Common Roof Leak Locations

Are you seeing water drip down your roof but don’t really know where it’s leaking from? There are common places where leaking could occur, and most are easy to solve. Be careful with horizontal roof boards, however, they can deceive you by making a leak look like it’s right in front of you when it’s actually a few feet away. When you learn the common roof leak locations, it’ll be easier to solve the issue faster with minimum damage caused. If you’re in need of a leak repair or need help with leak detection, Leak Detection of Atlanta can be of great assistance.

Shingles – Shingles are easy to spot on the roof, just look up. Look at the tops of the regular knockouts with regular shingles. Broken shingles allow easy access to water in attics and homes, so be sure to patch up and repair them accurately.
Valleys – At a valley, two roof planes intersect. If the shingles on the valley are not trimmed properly, this could be a serious problem. You end up with a chisel point at the end of the shingle when you trim it. If another cut is not made to make the tip into an arrow, water can find its way to your home. Since this is better off done by professionals, call for a leak repair when there is leaking in your valleys.
Head Wall Flashings – Roofs that stop at a vertical wall must have direct water streaming away from the stopping point of the shingles at the wall. The flashing can extend over the shingles for at least three inches.
Chimneys – Chimneys are the source of many leaks. All parts of the chimney must be sturdy and put together, otherwise a leak will occur because of all the flashing on the chimney. Even a small crack above the flashing can cause large amounts of water to leak. Look for breaks and cracks along the chimneys or call for leak detection.
Ice Dam Leaks – Even if your roof is looking good, ice dams can block the natural flow of water down a roof. With ice blocking the path, water starts to back up into the house, and starts to leak. To prevent or slow down the leaking, you can use a roof rake to remove snow from the roof’s edge and use an ice melting product for the ice dam.

Causes of Roof Leaks

First off, your skylights may have been improperly installed. This can be because of improper installation when the house was first built or decayed insulation along the skylight’s edges. Another cause for leaks may be your gutters being clogged. Leaves or dirt clog up the gutter entrance, so water then piles up in one area of the roof and tries to find other openings to pass through. Other causes may include a cracked chimney, condensation in your attic, or an accidental step that leads to a tile or a crucial element crack.

If you would like more information on roof leakages or need service for repair or leak detection, Leak Detection of Atlanta is ready to help.