How To Find A Leak In A Rubber Roof

Isolate areas when you run the hose.

How to find a leak in a rubber roof. We illustrate how choice of the wrong roof edge. Locate the source of the leak on the roof then use a utility knife to slice through the rubber roof around the suspected trouble spot. Roofers use a combination of visual inspection and moisture meters to scan membrane coated roofs to find the wet areas below the membrane and thus the probable leak point usually at a seam mechanical damage a roof penetration or at a roof drain. Also sometimes there are holes in the roof that you will need to find.

How to make sure where your leak is coming from to check for sure you can use these tips. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. Leaky epdm rubber roof repair details. Inspect the underside of the roof for objects that have pierced it or have been attached to it.

Take a hose safely up onto your roof and spray the suspected area. I always start at flashings. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. Most noticeable to the eye are leaks caused by an object for example an errant nail that s managed.

Look in the attic with a flashlight for evidence like water stains trhen trace them up the roof and rafters to the entry point. Start with a dry roof if you have a flat roof that leaks get up on it when it is dry and cool. You want to look for trouble spots that generally are the primary source of leaks. If the leak isn t obvious have a helper watch in the attic while you get on the roof with a garden hose.

Unscrew and remove the large metal washers holding down the fiberboard substrate. If you have water pooling on your roof and there is a seam overlap going through that area chances are you have a leak there. See membrane single ply roofs. By gary hedstrom peg hedstrom judy ondrla tremore.

If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Most leaks occur in certain spots low water pooling areas loose seams on corners of chimneys skylights. Pull off the old rubber roofing from the cut area. How to find a leak in a roof may be the hardest part of fixing a leaky roof.

Finding the actual spot where the roof leaks is difficult because water can enter the roof in one place and run down to another before it starts soaking into the ceiling.