The roofing industry has changed quite a lot over the years. These days, homeowners are rarely opting for the standard, 3-tab shingles that were so popular a few decades ago. Instead, they are going with architectural shingles, and in some cases, with even more eco-friendly options like green roofing or slate. Whether you're shopping around for a new roof or are thinking of having repairs made to your current roof, it pays to be educated. Learn the basics on this blog, where we discuss roofing in the modern world. We explore various roofing materials, roofing techniques, and how to find the right roofer.
The last couple of times your area had rain, you may have found that you have water leaking into your home. However, after looking at your roof, you may not have been able to find any obvious areas from where the leak is originating. Because of this, you may decide to investigate the source of the leak yourself. However, make sure that you do not make the following mistakes when attempting to find the source of your roof's hidden leak.
1. Assuming the Damaged Area Is Directly above the Leak
One mistake that you should avoid when trying to find the source of the leak is assuming that the damaged area on your roof is directly above the leak in your home. If you narrow your search to only that particular area, you will most likely miss the leak's location.
Depending on the pitch of your roof, the water may be flowing from anywhere above the actual damaged area of your roof. If you have a loose shingle near the peak of the roof, the water will travel down to a place where the decking has deteriorated to the point that the water starts flowing into your house.
2. Pulling up Shingles on Your Roof to Locate the Leak
Since you cannot assume the location of the actual water leak, you may decide that you should go up onto your roof to find out if the plywood decking has rotted through or has a crack in it. To do this, you may decide to gingerly pull up shingles in the suspected area to get a glimpse of the wood.
However, you should avoid pulling up shingles unless you intend on removing and replacing them. If you start pulling up shingles and trying to refasten them, you will not only make the nails loose to the point where they could easily fall out, but you may create larger or new holes that would create new leaks.
When your roof is leaking, it can be difficult to find its source if there are no visible signs of damage. And, if you go looking for it yourself, you could wind up causing even more damage and creating more leaks. Instead of attempting to find the source of the hidden water leak, contact a company that offers roof repair services to have them fully inspect your roof and discuss your options for fixing any problem areas that they may find.
For more information, reach out to a local roof repair company.