Got a leak? how to find it...

Most people do not imagine how difficult it can be to locate a leak in a roof.  Watch any old cartoon and the culprit is immediately apparent - a simple hole, occasionally big enough to stick your head through.  Not so with roof leaks in the real world - most such problems only become apparent after the water has flowed, hugged, soaked and spread its way across countless building materials long before it becomes manifest in the home.  That means the spot where your ceiling is dripping can be dozens of horizontal feet from the original source of the problem, with much of the path hidden within walls and casings.

If you have ever tried to head up into the attic to locate a roof leak, you probably encountered a common problem.  Although many such leaks occur within the field of shingles or shakes, many hide in places you simply cannot find from inside the house.  Many of the most common include flashings, those architectural features designed to join your roof to the other parts of your home.  Of course, they may also be located within skylights, chimneys or ice dams, making it difficult to eliminate anything right off the bat.

The good news is that water is a substance without intent or cognition, meaning you can usually make sense of its path with a little rudimentary thought.  Follow the grade of gravity and try to imagine and it's often easier than you think to backtrack from a visible water source.  Many experts recommend paying careful attention to rafters and exposed pipes as well, as any of these can "carry" water significant distances without appearing wet to the untrained eye.  A little detective work can go a long way toward better informed decisions and predictions, and saving you considerable time and frustration in the process.