How do you find where a roof leak starts?
Water travels. It runs along rafters and decking and can drip into a room several feet from the actual opening. Tracing it takes patience.
A careful leak check usually goes like this:
- Look at the ceiling and attic first, checking for stains, damp insulation and light around penetrations.
- Follow the wet area uphill to find the likely entry point.
- Inspect the roof surface and every penetration above that spot, including flashing, vents and any skylight.
- Test a suspect area with a garden hose, working from the low side up, when conditions are safe.
Be cautious about a quick patch of sealant on top of a problem. It may hold for a few weeks and then fail, leaving the water to keep working underneath. If an inspection shows the roof as a whole is tired, our roof inspection service can put a number of years on what is left.

