How to Find the Leaks in Your Roof

Posted on Roof Leaks

Living in such a rainy state, Salem roofers are very experienced in finding and repairing roof leaks.

Oregon is notorious for its rain. Salem sees 144 days and 39.7 inches of rain in an average year. Portland is even worse with 164 days and 43.5 inches of rain in an average year, according to data collected by Current Results. With that much rainfall consistently pounding roofs throughout the Beaver state, it should come as no surprise that fall-time creates a steady flow of leaky roof problems for us to come repair. When your roof springs a leak, it’s natural to panic. In a future post, we will address what to do in case of a roof leak, but in this post we want to focus on how to locate the source of leaks in your roof.

Sometimes leaks are hard to find, because water can flow through your ceiling in a different area than the initial roof leak occurred. Here are the steps you should follow (if you are physically capable) to find the source of a leak:

  • Go into your attic while it’s raining outside and make sure to light it well (use a flashlight if the lighting in your attic isn’t well-lit). Be cautious of any water damage, as you do not want to fall through your ceiling. If it isn’t raining, you can dump water on your roof with a bucket or hose it down to help locate the leak.
  • Look for spots in the roof itself that are wet or have water stains.
  • Measure from the ridge of the roof in the attic to the source of the leak, and then get on your roof and track down the leak on the outside by measuring down from the ridge again.

If you would like information on repairing you roof leaks, look no further than our article on repairing roof leaks.

Be extremely careful, and if you do not feel safe in your attic or on your roof, call us and we will help you inspect your roof. If you are able to find your leak, mark it with chalk and then call one of the best Portland and Salem roofing contractors to come inspect and assess the damage. If you want a hassle-free, no-obligation estimate, give Slate & Slate Roofing a call today at (503) 585-2338.

Written by
Terry Slate
Terry is the Vice President of Slate & Slate Roofing and has over 28 years of experience with both residential and commercial roofing. He specializes in metal roofing, composition roofing, and PVC membrane roofing.