How to Find Roof Leaks
If you have ever balked at the cost of roofing construction, rest assured that roof maintenance is a good investment. A new roof for your house, if properly maintained, can last for decades; in other words, if you bought a new roof when your oldest child was a baby, you can keep that roof until your new grandchild comes to visit you for the first time. Many roof problems are simple to fix if you have a contractor inspect your roof regularly.
Still, ordinary wear and tear can get out of hand quickly if not addressed promptly, and pretty soon, you will find yourself having to replace your entire roof. The winter snow in New England can be rough on roofs, but summer weather adds to the problems, especially in the years where a hurricane or tropical storm system comes as far north as Maine. The time to look for roof leaks is now, before another winter sets in.
If you are inclined toward DIY projects, you can fix them yourself, but contact the Portland, Main roofing contractors at Double J Construction if you prefer to leave the roof repair to the pros.
Looking Beyond the Obvious Places
If there is a water stain on your ceiling or mold and mildew peering through the plaster, then you know that you have a roof leak, but you don’t know where it originated. The roof leak might not be directly above the stain since the water might have flowed through the attic, crawl space, or ducts before settling in the area where you noticed the problem. In some cases, the roof leak will have started on the complete opposite side of the house; you might notice a wet spot on the kitchen ceiling, but the leak might be above the garage instead. You will have to do some more investigating to find the source of the roof leak.
Getting Close to the Source of the Leak
When you go into your attic, you will be able to see cracks in your roof more closely and identify where the water leak is coming from. Look carefully, preferably with a flashlight, to see if you can find nails or other objects sticking through the roof that might be causing the leak. Look for mold or damaged insulation. If you find damaged insulation, follow its trail to see where it begins and ends.
The Garden Hose Is Your Friend for Finding Roof Leaks
One of the reasons that homeowners let roof leaks get so bad before fixing them is that the roof leak only annoys you on rainy days. To find the leak on a sunny day (the best time to fix a roof), have an accomplice aim at the roof with a garden hose. From inside the attic, you will see exactly where the water comes down.
Contact Double J Construction About Roof Repair
Don’t wait until a leak destroys your whole roof. Contact Double J Construction in Portland, Maine, about roof leak repair.
