How to Spot And Fix a Leaking Roof?

Are you fed up with roof leaks? Well, you’re in the right place! We’ve prepared an extensive guide to help you spot and fix roof leaks!

How to Identify a Roof Leak?

Before you get down to fixing your roof, you need to find the roof leak. Here are some tips to help you out:

· Start at the Stain

The first place to start looking around is the stain. Roof leaks cause water to collect in one spot, so finding that spot can lead you to the leak. Remove the drywall and the insulation if the drywall is severely moist. Moreover, look for water inside the wall and follow it back to its source.

Remember that most insulation types are capable of holding water, which means the wall cavity will almost certainly be soaked. Therefore, it’s important to let the wall dry for a while before attempting to locate the source of the leak.

· Check the Attic

A crucial step to spotting a roof leak is checking the attic and examining the roof’s underside. Make sure you thoroughly examine each rafter for any moisture. Moreover, be careful when examining the areas where planes connect. It’s often easier to start from the bottom, so inspect the attic floor and the rafters’ bottoms. Look for dampness, stains, rotting sheathing, and other symptoms of a leaky roof with a flashlight.

· Inspect the Roof

Once you’ve determined the suspected area of the leaks, get up on the roof and assess it for damage. Make sure you use a ladder, stable footing, and be careful when working on a roof or ladder since you can easily fall from the roof or your ladder, so be extra cautious.

Look for evident damage in the location of the leak as soon as you’re at eye level with the roof. Lookout for damaged or missing shingles, structural damage, ripped flashing, or inadequately built roofs, as these can all cause a leak.

· Soak the Roof

Sometimes, despite a thorough inspection, you might not be able to find the leak. However, you can try exposing your roof to water and inspect it from your home. You could easily ask someone to help spray the roof. It’s best to work in segments since it can be easier to manage. So, begin with the bottom porting and move upward. Make sure you spend at least a few minutes inspecting each section.

Wet the upper portion after soaking the lower portion in the leaky area and, then follow the same pattern. Don’t forget about the inside of the house; make sure you look for leaks, puddles, and moisture.

· Remove the Shingles

If the above steps haven’t helped you spot the leak, you need to dig deeper. So, remove the shingles around the infected area and examine the covering. Through this, you can easily spot the leak.

How to Fix a Roof Leak?

· Examine Roof Vents

We’ve already inspected the roof for leaks, so we can inspect the roof vents since sometimes the leak can stem from there too. So, head over to the rooftop and examine vents’ conditions. There’s a chance the housings or boots may be cracked, and the vents can be displaced. Therefore, examine the vents for displaced or missing nails that secure them to the roof.

· Remove Damaged Roof Vent

Get rid of the damaged vent from the rooftop. Start by utilizing a pry bar to unscrew the nails, unfastening the shingles. Next, pull the shingles covering the vent’s foot aside with the pry bar. It’s helpful if there’s additional help to manage the shingles. Remember not to remove the shingles. Only unscrew the roof deck nails holding the vent in position. Lastly, get rid of the vent at the end.

· Replace Roof Vent

Coat the base of the vent’s flashing with a thick layer of sealant or roofing cement. It’s best if you have someone roll the shingles back and separate them while you slide in the vent. To avoid leakage, the vent flashing’s bottom-most section should move over the shingles. Lastly, nail the vent in place at all four corners and every four inches. Apply a thick coat of roof cement or sealant over the nails.

· Tear Off Old Shingles

In case the leaks are from a damaged roof deck, you’ll need to get rid of the shingles for better access. So, start using the pry bar to remove the shingles. Start by removing at least shingles from two rows above the repair spot. Then, work your way through rows, removing the shingles.

· Remove the Old Roofing Paper

The shingles can be separated from the roofing deck by roofing paper. With a knife, cut away the underlayment.

· Mark the Deck Cut Area

Draw a chalk line along the roof rafter on both ends of the damaged portion. To reach to the rafter center, follow the existing nails as a guide. Then, draw another line across or at 90 degrees of the damaged part.

· Cut Away Damaged Roof Deck

Follow the chalk lines to cut the damaged part of the roof deck. Steer clear of the marked area when cutting the damaged part.

· Get Rid of the Roof Deck

Pull nails from the cut-out area of the roof deck with the pry bar. Then pry off the rotten plywood, but don’t throw it yet.

· Cut New Roof Deck Patch

Mark the dimensions of the new roof deck repair by using the damaged portion as a guide.

· Attach the Roof Deck Patch

Place the roof deck patch and secure it to the rafters using 8d common nails.

· Lay Paper

Start nailing the roofing paper from the bottom to the top using roofing nails. Keep the rows at a 4-inch distance.

· Lay the First Shingles Row

Following the same bottom to the top pattern, place the first row of shingles. After placing the rows, apply a coat of roofing cement, then nail it down, and voila! You’re done!

Need a Roof Leak Repair in Pensacola, Fl? Let Us Help You!

Do you need roof repair services to fix your leaky roof? Reach out to Certified Pro Roofing!

Certified Pro Roofing is a leading roof company in Pensacola, Fl. We take pride in offering roof leak repair services, roof maintenance, new roof installation services, roof inspection services, and more in Florida.

Get in touch with us to avail our roof repair services.