Ways to Find Leaks in Your Roof: Insights from a Roofing and Tuckpointing Contractor in Lincoln Park, Chicago

Are you dealing with a leak in your Lincoln Park home? In many cases, water can make its way into your home through the vents and other various things that stick out of your roof. These include plumbing vents, HVAC vents, attic fans, chimneys, etc.

First and foremost, if you’ve found a leak in your home, you might be wondering: how can you tell if the leak is coming from the roof? If you have access to an attic, the best way to track down the leak is to check out this area with a flashlight and look for telltale signs. For example, you can look for water stains, black marks, or mold growth.

After determining that you have a leak in your roof, the next step is to figure out where it’s coming from. Below, this roofing and tuckpointing contractor in Lincoln Park, Chicago is going to explain some of the ways you can find a leak in your roof.

Using Water to Find the Leak

Before we get into the details, it’s important to note that searching for a leak in your roof can be dangerous. If you choose not to hire a professional roofing and tuckpointing contractor in Lincoln Park, then it’s strongly recommended that you have someone there to assist you as you look.

First, go up the roof with a garden hose. Drench the area above where the leak is entering your house. Isolate the areas where you run the hose. For example, soak a chimney downhill first, each side, then top on both sides. Make sure your helper stays inside the house, checking where the drips appear. Allow the hose to run for a few minutes in one area before moving it up the roof. Instruct your helper to inform you when a drip becomes visible from the inside.

Once you notice a drip from the inside, you know you are near the leak area. Although this process can take over an hour, it’s important to remain patient and avoid moving the hose too soon.

If running water fails to reveal the precise location of the leak, you might want to consider removing the shingles in the suspected area. Once these are removed, there will be evidence of the leak, and you will be able to trace it right to the source. Check for striped felt paper, water stains, or rotted wood directly beneath and near the leaky area. If you need assistance with this task, your local Lincoln Park, Chicago roofing and tuckpointing contractor will be able to get it done.

What Is the Solution to a Small Leak?

Some roof leaks are extremely challenging to locate. The water shows up at a ceiling spot far away from the leak in some instances. If your ceiling has an incorporated plastic barrier between the drywall and attic insulation, pull out the insulation and check for flow stains on the plastic. In many cases, water runs in the openings in the vapor barrier, such as at light fixtures on ceilings.

If you cannot see flow marks, check the underside of the roof for shiners, which are roofing nails that protrude past the roofing deck. Moisture that passes into the cold attic from the rooms below will often condense on these hard nails or shiners. Sometimes, you can discover these nails if you climb into your attic on chilly evenings in your Lincoln Park, Chicago home.

The nails appear white because they are frosted. But when the attic heats up during the daytime, the frost will melt and drip. Then the nails will frost up at night again and so on. The simple solution here is to cut the excess length of the nails with pliers, which can be quickly done by a professional roofing and tuckpointing contractor in Lincoln Park, Chicago.

Looking for the Top-Rated Roofing and Tuckpointing Contractor in Lincoln Park, Chicago?

Are you ready to hire a roofing professional to fix your leaky roof? If so, and if you’re looking for the top-rated roofing and tuckpointing contractor in Lincoln Park, Chicago, the team at Expert Super Seal Roofing & Tuckpointing is here to help. Contact us today at (773) 280-8000 to request a free quote.