How To Fix A Leaking Roof
If you have a leaking roof, there are actually a number of things that could cause this. There are also a number of problems that can be caused by a leak which is not fixed. This is why you need to know what steps you should be taking to fix your leaking roof.
Determine Where The Leak Is
The first step to fixing a leaking roof is to determine where the leak actually is. This will help you determine what is causing the leak and what steps you need to take to remedy this. The best way to determine where the leak is would be to look at the ceiling of your home.
Tracing the water damage on the ceiling is a good way to start your search for the source of the leak. Once you know where the water is dripping onto the ceiling, you should head to the attic. The leak will generally not be at the same spot as the water damage, but you can use this location to track the leak. Water will generally run from the point of entry to a lower spot in the roof before dripping onto the ceiling.
Using this logic, you will need to trace the water from the point where it hits the ceiling. As water will always run downward, you will need to look at the roofing further up. Using a flashlight, you should be able to see where the water is entering the roof.
Inspect Your Shingles
Once you have an idea of where the leak is, you will be able to take some steps to fix the leak. If you have a shingle roof, you will need to look for any signs of wear and tear around the leak site. You should be looking for missing, cracked or curling shingles. These shingles will create gaps in your roof which allows water to enter your home.
After locating the problem, you will need to remedy it. If there are missing shingles, you will need to replace them with new shingles. Cracked and curling shingles can be repaired and resealed which will stop the water from entering your home.
Sealing Leaking Joints
It is not only the shingles of your roof which could be causing problems. If you have a leak that is close to your chimney or a valley in the roof, you need to look at the joins. Gaps in the sealant, aluminum flashing and caulk will cause leaks and you need to remedy this.
If you find that there are small gaps, you will generally be able to treat this with some roof sealant. However, larger gaps and tears in the flashing will require everything to be replaced. While this is something that you will be able to do yourself, there are many people who recommend hiring a professional waterproofing contractor instead.
There are many reasons why your roof could be leaking. If your roof is more than 20 years old, it could simply be reaching the end of its life. In these situations, it will be better to replace the roof than to repair the leaking areas.