Hurricane season is almost here! It begins June 1 and ends November 30 marking a 6-month period of Florida weather that brings needed rain and sometimes severe storms and hurricanes. With the large amount of rain we get in Florida, roof leaks are a common occurrence for homeowners. If you have ever wondered how to know if your roof is leaking, then this article is for you. In it, we will discuss 4 ways to detect a roof leak.
Roof leaks can be sneaky, but there are ways to detect a roof leak. First, you may see the water dripping inside your home. Second, you may see discoloration of ceilings or walls. Third, you may notice peeling paint. Fourth, you may notice damaged roof shingles.
Owning a home is an exciting venture, but it also comes with a lot of responsibilities. Taking care of the yard, taking care of a pool if you have one, and ongoing necessary upkeep as simple as changing lightbulbs or as complex as plumbing repairs are all a part of home ownership. Making sure the roof over your head is in good condition is another essential part of home ownership. To help ensure that your roof is good to go, we are going to discuss 4 ways to detect a roof leak.
#1 Water dripping
We realize that telling you that water dripping from your ceiling indicates a roof leak seems pretty obvious. But, we have to mention it! If water is actually dripping on you, then your leak has likely been happening for a while and has made its way through the layers of drywall and paint onto your head! Because you can’t readily see how extensive the damage is, you need to get a professional roofer out immediately. The exception to this is if you know it is coming from a water pipe. An example of this is if you have a two-story house and water is dripping from your second story to your first story. That is likely a water pipe from one of the bathrooms or an upstairs laundry room. In that case, you would call a plumber.
#2 Discoloration on the Walls or Ceilings
If you are noticing discoloration on your walls or ceilings, it is likely an indication of a roof leak. On the ceiling, these marks may look like the outline of a puddle and are often a light brownish color. If the water is getting inside the walls, then you may notice a similar discoloration on the walls in a longer pattern caused by the dripping. If this discoloration is happening near a window, then your window itself may be leaking and need to be re-sealed or replaced. Other than that, we recommend that you call a roofing expert to take a look.
#3 Peeling Paint
While you might think that once you paint your walls it is a “one and done” situation, that is not true. Paint, like anything else, has a lifespan. Over time, it will fade due to sun exposure. Even interior paint is exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun shining through the windows in your home. Ultraviolet light can also cause paint to become chalky as the binder or resin in the paint degrades over time. However, if the paint has been properly applied, peeling is not common. If you notice peeling paint inside or outside your home, a roof leak may be the culprit. If you see this and can’t find another cause of the peeling paint, then you should call us to inspect your roof for leaks.
#4 Damaged Roof Shingles
While damaged roof shingles may not cause an immediate roof leak, they can lead to an eventual roof leak. And, that leak may not be small. You do not want water to have any route to get under your shingles. Damaged shingles can take on different appearances. They may curl up at the edges. They may have pieces broken off of them. They may exhibit cracks. They may be buckled or look like they are coming “unattached” to the other shingles around them. The shingles may be missing a lot of the granules that cover them, leaving the shingles exposed. This type of damage is often seen after a hail storm. Any type of shingle damage is a signal that a roof repair is needed in order to avoid a roof leak.
Conclusion
A roof leak is not a repair that you can put off until a later date. They can cause extensive damage to your home leading to much larger and more expensive repairs. The good news is that if you live on the Space Coast near Melbourne, FL, or Merritt Island, FL, then you have a top-tier roofing company in your neck of the woods (or your neck of the coast, to be more accurate!). Seal Tight Roofing experts have been serving the area for over 20 years! We have an outstanding reputation that continues to spread by word of mouth from our many happy customers. If you are concerned about a possible roof leak, don’t put it off any longer. Give us a call today to set up your appointment with one of our roofing experts. We look forward to adding you to our list of satisfied customers!
