Maintenance

Leaky Roof Troubleshooting

If you notice a stain on your ceiling, there may be a leak in the roof. Before you rush out to hire a contractor to reshingle the entire roof, consider the following tips:

find out where the water is actually coming into the attic: this may not necessarily be directly above the stain

does the water run along a plate or some other surface before running down into the ceiling insulation?

check flashing at all points where there is some discontinuity in the shingling, such as at: chimneys, valleys and skylights

seal around suspect flashings with suitable roof tar material

replace flashings if necessary

are many shingles curling excessively?

is there any loss of granular material from the shingles?

is the roof close to 20 years old?

If the answer to any of the last 3 questions is yes, it may be time to re-do the roof. To be sure, ask someone who has had plenty of experience in this work. Finally, call in 3 respected roofing contractors for a written quote.

From The Scarboro Heights Record V2 #3

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