How do you find a roof leak?
Finding the source is the main job. A repair in the wrong spot is wasted money.
- Talk through when the leak shows up. Only in heavy rain, only in wind, or after frost can all point to different causes.
- Look inside the roof space for water trails, damp insulation and stained timber.
- Inspect the roof surface, valleys, flashings and ridge, working up from the stained area.
- If the cause is still unclear, test sections of the roof with water one at a time, starting from the lowest point.
Steel roofs add one more possibility. Cold clear nights can form condensation under the sheets, and it can look like a leak. We check for that before recommending a repair. If the roof is beyond repair, we say so and explain why. In that case, read about roof replacement.
