Spring and summer storms with their potential high wind and hail can cause serious roof damage in Hartville and across Northeast Ohio. Wet spots and stains on your ceiling mean your roof is leaking but determining where the damage is can be a challenge.
Roof leaks can be hard to find because where a stain appears on the inside is not necessarily where the damage is on the outside. Water leaking in under a damaged shingle or where a roof vent meets the roof may run along a joist once inside your attic until it reaches a low point, where it begins dripping through your ceiling.
If you know your roof is leaking, or if you have experienced a severe storm, take a walk outside and look for obvious damage to your roof, such as missing, torn, or loose shingles. Contact a roofing expert to inspect your roof up close, especially if you see debris on your roof or in your yard.
Unfortunately, sometimes the first sign you have a problem with your roof is a stain on your ceiling. Knowing what may cause a leak and where to look can be helpful in getting the problem corrected quickly.
Is your flashing damaged?
The flashing on your roof are thin pieces of metal located at the joints along the edges of the shingles to make your roof watertight. The tar used to seal flashing can corrode as it ages. If you see cracks in the metal strips or the rubberized coating covering them, that may the source of your leak.
Check those valleys!
The areas where sections of a sloped roof meet must be properly sealed to keep water from getting in. These valleys are especially vulnerable to ice buildup in the winter and spring and intense rainstorms in the spring and summer. If you have water stains down slope from these sections, a cracked or leaking valley seal could be your problem.
Inspect booting around roof vents.
Any pipe, vent, or cooling unit anchored on your roof must be sealed with a rubber boot at its base to prevent water from penetrating the opening. Time can take a toll on the flashing used at the edge of the opening and corrode the rubber boot, causing a leak.
Clean out your gutters!
Clogged gutters mean rainwater has no place to go after it runs to the edge of your roof. Any flat or low spot will be vulnerable to pooling water as it backs up on your roof, allowing seepage. Water stains on your ceiling near outside walls could indicate your gutters are clogged with leaves and debris.
Shingle damage is not always obvious.
Missing shingles or shingles flapping in the wind after a storm are obvious places that must be repaired immediately to prevent water damage in your home. Some shingle damage, however, is not prominent, especially if you are checking your roof from the ground. In Uniontown and Atwater, a roofing expert will get on your roof and look for dents in the shingles and missing granules, where hail or debris impact may have compromised the shingles and allowed water to get through.
Attic access? If you can check it, do so!
Sometimes the leak in your living space is as simple as attic condensation. Your attic is vulnerable to extreme cold and hot air becoming trapped in the space and causing moisture buildup, especially if your attic ventilation system is not up to par. If you notice a strong musty smell in your attic or you can see signs of mold growth, attic condensation could be the reason for stains on your ceiling.
Roofing experts encourage you to take advantage of attic access if you are trying to locate the source of a roof leak in Uniontown. Check the joists uphill from the leak and look for water stains, black marks, or mold growth to pinpoint where water may be penetrating from your roof.
If you are concerned your roof may have been damaged from a spring or summer storm, hail, or debris, contact the experts at Kenwal Restorations, where Atwater and Mogadore roofing experts can respond quickly to check your roof. Don’t ignore water stains on your ceiling and don’t risk injury climbing on your roof. Call Kenwal to schedule a comprehensive roof inspection in Hartville or click here for information about all of Kenwal’s roofing services, as well as siding, window, and construction services.