With vaulted ceilings, attic access and DIY skills at hand, roof leaks can usually be identified by closely inspecting damp drywall for black marks and water stains. Otherwise, crawling on your roof (safely equipped) might be required - be sure to use ladders and secure footing for this endeavour!
Expert roof leak assessment repairs Adelaide knows how important isolating the suspected area is in finding leaks. By inspecting it closely they're then able to see where and what might be causing a leak.
Determine the Cause
After discovering any signs of roof leakage, one of the first things a homeowner must do is identify its cause. A roof leak can quickly turn into serious water damage in your home if left undetected for too long.
Damage from moisture intrusion can ruin wall and ceiling coverings, wood framing and insulation, create fire hazards by reaching into electrical wiring and raise your energy costs due to moisture seeping into insulation.
Finding the source of a leak may require some detective work. If you have access to an attic, look for water stains on joists or walls as a telltale sign of leakage; check for signs of mould growth as this could indicate moisture that leads to rot over time.
Inspect the Roof
Finding the source of water entry into a roof leak requires first identifying its source - whether that means calling in professional roofers or doing it yourself with proper tools and knowledge. Once identified, an experienced roofing contractor may spray that area of the roof with water in order to simulate rainfall effects on interior ceilings below.
Homeowners should remain inside near where water is gathering and watch for signs of moisture, such as damp or dark spots on attic flooring or drywall. Once inside, they should walk the attic searching for signs of water stains on underside rafters, evidence of rot or mould growth, leaks that might not be apparent from exterior viewing, such as those around eaves, chimneys, dormers and other construction projects protrusion through roof membranes; base flashing should also be examined thoroughly as may also leakage into areas not visible from exterior view.
Test the Water
One way roof leak assessment repairs Adelaide identify leaks is through water stains on the ceiling, particularly if they come with musty smells that indicate mould or rot growth.
When conducting a water test, one person stands on the roof holding a hose while another inside with a pail of water is used to conduct it. Slowly running over areas suspected to contain leakage with this hose helps find where exactly water stains might exist and help determine its source.
Testing this way typically occurs at night, when dry roof insulation can quickly cool while wet insulation retains heat. A water test can also be conducted during the day by spraying areas with a hose until leaks are found - often providing the fastest way to detect a leak and very effective when visual inspection or other diagnostic tests fail to pinpoint its source.
Repair the Roof
No matter your choice of roofing replacement option, leaks must be addressed immediately. This may involve patching, replacing roofing materials or addressing flashing/seals issues as well as possibly removing and installing vents/chimneys/dormers as appropriate.
Leaks can often be easy to pinpoint. If water stains appear on ceilings or walls, examining the attic could reveal their source. Roofers will check out both interiors of buildings (where water stains appear) as well as exterior roof surfaces in search of where they meet attic or walls.
When leaks are obvious, roof leak assessment repairs Adelaide can quickly make repairs. But in cases with extensive wall and dormer damage, a roofing expert is best placed to assess whether full replacement of the roof is needed and help file an insurance claim on its behalf.