Roof Leak

[lupi]

After 4 days of heavy rain, have a small wet trail down the ceiling and onto the wall. What do you look for to find source of a leak on a roof without an attic?

 

[highland145]

On the roof. Flashing around vents and chimney's. Satellite dishes. Anything that goes through the shingles.

 

[lupi]

Leak is in a section where it's only shingles on top of roof and room below, no attic space.

 

[NetWareHead]

nvm

 

[lupi]

No attic.

 

[highland145]

Leak is in a section where it's only shingles on top of roof and room below, no attic space.

How old is the roof? Ridge vent?

 

[lupi]

About 17 years. Just shingles along the ridge. Leak appears on ceiling about halfway down.

 

[highland145]

Vaulted ceiling?

I'm betting a shingle/nail issue. Time to get a ladder.

 

[lupi]

Yes, split level house so this one has about a 16 foot ceiling at the high point.

So likely a loose/missing nail?

 

[highland145]

17 years is getting up there in age depending on the shingles but it only takes 1 nail to have pushed through or rusted away. I'd start at the ridge cap. You aren't seeing water until half way down the ceiling but it would take a while to penetrate the sheet rock anyway.

 

[lupi]

At about the half way point there is about an orange sized circle, about three inches down another, and a couple inches below that it becomes a steady 2 inch wide band down to the wall.

 

[NetWareHead]

How is the drywall? Is it mushy? If you have to replace it, open up the ceiling and look at the roof from underneath. Get a hose and spray the roof, see where the water comes in. I had a roof leak in my garage that leaked in near the apex but ran along a rafter until it hit a nail and leaked off from there. Water traveled a few feet from the original leak entrance.

 

[lupi]

It's just been enough to leave a slight discolor and a very minor sheen of water on the exterior. Not enough for drops to form yet.