You're leaking! Now what??

So, you've got a leak? I'm sure a million questions are running through your mind right now & hopefully after reading this, you will feel much better & more prepared to take the next steps. The first question I always ask my customers is "have you looked in the attic yet?". You would be very surprised how much you can learn once you get up there. Here's a few tips to look for:

• The first step is determining where the water stain showed up (bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, exterior wall, ect.). This will help you narrow down the sources & give you a much better idea of where to start looking once you get in the attic. You may end up ruling out a roof leak altogether by finding an overflowing pan under your water heater or a damaged A/C line.
• Check for any signs of daylight coming from the ridge line, around pluming pipes or A/C duct work penetrating through the roof & plywood decking.
• If you can see daylight, then you need to have a roofer inspect for cracked boots, damaged box vents, broken ridge cap shingles, damaged ridge vent, nail pops, missing shingles and other issues that will continue to cause these types of leaks.
• Look for any signs of dark spots or rotten areas on the underside of the plywood decking. This is a great indication that you've had a leak for some time & now it is deteriorating the plywood & damaging the drywall. This repair could definitely get costly depending on the extent of the damage.
• If possible, check the area where your chimney is to see signs of water intrusion. This is a very good indicator that your flashing's are failing or your siding may be deteriorating.

There are also plenty of things that you can look for on the exterior of your home that will help you find the source of your leak such as:

• Is your roof & gutters overflowing with debris? This is a huge concern & I can't stress this enough. Most homeowners don't realize how much damage this can cause until its too late. The cost for one or two annual gutter & roof cleanings will save you thousands in replacement of rotten fascia, soffit, plywood & shingles so please keep this on your yearly to-do list!
• Do you have any missing or damaged shingles?
• Check the ridge line (the peak of the house) to see if the shingles are lifted or out of place.
• If its visibly possible, check the pvc plumbing pipes penetrating through the roof & any metal flashings located on your chimney, dormers & walls for exposed nails or other signs of damage.
• Check your siding for rot or deterioration. You'd very surprised to know how much water damage can occur behind the walls that you can't see until its way too late. 

 These are just a few pointers to help you understand why your leaking & how you can prevent this in the future. We know how important it is to hire a good roofing company & the more you are educated, the better you feel about making your decision. Your roof will NEVER be maintenance free, no matter what type of roof system you install & anyone who tells you otherwise is not a professional roofer. Don't fall for that sales pitch because I promise it will cost you dearly in the long run.

Just remember, you should always:

1.  Keep your roof & gutters cleaned
2.  Have your roof inspected by a professional roofing company every 5-7 years, regardless of age!
3.  Keep your siding caulked & painted
4.  Inspect your attic every year
5.  Hire a PROFESSIONAL company that YOU trust no matter what type of home improvement project you have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is, by far, the most important factor of all!