Rain is the number one enemy of your roof, and July is the rainiest month of the year in Virginia. So this year, learn how to find a leak in a metal roof and keep your home safe.
As Virginia is pounded by rain this time of year, you need to be more vigilant than ever about leaks in your roof. How can you find them, and what do you do if there is a leak in your roof?
Here’s everything that you need to know.
How Does Heavy Rain Affect Your Roof?
No matter what your roof is made of, you’ll find that if you’re not careful about roof maintenance, water can get in and cause all kinds of damage. The main issues it causes is that of wood rot and mold.
When water gets in under the metal roofing, it will stay in the wood that’s underneath it, as it has nowhere to go. If wood stays wet for long enough, starting to rot away.
If the wood rots enough, it will significantly weaken the whole roof and lead to a whole replacement needing to be done. This is expensive and time consuming, so obviously you want to avoid this at all costs.
When mold gets into your home, it’s very difficult to remove. When you get a leak and it goes unnoticed for long enough, you’ll see that it can lead to mold developing in the rest of your home, too.
Mold is dangerous, especially if there’s anyone in your home with allergies. Mold is linked to several health issues, so stopping it from taking it hold is crucial.
How Does Water Get Under Your Roof?
If you find a leak in a metal roof, it’s because water got through.
So, how does water get into your roof? There are several ways in which this can happen.
- Firstly, if there are seams on your metal roof that aren’t sealed or flashed properly, then you’ll be looking at a gap that water can get in through.
- You’ll also find that if your gutters are blocked, water will overflow back onto the roof rather than through the guttering. The water again will have nowhere to go, so it will sit on your roof and get through any gaps it finds.
Your roof will be able to repel most water, but if any water gets underneath, then the underlay is meant to carry the water away from the roof structure.
If the underlay has failed in some way, then you’ll find that water will get under that and allow leaks to happen. The underlay can start to rot, or may not have been installed properly when you had the roof installed.
How To Find a Leak in a Metal Roof
So you know why your roof can start leaking, so now you need to be able to find a leak in a metal roof – and quickly.
1. Spots on Ceiling
Firstly, if you’re seeing damp spots or leaks happening on your ceilings, that’s a sign that the roof has started to leak. You’ll need to get up into your attic and find out where the water is coming from.
Be aware that in some cases, the roof may not actually be leaking, but poor ventilation is causing condensation to form and so creating leaks in your ceilings.
2. Inspect from the Outside
If you’re taking good care of your roof, then you’ll know the importance of regular inspections. When you’re taking a look at the outside of your roof, look for any signs that water is getting in.
Often, poor installation will lead to leaks. That means you’ll see:
- Incorrectly installed flashing and seams
- Failed sealant,
- Incorrectly installed screws
Any of these can allow water in.
While you’re up on the roof, you may also see spots where the roof has been damaged, letting water in. This includes rust spots, holes, dents, and more. If there’s any damage, that’s a sign that water could be getting in.
3. Check the Attic
Finally, your attic will tell you a lot about what is getting through your roof. Get up into the attic and look around for any water or water damage you can see.
This will include wood rot and mold. If you see any, that’s a sign that water is getting in.
4. Perform a Water Test
If you’re still not sure where the leak is happening, you can perform a water test. This requires two people and a water hose.
One person stands inside the attic with a flashlight, and the other stand outside, flooding the roof with water. They will start from the eaves and work their way up.
As you watch, you should start to see where the water is coming from. You can then mark the spot with chalk, ready for repair.
Now that you know how to find a leak in a metal roof, what should you do after you find the source?
What to Do If You Spot a Leak
Now you’ve found a leak, what are you going to do? Luckily, you have a few options to get the leak fixed, and quickly.
Flashing
If the flashing or sealant is what’s causing the leak, you will need to repair it. You can DIY this job, or call in a professional to do it for you. The existing flashing will need to to be totally removed and replaced, to ensure there are no more leaks.
This is the same if there are parts of the roof that are letting in water, such as rotted underlayment or a damaged sheet of metal.
Water Damage Inside
Once the entry point has been repaired, you’ll need to handle the water damage inside as well. This means dealing with any wood rot or mold that you find in the eaves of your roof. In most cases, the wood will need to be taken out and replaced.
If you find a leak in a metal roof due to water damage, you’ll need an expert to repair rot, so ensure that you call a well respected roofer to do this job.
If there’s water damage anywhere else, such as in the ceiling or along the walls, then again this may need to be taken out and replaced. It’s no need to panic though, as replacing drywall is fairly simple and you won’t need to worry about it once it’s been done.
Conclusion
Learning that your seamless metal roof contains a leak can be a stressful thing.
Now you know how to find a leak in a metal roof, and what to do once you’ve found it. If you take good care of your roof, you’ll be able to stop leaks in their tracks.
If you’re still unsure about your roof leaks, contact Piedmont Roofing today.
