Stop Roof Leak In Attic

Water found in these places is commonly caused by condensation in the attic.

Stop roof leak in attic.

Before you leave your attic use a measuring tape to roughly map out where the leak is so you can find it once the rain stops. Don t go crazy with the water. Trowel the roofing tar into the leak on the underside of the roof deck using a putty knife. Insert a nail in the hole where water is leaking through the roof.

Water leaks occur through roof failure ice dams and water condensation or frost build up inside an attic. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic. Be sure to start small. Roof vent pipes from plumbing or exhaust vents penetrate the roof and are usually sealed using a collar style flashing made out of a flexible material like epdm rubber or flexible pvc.

The nail will provide a path for the water. Run water over the low side of the penetration for several minutes while the helper watches for any water droplets. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. Most people assume this is caused by a leaking roof but that might not be the source.

Use enough water to mimic heavy rains. The location of the entry point into the attic may be in a different area than where the leak is coming through your ceiling so be sure to make a wide search of the attic to locate the source. Begin soaking low on the roof just above where the leak is visible inside the house. Roof vent pipes are common areas for roof leaks.

You can usually trace the path along a rafter but water sometimes also follows the underside of the roof deck. If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof. Run the water over the place where you think the leak might be located. After the rain as stopped and the sun is out put on some rubber soled shoes and use the same measurement to find the leaky area on the outside of your roof.

Fixing this issue can be less costly than replacing a roof but it should be addressed as soon as possible. Push the shingle or plywood into the tar and trowel more roofing tar around the edges of the patch. Rainy weather causes the first type of leak to be discovered. Solution for a small leak some roof leaks are tough to locate.

Finding water damage on the wall or ceiling is worrying for any homeowner.