Stop Roof Leak In Attic

Water leaks occur through roof failure ice dams and water condensation or frost build up inside an attic.

Stop roof leak in attic.

Step 2 place a bucket underneath the nail to catch the water as it runs down the nail. Push the shingle or plywood into the tar and trowel more roofing tar around the edges of the patch. 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. Use enough water to mimic heavy rains.

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. Water found in these places is commonly caused by condensation in the attic. Don t go crazy with the water. Finding water damage on the wall or ceiling is worrying for any homeowner.

You can usually trace the path along a rafter but water sometimes also follows the underside of the roof deck. Trowel the roofing tar into the leak on the underside of the roof deck using a putty knife. If the leak isn t obvious have a helper watch in the attic while you get on the roof with a garden hose. Begin soaking low on the roof just above where the leak is visible inside the house.

Have a helper stationed in the attic with a flashlight looking for moisture. Run water over the low side of the penetration for several minutes while the helper watches for any water droplets. Roof vent pipes are common areas for roof leaks. 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.

Be sure to start small. The nail will provide a path for the water. 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. 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.

Rainy weather causes the first type of leak to be discovered. Most people assume this is caused by a leaking roof but that might not be the source. Fixing this issue can be less costly than replacing a roof but it should be addressed as soon as possible. Insert a nail in the hole where water is leaking through the roof.

If you don t want to wait for rain to look for the leak try bringing the garden hose up on the roof.