How To Find Roof Leaks On A Flat Roof

Roof leaks can ruin insulation become a breeding ground for black mold damage interior ceilings and walls and rot the wooden framing.

How to find roof leaks on a flat roof. Clear any debris from the roof. Identifying the true location of roof leaks in the attic. Any seam in the roofing material is a natural spot for a leak. This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges but it isn t always that durable.

Look here for tiny holes or splits in the roof. Roofing professionals including contractors and roof consultants utilize many different tools to solve hard to find roof leaks. If you have an attic the easiest way to spot the leak is to up there on a rainy day. Isolate areas when you run the hose.

On a nice day have a helper tap on the mark while you re on the roof. Often water will pond in low spots in a flat roof. Look closely at all seams. The inner layer or step flashing covers.

Seams a high priority. Water will always seek the path of least resistance so it could be coming in somewhere else and running to that specific spot on the ceiling. If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. You will see evidence of these areas on a flat roof.

Water will reflect light so bring a flashlight along. If you see water stains on your ceiling it probably means the roof is leaking. So let s look at the ten of the most common culprits in causing your roof to leak and what you can and should do about them other than recruiting a bucket brigade. Look for places where tree branches may have gouged or torn the roofing material.

How to find a flat roof leak. Unfortunately the leak might not be in the exact spot you find the water stains. Look for concentric rings of dirt as the puddles dry out. A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing.

How to find a leak on a flat roof the best time to look for a leak is when the roof has been dry for at least three days and in the evening night time when after cooling down the flat roof leak hot spot will release heat that has stored underneath the hole during the day. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. Tracing a low slope or flat roof leak to its source is important if you are to assure that the roof leak repair will be successful. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house.

Once you locate the source of the water mark the area. Thin pieces of material sometimes metal that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. Typically there are two layers of flashing.