How to Chase Leaks in a Roof

Roof leak repair is a crucial element of home maintenance.

A roof leak is an inconvenience that most homeowners experience. The causes of leaks include severe weather and inadequate roof maintenance. Improperly installed roofing, such as flashing and shingles, also results in leaks, which allow water to permeate roof sheathings and rafters and to damage a home's interior. Because roof leaks can threaten a home’s structural integrity, detecting them, chasing them and repairing them as soon as possible is essential.

Things You'll Need

• Sturdy ladder
• Slip-resistant footwear
• Garden hose
• Masking tape

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Instructions

1. Access the roof while it’s completely dry using a sturdy ladder. Wear slip-resistant footwear.

2. Inspect areas of the roof surrounding protrusions for water stains and black mold discoloration. Protrusions include chimneys, roof vents, plumbing stacks, skylights and dormers. Lift up the shingles around the protrusions and check the roof sheathing for stains, rot and discoloration. Water stains and black discoloration are indications of leaks.

3. Examine all of the flashings surrounding the protrusions on the roof for cracks, rust, gaps and holes, which are typical sources of roof leaks. Flashings are metal sheets that connect protrusions to roofs. Check for any caulking, tar or roof cement around the flashings, as these indicate previous improper roof repairs. Caulk, tar and roof cement are not suitable for repairing flashings and generally wear off over time, exposing leaks again.

4. Check the roof field if you still haven’t detected the leaks. Scan the expanse of shingles for protruding nails, cracks and missing colored granules, which are all possible leak sources. Missing shingles are also obvious sources of leaks.

5. Enlist an assistant if you are still unable to discover the leaks. Have your assistant stay in the attic to notify you when water drips indoors while you run water down the roof. Start about 10 feet up the roof, directing water from a garden hose down a 10-foot-wide section of shingles for five minutes. Never blast water up the roof.

6. Work around the lower section of the roof’s perimeter with the garden hose, spending five minutes on each 10-foot-wide section. If your assistant sill hasn’t discovered dripping water, move 10 feet up the roof’s slope and repeat the procedure. Always stay above the flow of water to remain on dry shingles.

7. Continue working around and up the roof until water drips indoors. Have your assistant mark the source of the drip on the attic’s ceiling with masking tape, and then inspect the shingles above the marked attic ceiling for the indications of leaks outlined in the previous steps.

Tips & Warnings

• If the roof is flat, inspect the attic’s ceiling for damp stains and black discoloration using a flashlight. These stains signify leaks are directly above.

• Condensation may cause ceilings and roof sheathing to appear wet, even when no leaks are present.

• Never walk on roof tiles, as they may break. Hire a professional roofer to chase leaks on tiled roofs.

• Avoid walking on wet or dewy shingles, as you may slip.

• Hire a professional roofer to chase leaks if you are uncomfortable with heights.

References

• Ask The Builder: Roof Leak - Ten Most Common Leak Locations
• Ask The Builder: Roofing - Locating a Leak
• The Family Handyman: Roof Repair: How to Find and Fix Roof Leaks