Living in San Jose, CA means beautiful weather most of the year. However, the rainy season can bring leaks that damage your home. Knowing how to spot and repair roof leaks can save you money and hassle. Ortega Roofing in San Jose CA has seen every type of leak imaginable. Here’s the guide on finding and fixing the most common roof leaks before they cause bigger problems.
Locating the Source of the Leak
Discovering where the moisture is permeating is imperative as the initial step toward any roof patching. Signs of water infiltration do surface in some expected areas. Peel your eyes for these danger zones when a leak pops up:
- Ceiling Stains or Peeling Paint: Seeing splotches or chipped pigments on your ceiling commonly indicates a puncture or opening in the roof shingles or flashing overhead, enabling dripping from above. You’ll have to gingerly scale the roof to pinpoint the breach.
- Attic Puddles: Returning to puddles pooled in your attic signifies drainage dilemmas. Examine around the roof vents, valleys and intersections, which amass debris and obstruct runoff.
- Interior Wall Stains: Detecting moisture tracking or dark smears down inside walls and corners typically traces back to faulty seals around roof penetrations like the chimney, skylights, or plumbing exhausts where rain seeps in.
- Porch Ceilings or Overhangs: Damp blots underside porches or Cornices suggests issues with or absence of kick-out flashing which diverts runoff away from siding. If neglected, moisture works into the exterior walls and oozes out inside, decaying structural integrity.
Roofers acquainted with leak sleuthing also keep an eye out for other tip-offs like ice dams, daylight shining through, and long dark streaks marring the outside walls – all exposing water’s pathway inside. Still stumped after scouring the grounds?
Fixing Asphalt Shingle Leaks
Asphalt shingles constitute the most ubiquitous roofing material seen around San Jose for their affordability and durability against weathering. However, even hardy asphalt tiles eventually crack or lift after years of baking in the sun and battering from seasonal storms. Here’s a primer on mending common asphalt shingle troubles before they mushroom into huge headaches:
- Clear away clutter like leaves or debris where you spot a split shingle so repairs stick properly.
- Break out a caulking gun and sealant to patch cracks or openings. Carefully apply waterproof cement into and surrounding the compromised shingle, pressing to fill gaps.
- Once the sealant cures and hardens, test if the shingle firmly sticks by pushing down overlapping regions which still might lift up or flap after sealing if improperly prepped or dried.
- Paint extra sealant atop prior patches as an added defensive barrier against moisture infiltration.
For more worrying tears where granule surfacing erodes away or holes wide enough for light peeking through, replacing that section of asphalt shingling makes better sense than patching badly damaged spots.
Correcting Flashing Issues
Flashings provide the first line of defense against leaks at roof joints. But they eventually fail, allowing water intrusion. Here are some common trouble spots and fixes:
- Step Flashing:This stair-step flashing anchors shingles to vertical walls. If you see gaps or curling, secure with mastic seals and longer fasteners.
- Chimney Cricket:Leaks near chimneys might mean cracks in the cricket. Cover cracks with sealant then paint with elastomeric coating.
- Valley Flashing:Low points in the roof’s valleys collect debris leading to leaks. Clear away buildup and realign shifted flashing.
Seeking out flashing issues now prevents major headaches later.
Maintaining Proper Roof Drainage
Clogged gutters or downspouts prevent proper drainage causing backups. Make sure water flows freely through:
- Gutters:Clear leaves and debris from gutters. Twist wire brush attachments can help scrub out gunk. Refasten any loose gutter seams too.
- Downspouts:Clear clogs with a plumber’s snake. Adjust spout positions to encourage water flow away from the home.
- Drains:Remove debris atop flat roof drains. Pour water to confirm proper drainage.
