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Persistent roof leak Donna 06-03-2006
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Posted by Donna on June 3, 2006, 1:40 pm
The briefest version of the problem is this: We've had damp wallboard in
the bathroom (part of the master bedroom addition) since we bought the house
two years ago. The guy we bought the house from was a builder of some sort
(not a good sort, evidently) and put the addition on himself, the summer we
bought the house. Repair guy 1 said the dampness was from an ice dam, he
replaced the wallboard. It got wet again. Roofer two said that it was
either seepage from the fan vent (which he repaired) or water coming from
the old roof section on the second floor, running under the roof of the
addition. So we put on another roof over the second floor - again, a
reasonable suggestion, because that roof was getting really old. He also
replaced the wallboard. It took a few more months to get damp, but it got
wet again. We called Roofer 2 back, and he suggested we re-flash the
addition, since we've had other problems with leaking around the addition's
flashing. So we did that. The wallboard not only didn't dry out, it
completely fell in. (That was the short version. The long version is the
same, but with a lot of swearing.)

Ok, so it's been raining for about three days. My husband and I pulled down
all of the wallboard in the bathroom, pulled out the insulation, and now
we're looking directly at the underside of the 1.5 year old roof. I'm
seeing wet wood (the flat sheets of roofing wood are wet - the stuff that
looks like particleboard, but isn't), lots of water dripping through nail
holes, and something that looks like a purple plastic 6 inch by 24 inch
thing, nailed to the underside of the roof. Water is dripping out of that,
too.

What the hell am I looking at? What is the plastic thing? Why is it
there? Why is water coming through nail holes, if the wood has new asphalt
shingles and new flashing?

Advice, please? We've already spent a fortune not repairing this problem.
Before I call another roofer, I want to be able to be sure that this is the
LAST time I'll be replacing the damned wallboard.

Thanks.

Donna




Posted by Lawrence on June 3, 2006, 2:13 pm
Donna wrote:
We've had damp wallboard in
> the bathroom (part of the master bedroom addition) since we bought the house
> two years ago. The guy we bought the house from was a builder of some sort
> (not a good sort, evidently) and put the addition on himself, the summer we
> bought the house. Repair guy 1 said the dampness was from an ice dam, he
> replaced the wallboard. It got wet again. Roofer two said that it was
> either seepage from the fan vent (which he repaired) or water coming from
> the old roof section on the second floor, running under the roof of the
> addition. So we put on another roof over the second floor - again, a
> reasonable suggestion, because that roof was getting really old. He also
> replaced the wallboard. It took a few more months to get damp, but it got
> wet again. We called Roofer 2 back, and he suggested we re-flash the
> addition, since we've had other problems with leaking around the addition's
> flashing. So we did that. The wallboard not only didn't dry out, it
> completely fell in. (That was the short version. The long version is the
> same, but with a lot of swearing.)
>
> Ok, so it's been raining for about three days. My husband and I pulled down
> all of the wallboard in the bathroom, pulled out the insulation, and now
> we're looking directly at the underside of the 1.5 year old roof. I'm
> seeing wet wood (the flat sheets of roofing wood are wet - the stuff that
> looks like particleboard, but isn't), lots of water dripping through nail
> holes, and something that looks like a purple plastic 6 inch by 24 inch
> thing, nailed to the underside of the roof. Water is dripping out of that,
> too.
>
> What the hell am I looking at? What is the plastic thing? Why is it
> there? Why is water coming through nail holes, if the wood has new asphalt
> shingles and new flashing?

You are looking at a roof that is leaking. It sounds like a major
bummer. Also sound like crappy repairs (purple tarp!!) were done
before the house was sold. You may have an issue with the sellers in
such a case.
>
> Advice, please? We've already spent a fortune not repairing this problem.
> Before I call another roofer, I want to be able to be sure that this is the
> LAST time I'll be replacing the damned wallboard.

OK, here goes. Your roof is leaking and something must be done
immediatly. When your roof deck and wall board is getting wet you have
an emergency situation. Your wall board is easy to replace compared to
that roof deck that is getting soaked! It was hard to tell from your
post but it sounds like you put another layer of shingles over an old
layer. It is a practice which is rarely recomnmended and some just
won't do it. Best guess it that it is where the addition meets the
rest where the water is entering the other. Your roofer was right to
suggest that you re-flash since this is your most economical choice.

However, not only your wall board is getting soaked but also the roof
deck. Best choice it to start from scratch and tear off every bit of
the old roof including the recent repairs. It is the only way to
really see the roof and to get it completely dry and sound. I know you
can't afford it but that is my opinion. If your want to be truly sure
to never have the leak again then this is what you will have to do.
Most homeowners will take out a loan rather than take a chance on
getting their house ruined.

In, the meantime you should cover this area wher the addition meets the
rest with a tarp all the way to and over the ridge. If that stops the
leak then you can be fairly sure that the problem is there. If the
area that was re-roofed is determined to be the problem then you may
have an issue with the contractor who did that. I would get an
estimate for this re-flash job for decision making purposes. It is
probably worth a try, regardless. Do not use anyone who would put new
shingle over old. Do use the roofer who is giving you the good advice
of re-flashing.
>
Lawrence


Posted by Donna on June 3, 2006, 6:30 pm


>> What the hell am I looking at? What is the plastic thing? Why is it
>> there? Why is water coming through nail holes, if the wood has new
>> asphalt
>> shingles and new flashing?
>
> You are looking at a roof that is leaking. It sounds like a major
> bummer. Also sound like crappy repairs (purple tarp!!) were done
> before the house was sold. You may have an issue with the sellers in
> such a case.

Probably we don't have an issue with the sellers after this long, but thanks
for confirming that I'm not crazy. I thought it looked like a hard plastic
tarp/temporary repair thingie, too.

> OK, here goes. Your roof is leaking and something must be done
> immediatly. When your roof deck and wall board is getting wet you have
> an emergency situation.

Roof deck = the wood that the shingles are attached to, right?

> Your wall board is easy to replace compared to
> that roof deck that is getting soaked! It was hard to tell from your
> post but it sounds like you put another layer of shingles over an old
> layer.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. The shingles are the same age as the roof -- 18 to
24 months old. So old shingles weren't put over new shingles, rather, the
shingles are new because the roof is new.

> Best guess it that it is where the addition meets the
> rest where the water is entering the other.

You got it. That's exactly where it's leaking.

<snip advice to replace roof, if possible, but at the very least to get a
tarp over the leak asap>

Thanks. I appreciate your advice.


Donna



Posted by Lawrence on June 3, 2006, 10:46 pm
Donna wrote:
> Roof deck = the wood that the shingles are attached to, right?

Right, this wood (or plywood) is getting just as wet as the wallboard
except that it is far more diffiicult to inspect or repair. Water
could also be dripping off of the bottom of the deck and the nails
along the way getting your attic isulation wet as well. Some attempt
could be made to dry out the roof deck from underneath by ventilating
the attic with the use of a fan(s). Can you get up into the attic? If
so, you might be able to point a fan at the wet spots or put a fan into
a gable vent to pull dry air through the attic.

>Quick follow up question, in case you know... isn't the point of
asphalt shingles to waterproof the roof deck? Why is water pouring
down
the nail holes, if the roof shingles are new, and intact?

Because the water is entering underneath the shingles where the
addition starts. It then can travel downhill underneath the shingles.
Even though the shingles may appear to be dry from above the water is
travelling underneath . It will then soak the deck and find ways to
continue downhill presumably through the nail holes and off of the
nails themself. Ultimately it travels to the edge of the house where
it finally ruined your wall board and got noticed. Your roof deck has
been getting wet all along but you just never noticed it until it
rained a lot and reached the wall.


Posted by Tony Hwang on June 3, 2006, 2:52 pm
Donna wrote:

> The briefest version of the problem is this: We've had damp wallboard in
> the bathroom (part of the master bedroom addition) since we bought the house
> two years ago. The guy we bought the house from was a builder of some sort
> (not a good sort, evidently) and put the addition on himself, the summer we
> bought the house. Repair guy 1 said the dampness was from an ice dam, he
> replaced the wallboard. It got wet again. Roofer two said that it was
> either seepage from the fan vent (which he repaired) or water coming from
> the old roof section on the second floor, running under the roof of the
> addition. So we put on another roof over the second floor - again, a
> reasonable suggestion, because that roof was getting really old. He also
> replaced the wallboard. It took a few more months to get damp, but it got
> wet again. We called Roofer 2 back, and he suggested we re-flash the
> addition, since we've had other problems with leaking around the addition's
> flashing. So we did that. The wallboard not only didn't dry out, it
> completely fell in. (That was the short version. The long version is the
> same, but with a lot of swearing.)
>
> Ok, so it's been raining for about three days. My husband and I pulled down
> all of the wallboard in the bathroom, pulled out the insulation, and now
> we're looking directly at the underside of the 1.5 year old roof. I'm
> seeing wet wood (the flat sheets of roofing wood are wet - the stuff that
> looks like particleboard, but isn't), lots of water dripping through nail
> holes, and something that looks like a purple plastic 6 inch by 24 inch
> thing, nailed to the underside of the roof. Water is dripping out of that,
> too.
>
> What the hell am I looking at? What is the plastic thing? Why is it
> there? Why is water coming through nail holes, if the wood has new asphalt
> shingles and new flashing?
>
> Advice, please? We've already spent a fortune not repairing this problem.
> Before I call another roofer, I want to be able to be sure that this is the
> LAST time I'll be replacing the damned wallboard.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Donna
>
>
>
Hi,
Priority one, cover the roof with tarp or ssosmething to prevent water
leak. And find the origin of leak. Sounds like you have not pinpointed
it. Once done rest is easy. Water seepage spreading all over the place
it is kinda detective work.
Best of luck,

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