Have a Leaky Roof? Here’s What You Should Do Before Winter Storms
If you have water stains running down your wall or across your ceilings, then most probably the culprit is a leaky roof. The challenging part is locating the leaking roof signs and not the roof leak repair. Anyone can prevent leaks on their own—yes, you heard it right! You do not need to have any prior knowledge if you get to have a good demonstration on how to fix a leaking roof from inside. Most leaks are repaired in a matter of minutes. This blog will teach you some easy leaking roof repair techniques for fixing frequent types of leaky roofs.
If you have a leaky roof, you should fix it right away, even if it is not bothering you. A small leakage or ceiling stain might not be a big deal for you right now, but it will cost you a big chunk of money if you ignore it for a longer time. Leakages may cause issues such as rotten frames, mildew, lost insulation, sheathing, and ruined roofs in a short time. You can save up a lot if you opt for a leaking roof repair in time.
Signs of Having a Leaking Roof
If you reside in Redding and experience leaks mostly on warm or sunny days throughout the winter, you most likely have ice dams on the roof. When looking for a leak, consider looking upward from the spots on the roof. The first thing you should search for is any roof damage. Roof penetration items such as the roof vents, dormers, chimneys, plumbing, and anything else that goes through the roof are the most typical cause of leaks.
In addition, it is highly uncommon to have leakages on the continuous or unbroken parts of the roof shingles. They might be several inches above or to the left or right of the leakage. The best approach to locate a leakage is to go up on the roof with light and check for signs. There will be black marks, water stains, and maybe fungus. However, if access is impossible or you have a vaulted roof, you must go up onto the roof and check the possibility.
An Approach for Identifying Challenging Leakage
If locating a leak is challenging, then you should try seeking the assistance of a friend. Take a water hose, climb to the roof, and ask your friend to stay in the house. Start to run the water down the area from where the water is leaking in your home. Ask your friend to look for the spot where the water is dripping inside the house. Repeat this process on all parts of your roof where you suspect a leakage. You should keep the water running on the same spot for a few minutes before shifting to another spot. Tell your friend to mark all the spots where the leak is apparent. You’ll be close to the source of the leak.
This procedure can take up to an hour, so be calm and not move the hose very quickly. Don’t be worried if rushing water doesn’t indicate the spot of the leakage. Begin by removing the shingles in the likely region. With them eliminated, there will be proof of the leak, and you will be able to trace it back to its source. Directly under and around a leaking roof, you’ll notice water-stained wood, rotten timber or even discoloured felt paper.
Repair for a Minor Leakage
Some leaking roof signs are difficult to find. Water can sometimes be seen in a ceiling place far away from the source of the leak. If the roof has a plastic vapour barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation, remove the insulation and inspect the plastic for flow marks.
Water frequently leaks through vapour barrier gaps, such as those found at ceiling lightings. When you cannot see any marks and the stain is pretty minor, search for shiners on the bottom of the roof.
How to Patch Leaking Roof
You should also check the vents of your plastic roof for damaged housings and the vents of your metal roof to look for damaged seams. If you are about to use caulk to solve the issue, it will not stay long. These broken vents are the only thing which you can repair and that should do the job.
You should also check for any damaged or pulled screws at your roof’s foundation border. There will also be nails running over the top of the duct which you can easily pull out without removing shingles. You can also use rubber-washer screws to secure the bottom. Push a bead of caulk under the shingles on both sides of the vent. This will help to keep the shingles in place and provide a water barrier. It’s much more difficult than re-nailing the tiles.
Repair Dormers and Walls
Water does not usually enter through the surface of roof shingles. The air pushes the rain into the roof top from where the damage begins. Dormer walls give several points for water to drip down and penetrate the roof. Sealant between boards and among window corners and siding might be brittle, old, or not even be present for protection. Water will seep through these spaces and enter your home. Even though the sealant appears to be in good condition, it may not be sealing against the neighbouring surfaces.
Examine the area with a putty knife to determine if it is sealed or not. Remove any faulty sealant and replace it with a high-quality sealant. Examine the siding above the step flashing as well. Repair any damaged, rotten, or misplaced siding, ensuring that the new piece overhangs the step flashing by at least two inches. If the leak persists, remove the boards and inspect the overlaps flashing at the corner.
The Bottom Line
While it is doable to do roof repairs throughout the winter, it is not ideal given Redding’s harsh and long winters. Even if you believe your present roof is in good condition, it may be time to do a self-inspection.
Being preventive and hiring an expert will save you both money and energy. Are you considering having your roof inspected or roof maintenance? Request a consultation from 911 Restoration of Redding today for a professional opinion on roof repairs!
