Signs That Your Roof Has a Leak

Spring is in the air, so leaks may have developed after a long winter. There’s never a good time to discover a leak in your roof, but nearly every commercial property owner has been there — you’re having a busy and productive season, only to notice your roof leaks. 

It’s often difficult to spot it until it becomes a problem. A leak can appear when you see a water spot on your ceiling, but it can be complicated. 

If you’ve become tired of noticed leaks, we’re here to run you through the most common signs that your roof has a leak, how to find them, and most importantly, what to do about them. 

Excess Moisture on Ceiling and Walls

Excess moisture entering your building is the clearest sign of a leaky roof. Whether you spot it on the ceiling, walls, or pools of standing water on the floor, excess moisture is usually a sign of a leaking roof you must address immediately.

Ceilings or walls can get damp with condensation. If you need to know whether condensation is causing excess moisture in your building, try to track down damage on the exterior of your property. 

Water can get inside through windows with cold glass surfaces that let humidity condense or when there’s a lot of moisture in the air. If you’ve ruled out these factors and still can’t find anything, the chances are that your roof leaks somewhere you can’t spot yourself.

Missing or Damaged Flashing 

Chilly weather with gusty winds, heavy showers, and hail is one of the biggest culprits of the roof’s flashing damage. If you see a new leak after a storm, you might think the roof material is damaged, causing your roof to leak. However,  missing and damaged flashing, especially around your building’s points of entry, can quickly cause roof leaks that are hard to see if you’re not looking. 

Check your flashing after storms or heavy rains, even if you have not noticed a leak. This will help you spot any issues immediately so you can call your roofing contractor for repairs before a leak starts, causing other damage.

Clogged Downspouts

The job of a downspout is to direct water away from your building because water can seep into the foundation, causing damage. If your commercial building has a gutter system, pay special attention to the downspouts.  

Clogged downspouts and gutters quickly fill up, permanently damaging your mounting brackets or causing overflowing. This results in standing water around your property. If you notice any sagging near your downspouts, contact a team of professional roofers to determine whether they’re clogged and need service.

Bubbling on Walls or Ceiling

A little-known sign of a leaky roof is the “bubbling” that sometimes occurs on a ceiling. Roof leaks can affect your building’s paint, wallpaper, or ceiling. While the small bubbles may seem harmless, more often than not, they indicate a severe leakage problem with your roof. 

Contact the commercial roofing pros at Restoration Coatings right away for service if you notice bubbles inside your building.

Water in Low Spots That Doesn’t Evaporate

It’s common for commercial properties to have flat roofs, which often have areas that are more susceptible to “ponding water.”

Ponding is standing water after rainfall that doesn’t evaporate from the low spots on your roof. Over time, if the water sits too long on the roof, it can lead to algae growth, dirt accumulation, and entire plant growth, leading to roof or leaks.

If you’re worried about ponding on your commercial roof, inspect it for leftover marks from dried water anytime. In addition, check your roof 48 hours after a storm to see if there’s any ponding. If there is, you should contact a commercial roofing contractor to maintain the roof and keep ponding areas as leak points.

Roof Seam Failure

Aging roof seams can lead to leaks and costly repairs if you don’t monitor them. Worse, even if you regularly check on them, seams can cause leaks in your roof if they weren’t properly installed. 

Roofs with single-ply membrane or metal materials can suffer under heavy winds that pull seams away from the rest of the roof. If you notice any seams are damaged, it’s time to get a professional roofing contractor up there to repair the damage.

Restoration Coating’s maintenance plan protects the integrity of your roof and extends its service life. It helps property owners, and investors identify problems before they start, saving money. Check out our portfolio and call us at (405) 640-0319 or contact us.