How do you find a roof leak?
The wet spot on your ceiling is rarely directly under the hole in the roof. Water travels along rafters, underlayment and drywall before it shows up.
How a leak search works
- Ask where and when it shows: after rain, after a sprinkler cycle, or all the time.
- Check the attic for stained wood, damp insulation and daylight.
- Walk the roof and look at flashing, vents, tiles and penetrations.
- If needed, run a controlled water test on one section at a time to pinpoint where the water enters.
Not every leak comes from the roof. Plumbing lines, air conditioning condensate lines and attic ducts can also cause ceiling stains. If the roof is not the cause, we tell you so you do not pay for the wrong fix.

