I see water stains on my ceiling after rain. How do I find where the roof is leaking and what should I do?
Finding a roof leak is tricky because water enters the roof at one point but travels along rafters and sheathing before appearing on your ceiling, sometimes several feet from the actual leak. Start from the attic: during daylight, go into the attic with a flashlight and look for daylight coming through the roof boards. Also look for water stains, mold, or dark spots on the underside of the roof deck. Trace any water trails upward to find the entry point. Common leak locations include around roof vents, chimneys, skylights, and plumbing vent pipes (any penetration through the roof surface). Also check valleys where two roof planes meet and along the edges where shingles may have blown off. If you can identify the area from the attic, mark it and check the corresponding area on the exterior. For a temporary fix until professional repair, apply roofing tar or a waterproof sealant to the area. Cover with a tarp secured with weights if the leak is large. For permanent repair, damaged or missing shingles can be replaced individually for 150 to 500 dollars. Flashing around vents and chimneys costs 200 to 600 dollars to repair. A new roof costs 5,000 to 15,000 dollars. Contact your homeowner insurance if damage is from a storm.
