Roof leakage problem

[Big Daddy]

I bought a house in summer of 2002, and the heavy snow fall in the North East US led to a significant accumulation on my roof.

Today, I noticed a wet patch on my ceiling. The house was built in 1990, and the roof is the original shingle roof. The home inspection report predicted a total life of the roof of about 20 years. It is only 13 years right now.

Is this a major maintenence problem that requires the entire roof change or a minor maintenence problem? Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

 

[JohnC]

May be water getting in around frozen gutters. I had that problem when I lived in the US. Check the gutters, might save major dollars which you might better spend on Canadian SPs!!!!!!

 

[spartan5782]

The 20 year warranty is on the shingles themselves, not necessarily the installation. The shingles may be free of defect, but high winds can lift or even remove the best installed shingles, it just depends. Heavy snow can cause roof deflection and thus break the seal of some shingles and cause the water to penatrate as well.

The problem shingles may seal themselves on a very hot day this summer, provided they aren't missing, but you probably will have some heavy rain coming this spring long before that possibility. Either way I'd be concerned, and the wet spot let's you know you have a problem.

You should contact your home insurance carrier immediately, have them inspect and file the claim. It may be something simple or it may be a chronic problem that's been going on long before you bought the house and was just cosmetically fixed for the sale? This is why we pay for insurance....if a roof is needed, and the shingles are proven to be defective, the manufacturer will be partly responsible. If your insurance has a strong "Acts of God" clause that won't cover the high wind or heavy snow...at least they will come out and inspect for you and identify the problem and the extent.

Good luck!

 

[anon1]

Clean your evetrough(sp?). Usually when a quick thaw comes after a big dump, the snow on the roof melts faster than the evetrough can carry it away. They are still filled with ice and snow creating an icedam causing water to get under the shingles and into the wood sheething of the roof itself, then leaking into the interior of the house.
Amazing what you can learn from watching Norm Abrams.

 

[bigmoe69er]

Big Daddy

It sounds like a minor, isolated problem similar to one I had at my house. A roofer you trust could probably permanently fix it for $50 bucks or so. ---Dr. Moe

 

[QB7]

Easiest thing to check is John C's suggestion. I have had the same problem several years in a row when snow and ice has built up on the roof just above the gutters. Melting snow tries to run down the roof but is blocked by the ice buildup and then finds its way through the shingles and the roof.

Solution is to remove the buildup of ice and snow (very carefully) so as not to damage the shingles. The last time this happened I hooked my garden hose to the hot water tap and melted the ice with hot water. If that is the problem the solution is in your own hands (just can't help using Terb-friendly language here) )

Cheers
QB7

 

[papasmerf]

ICE DAM

We see this often in Buffalo. It tends to be caused by a roof intstalled without an ICE DAM. Some contractors feel that a row of shingle placed face down on the edge of the roof will suffice.

Reality is that a 40 pound rolled roofing is best. You will roll it out along the edges and it is extend about 3 feet up the roof.

Another peoblem is materials. If fiberglass shingles were used in 1990 they were substandard for the easten winters. As I recall most fiberglass shingles were not rated for sustained wind gust of 65 MPH or higher. Also if they were stapled down the warrenty was voided at installation. I would contact my Homeowners insurence company, a good roofing contractor (low bids excluded) and an attorney.

You have a claim aginst the home inspector if the roof is under rated as well as the original contractor.

The shingle manufacture will likely replace the material but not the labor. The insurence company should pay for that minus deductable. No you see the need for the lawyer.

 

[zoickss]

I just fixed a similar problem - Had a wet spot on the ceiling turns out from high winds we had, the blow in insulation blew away from a spot. Condensation as a result caused the wet patch. I'd start by crawling in the attic and taking a look (providing you know where to walk in the attic - I hate to see you fall through)

 

[mr. x]

there are several possibilities - most of which have been discussed.

one other thing to consider might be the lack of proper ventilation in your attic - if there is inadequate fresh air getting into the attic, you can get condensation on the underside of the roof and this can then drain down and drip onto the top of the insulation above the ceiling - it can then soak through to the plaster...

so, first check for exterior builups of ice - as suggested elsewhere, but the other thing is to find the access hatch for the attic and go up and see what the problem is from the inside.

 

[Goober Mcfly]

I have a wet spot.


IN MY PANTS!

/sorry

 

[Big Daddy]

Thanks for all the replies. I am seeing a roof contractor and my insurance company will cover for expenses after a 500 dollar deductible. As far as Goober's wet spot is concerned a napkin should do the job

 

[gar]

attic ventilation

Since the house was built recently. The attic is probably properly ventilated--the inspector always checks for this. Shiek is correct about the vapor barrier in the ceiling. If it is a ice dam problem, it will only occur in the winter time--if it leaks during the summer it's your roof. Where is the water spot? Is it near the chimney, the plumbing stack?

 

[james t kirk]

Re: ICE DAM

We see this often in Buffalo. It tends to be caused by a roof intstalled without an ICE DAM. Some contractors feel that a row of shingle placed face down on the edge of the roof will suffice.

Reality is that a 40 pound rolled roofing is best. You will roll it out along the edges and it is extend about 3 feet up the roof.

Another peoblem is materials. If fiberglass shingles were used in 1990 they were substandard for the easten winters. As I recall most fiberglass shingles were not rated for sustained wind gust of 65 MPH or higher. Also if they were stapled down the warrenty was voided at installation. I would contact my Homeowners insurence company, a good roofing contractor (low bids excluded) and an attorney.

You have a claim aginst the home inspector if the roof is under rated as well as the original contractor.

The shingle manufacture will likely replace the material but not the labor. The insurence company should pay for that minus deductable. No you see the need for the lawyer.

Good post.

Other than the claim against the inspector or orginal contractor.

The inspector can only tell you so much. He is not mezmo and has no way of knowing how the roof was constructed really. You can try and make a claim, but I would tend to give the guy a break. Inspectors can only tell you so much and don't expect them to be the means to 10 years of maintence free home living. It doesn't work that way.

I would tend to agree with the other posters.

The critcal element is the ice dam, and I would go one step further and recommend the installation of "ice and water shield" It is a very heavy plastic peel and stick mat that is ideal as an ice dam.

The other thing to look at is to ensure good fascia boards (mine are K.O.'d so i know) and good attic ventilation and attic insulation to prevent excessive heat loss.

Everything has to work hand in hand.

 

[papasmerf]

Re: Re: ICE DAM

Good post.

Other than the claim against the inspector or orginal contractor.

The inspector can only tell you so much.

I disagree here.

Every bundle of shingles comes with manufactures reccomended installation and warnings. This makes the original roofing contractor and builer responsible for any inproper utilization of material and or tools.

As for the inspector?????? A qualified inspector will reconize the difference between ashphalt and fiberglass shingles.

Working with a certified and qualified person they will point out both potentual flaws in workmanship (visible to the naked eye).

The use of fiberglass shingles in the North East was advied aginst by owens corning, in 1990. Write the manufacturer of the shingles and ask for the original installation instructions and advisories.

Ashphalt at this time cane in few flavors, for the most part, black and white(grey) and green. Those brown ones are fiberglass.