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Roof leak or new ceiling stain.

A trained roofing crew should do all ladder and roof work, never the homeowner.

Customers put it like this

  • water is coming through the ceiling
  • there is a new stain up there
  • my roof is leaking
  • it drips when it rains
Prepare this job in ForeBotFind another guide

Stop first if

  • There is ice, a wet surface, frost, high wind or lightning.Stay off the roof. Log the conditions and that nobody went up.
  • Water reaches lights, outlets or wiring.Keep clear, shut off only if it can be done without risk, and call an electrician.
  • The deck deflects underfoot, or framing moves or cracks.Get off, keep people out and call an engineer.
01

Ask on the call

5

Homeowner? These are the questions a good technician will ask you. Having the answers ready makes the first visit count.

  1. When does it leak: during rain, after rain, in melt or on dry days?
  2. Where is the stain in the house, and what is above it?
  3. Is the stain damp or growing?
  4. What kind of roof is it, and how old?
  5. Has anyone repaired that area or done recent roof work?
02

Bring

6
  • Binoculars
  • Flashlight
  • Moisture meter
  • Roof plan sketch sheet
  • Phone for photos
  • Extension ladder and fall protection
03

Check on site

6
  1. Gather ground and attic evidence before any roof step.
  2. Sketch a roof and ceiling map with valleys, dormers, penetrations and outlets. Mark each stain on it.
  3. Stay on framing in the attic, and follow the water back toward where it enters.
  4. A trained crew inspects intersections, then outlets, then the field. Binoculars come first.
  5. At an isolated pinhole, look for a nail or pebble beneath the shingle.
  6. Keep other sources in mind, such as condensation and plumbing. Treat patch cement over a lap as temporary.
04

Keep on the record

5
  • Roof and ceiling map with marked stains
  • Leak timing against weather
  • Moisture readings at stains
  • Photos of valleys, penetrations and outlets
  • Repair history for that area

General guidance for a qualified person, not a finding about any home. The person on site decides.