To find a roof leak from the attic, go up during or right after rain with a bright flashlight, find the wet spot above the ceiling stain, then follow the water trail uphill along the rafters and decking to where it starts. Mark that spot, or push a thin wire through the roof there, so it can be found from outside. Step only on joists.
Before you go up
- Step only on the joists or on boards laid across them. The ceiling drywall will not hold you.
- Watch for nails sticking through the roof deck overhead.
- Summer attics in Pine Bluff can get dangerously hot. Go in the morning.
- Wear a dust mask around old insulation, and gloves.
Step by step
Start at the stain
Find the spot in the attic directly above the ceiling stain.
Look up and uphill
Water usually enters higher on the roof and runs down to the drip point.
Follow the trail
Dark streaks, water lines or damp wood on rafters and the underside of the decking lead back to the entry.
Mark it
Circle it with a marker, measure from a wall, or push a thin wire through so it shows outside.
What to look for
- Dark rings or stains on the underside of the roof decking
- Water trails down rafters
- Wet or rusty nail tips
- Daylight around pipes, vents or the chimney
- Matted or stained insulation
- White fuzzy spots or dark mold on wood
Common entry points in Pine Bluff attics
Around plumbing vent pipes over bathrooms and kitchens (cracked pipe boots), around the chimney chase (flashing), under valleys, and along the eaves on older roofs without drip edge. If you see daylight around a pipe, the boot has probably failed. See pipe boot repair.
If you cannot find it
Some leaks run under insulation or along the top of the ceiling for a while before showing up. Others only appear in wind-driven rain. A water test from outside, with someone watching in the attic, usually solves it. See roof leak detection.
What if I cannot get into my attic?
Some homes have no usable attic, like cathedral ceilings or low-slope roofs. Then the search happens from the roof side, by checking every detail above the stain and water testing. Send us a photo of the stain and the roof above it.
What tools do I need?
- A bright flashlight or headlamp
- A board or two to lay across the joists
- A marker or chalk, and a tape measure
- A thin wire or long nail to push through at the entry point
- Your phone, to take photos for the roofer
Measuring so the leak can be found outside
Measure from the entry point to an outside wall and to a landmark on the roof, like a vent pipe or the chimney. Write both numbers down. A roofer can then use the same landmarks on top of the roof to find the exact spot, even if no wire is pushed through.
Which leaks you will not see from the attic
Low-slope roofs, porch roofs tied into a wall and cathedral ceilings have no open attic space above them. Leaks there are found from the roof side. See porch roof leak repair.
Can a roof leak be far from where it drips?
Yes. Water often runs several feet along rafters or decking before it drips.
Is it safe to go in my attic after a leak?
Yes, if you step only on joists and watch for nails. Avoid it in the heat of the day.
What does a roof leak look like in the attic?
Dark stains or trails on the decking and rafters, wet insulation and sometimes daylight around pipes or vents.
Should I pull back insulation to look?
Gently, with gloves and a mask, if you need to see the ceiling below. Replace it after.