Signs of water stains running down walls or extending across ceilings is probably a sign of a roof leak. Roof leaks are often caused by small holes, missing shingles, or gaps in metal flashing around vent pipes. While fixes for the leaks are pretty easy, it’s the tracking of the leak that can turn out to be a headache.

Not being able to locate the source of a leak can cause tremendous damage to your home’s interior–drywall, lighting, flooring, furniture, the list goes on. In this guide, our East Bay roofing contractors discuss a few simple tips for locating roof leaks quickly and easily.

1. Try to notice the leak as it occurs

Easier said than done, we know, but making an effort to track a leak as it occurs will save you a lot of time and frustration. Tracing a leak back to its original source using stains left behind on walls and ceilings can be very tricky and may not tell you the whole story. Try to spot the leak the next time it rains or snows and see if you can notice it.

2. Take precaution

Alternatively, if you aren’t sure that you’re dealing with a roof leak, head to the attic with a flashlight and use a garden hose to wet the roof to create a human-made leak. Then, closely examine the rafters and roof decking in the attic above the spot where you created the wet spot.

3. Follow it up

Follow any existing wet spots or water stains through the roof decking or up the rafters to reach the highest point. Take measurements from the roof peak to the leak’s highest point, and over from the gable end to the source of leak.

4. Head over to the roof and keep looking

Once the roof has dried off, go there and transfer the measurements you took to the roof. Closely examine your house’s roofing to find out the exact location of the leak. In the off chance you are unable to find out, keep on looking higher up on the roof as there’s always a chance of water running down the shingles before coming down in the attic deckers.

Contact Us for East Bay Roof Leak Detection and Roof Leak Repair

Identifying the location of a roof leak isn’t always as easy as it sounds, and if you’re still unable to find the leak’s source, it’s time to call in the pros. The team at Century Roof Tile are Bay Area roofing contractors that can make your life a little (or a lot) easier. We provide the most advanced infrared/thermal imaging roof leak detection and roof leak repair services to fix the problem once and for all. To say good riddance to your roof leak(s), call (888) 233-7548 or contact us online.

Roofing is a delicate matter given the amount of financial investment it requires. Many people try to cut corners by opting for cheaper roofing materials (which is not advisable either) or trying more cost-effective roofing methods.

Re-roofing is a hot-topic issue given that not many people know how to go about it. While some immediately resort to tearing down the existing roof and starting from scratch, a good number of people believe that installing new shingles over the old roof is a very smart move. From a financial point of view, this will save you a lot of money since you won’t have to spend money on removing the old roof. However, from an architectural point of view, this is potentially the worst thing you could do to your house.

Here are a few reasons why installing a new roof over the existing roof can be of benefit to you:

• The majority opt for this because it is way less expensive. You do not have to spend money on removing the roof or preliminary materials to cover the old roof.
• It is less time consuming. Roof installation will take a significantly shorter amount of time to be complete with this shortcut.
• Aesthetically speaking, you cannot tell the difference between a re-shingled roof and a newly installed roof. It looks just as good and also tends to be just as durable (in some opinions; not ours).
• One of the major perks of this style of roofing is that you get double protection from storms. Provided your old roof is not in complete shambles, you can rest easy knowing that you have some backup shingles in case one or two of them get blown off in the strong winds.

As much as the perks are enough to tilt anyone’s decision towards roofing over the old shingles, there a number of reasons that will convince you how re-roofing over shingles is generally–and in our opinion–a bad idea. These include:

• The manufacturer can deny a warranty claim. Hidden in the fine print may be some clauses that empower them to refute your claim if you have re-roofed over existing shingles.
• Some roofing contractors may not tell you this (we will) but adding a second layer of roofing is putting additional weight onto your house. In the long run, you will end up dealing with a problem brought about by a concave or overweight roof.
• Roof leaks are exponentially harder to detect. By not removing the old roof, you effectively inhibit efforts to inspect the underlying wood construction and find the source of the problem.
• Some building codes do not allow the installation of more than two layers of shingles.
• The new shingles are more susceptible to getting blown off by strong winds since the old shingles prevent them from sealing properly.

[Related: Why Asphalt Shingles Fail Prematurely]

Our East Bay Roofing Company is Here to Help

If the decision seems too hard to make, contact the professional Bay Area roofing contractors at Century Roof & Tile to get a more enlightened point of view on the matter. Roof installation can be a breeze or a hassle depending on the level of proficiency of the roofing company you settle on. Choose Century Roof & Tile and give us a call today at (510) 780-9489 or contact us online via our contact form.

Image via Flickr

Leaky roofs can devastate Bay Area businesses and homes.

Not only can a roof leak degrade the structural integrity of your roof — wearing always tiles and potentially causing the breakdown of wood — but it can also allow the growth of mold, which can destroy your indoor air quality and make people inside sick.

Here’s a quick run-down about how to find and deal with a leak.

Search for signs. Running water may show you where the leak is. If not, look under shingles and other potentially suspicious areas. You should see telltale signs, such as water staining or wood that has been rotten out. Go up in your attic, and use a flashlight to look for mold, marks, or water stains. If you can examine your home from a distance (e.g. look down on it from a hill), scan for signs of damage or discoloration near vents, chimneys, and tubes.

Spray for leaks. Here’s a somewhat “old school” method. Get up on the roof and spray it with a hose in a strategic fashion. You’ll need a helper for this method. The other person should go down below and looks for signs of leaks after you spray. Be sure to focus on one area at a time, so you can isolate any leaks you uncover.

Fix the leaks. Even fixing exceedingly “minor,” localized leaks can cause a fair amount of challenges — more than most homeowners expect. The do-it-yourself (DIY) process can be expensive and dangerous, too. Rather than risk a poor diagnosis — or getting injured while on a ladder looking for or attending to a leak — connect with the Century Roof & Solar team today for professional roof repair.

[SEE ALSO: Bay Area Thermal Leak Detection: The New Science of Roof Repair]

Thermal Imaging Roof Leak Detection

Our roof leak detection service will quickly and easily located the source of the leak so the area can be repaired in a timely fashion. Let us relieve your stress and anxiety about the leak and protect your greatest investment. Contact us today at (888) 233-7548 or fill out our online contact form located here on our website.

Our East Bay roofing professionals handled a huge number of flat roof maintenance and repair jobs. But why do flat roofs “break down” so often? What can you do to protect your investment, if you’re a landlord, business owner or homeowner?

Image via Duro-Last

First of all, no roof is (or should be) completely flat.

You need some slope to allow water and debris to drain, although the angle of the flush may be quite small. Flat roofs are simple and affordable to build. They reduce the surface area of the building; that means you can save on heating and cooling costs.

But flat roofs come with serious drawbacks.

For instance, they tend to leak more than sloped roofs, since rainwater can pool, and since debris-like branches and leaves can clog up gutters and accelerate the leaking/mildew process.

Waterproof, flat-roof membranes can last up to three decades.

But wear and tear, harsh weather, and bad installation and maintenance can shorten the lifespan of these membranes substantially. Once mildew or other corrosion takes hold, the damage can spread to other areas of the building and lead to very costly reconstruction – as well as to health hazards, like toxic mold.

Whether you’re designing or repairing a flat roof, ensure the following:

• There are multiple outlets to drain the roof;
• You have a system to prevent/inspect the drainage outlets and leaf guards;
• You allow enough space when you install ventilation, chimneys and roof lights;
• You schedule regular inspections of the roof membrane and other critical elements;
• Schedule professional roof leak repair immediately upon discovery of a leak in the roofing structure.

Bay Area Roofing Repair Done Right

The Century Roof and Solar team can introduce you to best practices and help you protect your investment over the long-term. Effective flat roof repair and maintenance can help you save on energy costs and improve your property values. Less-than-effective work can leave you stuck with an astronomical bill and an ongoing headache with your tenants.

Call our Century Roof and Solar team today at 1-888-233-7548  for a free estimate.