How To Find A Shingle Roof Leak

Find a roof leak when it s not raining.

How to find a shingle roof leak.

If the paper towel picks up water shine a. Water testing for roof leaks if you can t find the cause of a leak from the attic or by visual inspection on the roof surface wait for dry weather and ask a friend to help you do a water test. Once you locate the source of the water mark the area. Take a roll of paper towels into the attic on a rainy day and press a paper towel against the wood that is above the wet area recommends roofer911.

Look for discoloration on wood sheathing or rafters caused by water. If you have an attic the easiest way to spot the leak is to up there on a rainy day. Small nail holes left behind from old vents satellite dish brackets or anything previously attached to the roof can allow water to enter and cause damage for years before leaking is noticed. Start in the attic.

We ll cover some of the most common causes for roof leaks below. Water will reflect light so bring a flashlight along. After the rain has stopped and it s sunny outside examine the exterior of your roof to look for problem areas that may be causing the leak. Look for any exposed roofing nails.

Tiny holes in shingles are sneaky because they can cause rot a leaky roof and other damage for years before you notice the obvious signs of a leak. If you find any exposed roofing nails there is a good chance this can be a leaking point. And exposed misplaced roofing repair nails should be pulled and the holes patched. The other person goes inside the attic with a bucket and a strong light.

If you can t see the source of the leak continue to look higher up on the roof since water can run down behind the shingles before emerging in the attic decking or rafters. Identifying the true location of roof leaks in the attic. To do this one person goes onto the roof with a garden hose. Examine the roofing closely for signs of the leak at the location you measured.

Most noticeable to the eye are leaks caused by an object for example an errant nail that s managed. You might find holes left over from a satellite dish or antenna mounting brackets or just about anything. On a nice day have a helper tap on the mark while you re on the roof.