Leaky Roof...Just How Bad?

Scully

i have a 1950's house with a roof that's about 15-20 yr old. it rained tonight for the 1st time since i bought this house, and i see a little bit of water seepage. just how bad is this? i don't have the funds to replace this roof until possibly spring/summer.



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Gymschu

You have plenty of experts here to offer suggestions. I'm a DIYer who just redid his roof. My roof had THREE layers of roofing and started to leak. Once you have leaks, your destiny is just about sealed, no pun intended. You will spin your wheels trying to find EXACTLY where the leaks are. I know you want to hold off, but plan on a new roof. You don't want those leaks to become bigger leaks.......then you have mold issues, damaged drywall issues, I could go on and on. I had one leak that ran about 2 feet from its' origination. It never really dripped into the house but it ran horizontally along some roofing sheathing and rotted 2 feet's worth. So, what I am saying is that you may SEE those leaks in the attic, but, there are likely more that you really can't see that are affecting the integrity of your home.

rossfingal

What "Gymschu" says!
Also, post some pictures of the exterior, of the roof.

rossfingal

PAHome

Scully, Pictures for the exterior of the roof would help as well as a picture from where you think the water is coming from. Also how old do you think your roof is?

rossfingal

The "OP" says the roof is, 15 to 20 years old.

rossfingal

joecaption

Pay me now, or a whole lot more later.
If your lucky it could be as simple as the roof jack seal is just rotted out and needs replacing, no way to really tell unless you get up on the roof and look or go in the attic during the day with the lights off and see if you can see day light around the vent.
Look for missing shingles, nail pops.
If there three tab shingles your on borrowed time.

Windows on Wash

A leak does not always necessitate a replacement.

Have a qualified roofer look at it and if you tell them where you are at, they may be able to repair the roof to a serviceable condition but do not intend on getting a warranty on the repair if the roof is otherwise shot.

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PAHome

Thanks .. rossfingal

Scully

here are pictures of my roof (there are 2 layers on the roof). i had it patched a few months ago and was told that there's not much life left in it. in the meantime, what should i do with the little seepage in my pictures above?



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Windows on Wash

That roof is near the end of its life unfortunately.

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bubbler

Out of curiosity, do you see something that makes you say that? Is it the type of shingle (older 3-tab)? the lack of a ridge vent? curling? cracking?

Or is just the general situation that makes you say it--20 year old roof, active leak, advice from local contractor saying it's near the end?

I've got a 20 year old roof, it's a 2nd layer of shingles as well... it looks to me like it's worse than that... but no active leaks as far as I can tell. Wondering what you see there that makes you think this is done for?

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My advice is based on anecdotal knowledge or personal experience. I'm not a professional no matter how matter of factly I may say something
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ParagonEx

Different symptoms look for. I have a list on my site under the roofing page.

Basically granular loss, splitting in the shingles, etc.

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roofguy

PUT A TARP OVER IT UNTIL YOUR READY FOR A NEW ROOF
<Company link removed>

bubbler

I've got dips, bumps, algae & other flora growth on the north faced side, missing shingles, etc... I think the water falling on my roof must think my place is too ghetto to bother "going inside"... rather just keep on moving and not stop

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Windows on Wash

+1 to Paragon's observations.

Splitting shingles, granule loss, general fatique of the other shingles.

Not saying that it needs to come off this instant, however, I would inform the customer that in depth and costly repair expenses should be diverted to the cost of a re-roof.

A quick and cost effective repair might solve the couple of leakage issues and buy the homeowner as many as 2-3 more years (maybe more) out of the roof.

That being said, I can assure that roof will cost that much more in 3 years as well. Averages show that the cost of roofing doubles about every 10 years. Keep that in mind when trying to stretch the life out of a roof that should be removed.

Prolonging what is likely the inevitable is going to result in potentially expensive repairs and a more expensive root to boot.

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