Most roof leaks are hard to find because they originate away from where they show up. In order to find the source of a leak, follow a roofer’s advice and “think like water.”

Water typically comes in through worn, broken, or missing shingles; where nails have worked loose; or through corroded or poorly sealed flashings around vents, skylights, or chimneys or along the intersections of roof planes.

Once water passes the roofing, it flows along the sheathing, roof rafters, or topside of ceilings until it finds a place to drip down—inevitably onto your favorite piece of furniture.

Look for a roof leak during the day. Go into the attic with a bright, portable light; step only on secure framing members, never on the insulation or topside of the ceiling below, which will not support you. Start above the place where drips occurred, and work your way uproof.

Look for wetness along the framing members. Or, if the weather has been dry for a while, look for water marks, stains, or discolorations on the wood made by dampness. Then switch off the light and try to find a hole where daylight shows through the roof. (On a wood-shingle roof, you’ll see too many such places because the overlapped shingles shed water but let light show through.) If it’s still raining, put a bucket under the leak in an area that is properly supported.

Find a Pre-Screened Roof Sealant Contractors in Your Area