Roof Leaking Into Wall

A roof leak at the edge of a dormer can allow a lot of water to enter your home.

Roof leaking into wall.

Some roof leaks are tough to locate. Dormer leaks can be caused from a number of issues. 5 common reasons for a roof leak. Points out the white caulk that was installed as a stopgap measure where the builder has installed a bay window into a stuccoed wall without proper roof wall flashing red arrow.

Wall flashing roof wall flashing errors and causes of leaks and roof wall intersection flashing to prevent leaks or water damage. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. Structural damage is inevitable if there is a serious and long standing roof leak.

Hidden water leaks behind walls can be especially dangerous because the water will get absorbed into flooring drywall and ceilings as well as wooden support beams and sheetrock. The water courses will leak and on concrete roof tiles water will also leak over the upstream edge of the tile. If the roof is in a tree zone leaves are washed into the watercourses and over time this leads to clogging and eventually blockage during heavy rain. Rotten or missing trim or siding can allow water to leak behind flashing and into your roof.

If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. Since water that leaks into walls never has a chance to dry out the walls will begin to give off a humid musty odor. You can also face expensive wood framing repairs if water leaks down into ceiling joists and walls. Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.

If given enough time a slow leak can result in very serious structural damage that will make the restoration process longer and more expensive. Musty smelling walls will often be accompanied by other signs of a leak e g discoloration. Slow roof leaks sometimes show up in the strangest places too like water leaking from wall outlets or light fixtures. Sometimes an odor will be the only sign of a leak deep in a wall.

Spongy and weak water damaged wood can end in peeling paint damaged ceilings and buckled wall coverings. These fixed points can be perpendicular exterior walls a fireplace chimney or other components that extend through the finished ceiling to the attic space or roof surface. This will not always be the case though. Go into your attic and locate the source of the leak on the underside of the roof deck using the measurements taken from your home s living space.

Some roof leaks are tough to locate.