I have had a lot of experience in leak detection
Roof leaks can cause major problems if found too late. It’s easy to see when you have a leaky roof – stains on the ceiling are an obvious sign. Sometimes you can also see discolouration on the walls or floors and smell mould.
Discovering the source of leaks however, may be a bit harder to detect. Water can travel along rafters and across timber and eventually to the area where the stain is.
The areas that are often the sources of leaks are:
• broken or cracked roof tiles – Roof tiles are a weatherproof barrier to stop water and to and other elements entering your home.
• Roof Flashing – Roof flashing are installed anywhere there is a penetration or wall through the roof. Plumbing vent flashings, or a chimney is an example.
You should also check any areas near vents, pipes, gutters and ‘valleys’ – valleys are areas where two sections of the roof meet.
1. You may like to stand outside your house and see whether there are any irregularities on your broken tiles or missing pieces of capping.
2. The best way to detect leaks is to go from the stain and then try to trace it back to its source.
3. If you examine the roof from underneath, in the roofspace on a very rainy day, you should be able to retrace the water’s flow.
4. If it isn’t raining, you can sometimes locate the origin of a roof leak by examining the roof framing timbers.
5. You can also take a garden hose up on the roof if it isn’t raining to test for leaks. Make sure you try and make it act like rain and don’t point the hose up the tile as that will make it leak.
If all else fails call a professional like me
It’s also important to maintain your roof and gutters regularly – don’t wait until water is dripping on your head or the ceiling has caved in
