A wet spot on a ceiling isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a homeowner. But it’s pretty bad. Moisture usually means mold or at least an increased risk of mold. Moisture also attracts bugs, mostly roaches, silverfish, centipedes, earwigs, and mosquitoes. Furthermore, moisture damages electronics by corroding contacts and reducing insulation resistance, causing short circuits. Significantly, a wet stain doesn’t just indicate a moisture leak. It indicates a long-term moisture leak.
All roofing materials wear out over time. A desert climate accelerates this process. Day after day of hot sun, punctuated by sudden thunderstorms, causes a lot of wear and tear. Sooner or later, moisture leaks through the roof and into living spaces.
A leaking upstairs appliance or pipe could cause a ceiling wet spot if you have a multi-story home. A roof leak is almost always the culprit if you have a single-story home. It’s hard to determine if a roof leak is a one-off problem or the first sign of trouble. So, at Four Peaks Roofing, if you report water damage, we send professional inspectors to check out your roof. Then, we lay out all your options, from a patch job to a roof replacement, and explain the pros and cons of each approach.
What Causes Moisture Spots?
A single bad storm or another event could cause roof damage and leaking. That’s especially true if your roof is older. Roof-related water damage could also occur slowly over time. Other causes include:
- Pipes: Like roof tiles, pipes, especially pipe junctions, don’t last forever. A pipe’s useable life is even shorter in Arizona. Radical outside temperature changes, which are an everyday occurrence around here, expand and contract pipes. Very soon, the walls get too thin to handle normal water pressure.
- Gutters: We don’t see this problem much around here, but we’ll include it anyway. Cracked, bent, or loose gutters cause water to accumulate, where it works its way under eaves and inside the home.
- Poor Ventilation: Keeping the thermostat above 76 not only trims your electric bill. It also reduces attic condensation, which is caused by the radical difference between outside and inside temperatures. Functioning vents can handle small-scale condensation. Broken vents cannot handle it.
- Flashing and Caulking: Any area where moisture can penetrate should have adequate caulking and flashing to seal against water incursion. These areas include window frames, skylights, roof vents, and chimneys. Water will work its way into your home if these protective seals are damaged or gone.
Unchecked water leaks could cause more than nuisance damage. They could compromise your home’s structural integrity.
How Does a Roof Inspector Locate Leaks?
Roof inspectors do much more than inspect roofs. In fact, if you report ceiling moisture, the roof is often the last place an inspector looks.
Our inspectors usually start in the attic. If the drywall is dry, leaky pipes obviously aren’t the problem. Inspectors also look at the insulation. Water-damaged or wet insulation is almost a surefire sign that the leak is roof damage related. If this is the case, our team must not only repair the roof. They must clear out and replace damaged insulation before it causes mold.
Furthermore, inspectors know how to examine attic vents. Slight problems invisible to the naked eye could cause ventilation issues. First, we normally try the least expensive and invasive means. So, if there’s any indication that the vent might be malfunctioning, we usually replace it and see what happens next. That’s especially true if the moisture spot isn’t too bad and time is on our side.
A roof and gutter inspection is the last step. Kids, don’t try this at home. Climbing a roof looks easy, but it’s risky. Furthermore, non-professionals often don’t know what to look for.
When the leak stops, the ceiling might dry out on its own. Sometimes, it needs a little help. If the leak caused an especially large spot that was exposed to a lot of water for a prolonged period of time, you’ll likely have to replace the entire piece of drywall.
If the spot is small and limited to a small space, you should be able to cover it with a mold-resistant, stain-blocking primer before painting over it. Before you apply any primer, it’s also a good idea to clean the spot with some soapy water to kill off any mold that may have developed over time.
Contact Our Phoenix Area Roofing Professionals
Getting ahead of the problem is the key to stopping roof leak-related water damage. To start the process, contact us online now or call us today!
