Ways to Fix Gutter Leaks and Other Roofing Issues

A solid, well-built roof that has durable gutters protects any property from rain, snow, and wind. Maintaining your roof and gutters is a daunting task, but it's an essential one for them to function properly. Here are five useful tips for dealing with roof and gutter leaks.

The easiest way to spot a leaky roof is water stains that run down the walls or go through the ceiling. There's often a lot of trial and error that goes into finding the leak, but it needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Even a small leak can cause big problems like rotting frames, sheathing, and mold forming. A leaky roof or leaking gutters can destroy insulation or damage ceilings. This leads to a more expensive repair bill further down the line.

Tracking a leak down requires persistence. Look for stains and look at openings above them. Things like plumbing, chimneys, roof vents, or other openings should be checked. Shingles and open areas are rarely the cause of a leak. The leak itself can be some distance from the stain, so check close and far.

If you've got a leak that's difficult to find, get someone to help you. One of you should go on the roof and start to wet down the area right above where the leak appears. The helper stays inside and checks to see if there's any dripping. If there isn't after a few minutes, move the hose a little further up. When an area seems like it could be where the leak is, start removing shingles to see where the leak is leaving marks. This should be easy to spot and will lead to the source.

Small leaks are also hard to spot. If there's a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and insulation, removing the insulation is a good way to look for stains.