Tracking down roof leaks to their source is harder than you think. The water doesn’t usually travel a straight path. The lower the slope, the greater the distance it can cover. While you don’t need to be a detective to figure it out, you’ll need sophisticated equipment and sufficient roof anatomy knowledge to inspect it efficiently.
Polk Contracting, Inc. talks about how experienced roofing and siding contractors carry out leakage investigation:
Looking for Stains
The best place to begin is the attic. Any leak may leave traces in a form of stains. This is especially true when water intrusion has been chronic. Discoloration in the ceiling or wall merits a closer look. Professionals mark the pathway made with stained materials, such as dark spots or rusted nails, whether they’re still wet or already dry.
Following the Trail
Like any savvy window and door contractor looking for tiny leak points, a veteran roofer will check where the evidence could lead. The coldness of the surface can say a lot but often not enough. Non-pros may not tell the difference between cool areas because of missing insulation and those due to damp conditions. The sense of touch, or even sight, isn’t the most reliable tool.
When the area is still soaked, the use of moisture meters and infrared cameras can significantly help detect where the water entered. These instruments can reveal trapped moisture within construction materials and show the temperature levels emitted by different objects that can otherwise go unnoticed.
Suspecting Obvious Leak Points
Any roofing, siding and door replacement specialist would say that detecting the actual entry point of water inside won’t paint the whole picture. At the end of the day, the inspector has to go outside and search for red flags.
The usual suspects are always those that seem guilty the most: broken vent flashings, missing shingles and poorly sealed valleys. However, leak sources can still be surprising. Without a healthy amount of inspection, fixing visible problems might not suffice to stop the leaks. Sometimes, roofers still need to perform certain tests just to verify what their instinct is telling them.
When it comes to roof leak detection, let Polk Contracting, Inc. do the heavy lifting. Call us at (410) 660-2922 to schedule an inspection and get a FREE estimate. We serve clients in Harford County and surrounding areas.