Inspecting the underside of the roof sheeting can show signs of water damage however it is not a foolproof method so inspecting the roof for damage is needed as well.
How long does it take to repair a roof leak.
In short it s never worth sitting around on a leaky roof.
Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak.
How to fix roof leaks.
It is important to act quickly when it comes to a roof leak.
Leaky roofs never fix themselves or get better on their own.
If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures.
Long term leaking when combined with your homes wiring systems could lead to shorting out at either the room breakers or main breaker and cause damage to any electronics unfortunate enough to be left plugged in at the time.
Once you ve verified that the leak is due to a hole on the roof s surface your next step is to patch it up.
If the damage is minor sealing the damaged area with a roofing cement might do the job.
The good news is that many issues with roof leaks commonly found in homes can be easily repaired.
Long term damage of a leaky roof.
Even if the leak isn t bad yet.
A leaky roof can cause severe damage to any building or standing structure.
Although properly constructed roofs will last for decades and perhaps longer.
Now there are many ways to fix a roof leak and the best method depends on the severity and the nature of the damage.