Roof Leak Detection

In Australia's climate, you never know what the weather will bring. Often the sun is shining one minute, and the next we are caught in the midst of a torrential rain storm. Between the hot UV rays and the heavy rainfalls, our roofing systems can take a bit of a beating. As a homeowner, it's pretty common to experience a house leak every now and then. And while they are often simple to fix, they're not always easy to detect.

What most homeowners don't realise is, while it's common to get a pesky house leak after a storm or during heavy rain fall, it is classed as a roofing emergency. A roof leak is often an indicator of a larger roofing problem. It's important to find, detect, and repair a roof leak as soon as possible, to avoid it creating further roofing damage.

A leak may come to the surface as a slow drip, a water stain on the ceiling or walls, mould or moisture build up, or rotting roofing beams. However, a wet patch on your ceiling doesn't always indicate where the the leak is coming from. More often than not, it's a sign of a larger roofing issue.

Detecting and finding the source of a roof leak isn't as simple as finding mould or an area where moisture has built up. Often the location of the actual leak source is nowhere near where the water ends up staining your plasterboard or ceiling.

Step 1. Outside

It's important to start your leak search outside, to look for any damages or penetrations to your roofing structure. Take a look at your roofing materials and check if there are any holes, bent tiles, broken materials, or missing parts. Regardless of how strong your roof is, it's not uncommon for strong winds to do serious roofing damage in a storm.

If you find any spots of damage on your roof, tiles, sheets or shingles, this may be where the leak has started. It's possible the leak may have also created spots under your roof line or exterior walls.

Step 2. Inside

Once you've checked the exteriors of your house, make your way back inside. Inspect the ceiling, walls and exposed beams for any peeling paint, moisture build ups, rotting, or brown-yellow stains. According to Sydney Roofing team Vertec Roofing, these are all tell-tale signs of a leak.

Trace the signs of the leak back to your attic with a flashlight. Follow any water marks, peeling paint, or mould to any damages you can find on the interior of your roof. Once you've spotted where the leak is coming from, be sure to mark it for the repairs. By now, you've hopefully already called your local roofing contractor.

It's really important to get on top of leaks before they cause further damage. Once you suspect a leak has sprung in your house, contact your local roofing expert to make the necessary repairs. They will be able to patch up any roofing damages, spot any potential roofing problems, and advise you on the best roof care to avoid leaks.