrations, usually occur around roof vents, plumbing, chimneys, dormers, and other elements that project through the roof. Roof leaks can also happen a few feet away from the roofing elements mentioned.

As you inspect the roof, ensure that you also examine other parts with no projections. However, roof leaks are highly unlikely to occur on uninterrupted roof surfaces. That is why you should begin the search by looking for disruptions on your roof surface.

Once you finish examining the roof’s exterior, access the attic for further investigation. Carry a flashlight and a camera to capture the evidence of a possible roof leak. Check for water stains, mold growth, or other inconsistencies that could be causing roof leaks.

Detecting the leaky spots will be easier when you inspect the attic during the day when there is enough daylight. When you switch off the flashlight, you may see the sources of roof leaks by marking the daylight spots entering the roof.

Pro Tip: Never stand on the ceiling’s topside or insulation when examining the roof from inside. Ensure that you step on secure framing.

Testing for Water Leaks on the Roof

When you hire a roofing technician to pinpoint the source of roof leaks, they’ll have to climb up into the attic to check for roof leaks. They’ll look for mold, water stains, or black marks along the rafters or roof sheathing.

If the technician cannot pinpoint the source of the leak after a visual inspection, they’ll perform a quick water test.

The technician will go to the rooftop and wet each section of the roof at a time. One person must remain inside the house to check where the water is dripping from the roof.

Repairing Roof Leaks after a Roof Assessment

Once you detect the source of roof leaks in your property, organize for repairs. Note that your roof’s complexity will determine whether you’ll do the repairs by yourself or hire a roofing contractor. For example, repairing flat roofs and metal roofs can be complicated.

If your roof requires significant repairs, it will be more prudent to work with a reputable roofing contractor. The good news is, they have all the essential tools and skills required to fix all roofing problems.

Here are some of the repairs that call for expert roofers.

Replacing damaged or missing shingles
Fixing damaged roof penetration flashing
Reapplying caulk around chimneys and vents

Final Words

Performing a fragile roof risk assessment to detect a leak can be overwhelming if you have to do it alone. If you suspect a roof leak in your property, hire a professional to identify the source of the leak and the viable solutions.

If you’re looking for a reliable and trustworthy roofing contractor in Texas, then search no further than Roof Master. We have many years of experience in residential and commercial roofing services. We’ll fix your leaking roof at an affordable price.