Roof leak

[Magnum]

A friend asked me to repair a roof leak.

During rain, he gets water leaking around a light fixture.

I thought about drilling a small hole from around the fixture thru the roof and shingles in order to narrow down the location.

I could then re-shingle that area.

What do you think ?

Appreciate any feedback.

Thanks,
           Andy

[dedndave]

there is nothing simple about a roof leak
you have to crawl up in the attic and access the damage
and everything that got wet must be dried or replaced
you don't want mold growing - bigger problem, still

[Magnum]

There is no attic in the area of the leak(s).

Just solid wood planks.

It's a hardware store that was originally a home, and was also a restaurant at one time.

It is in sore need of a shingle job. :-)

I see no way of finding the leak(s) other than pulling up shingles.

About a year ago, I replaced a 4 ft. X 20 ft. area of wood and shingles on a bottom edge on one side.

I went into the attic but could not find any evidence of wet wood etc.

The owner is not willing to spend money to do the job right. :-(

He has five buckets to catch the water. :-)

I am surprised that none of the lights have shorted out.

[KeepingRealBusy]

The problem with roof leaks is that the source of the leak is not necessarily right above the point on the underside where the water is dripping. There is probably a point well above that point and the underlayment is allowing the water to run down a ways before it can get to the wood below. When it is not raining, get on the roof with a water hose, and start spraying at the point where the water was detected. This will probably not cause the leak to be seen. Move the spray (slowly) up the roof from there (and also try side to side, trying not to spray UNDER the shingles, but just down on them like the rain (I know! sometimes it rains horizontally!). A cell phone from someone under the roof  where the water can be seen) to a cell phone with someone on the roof spraying will probably make the job easier.

Good luck, you'll need it.

Dave.

[Magnum]

Since water can go a ways before it comes thru the wood, there still is not way of knowing which shingle(s) the leak is under.

Others have told me that the shingles need to be replaced.

Say I pull up a 8 x 8 foot area of shingles hoping that the leak will be under it.

I could "get lucky" and find the leak.

But with the shingles being so old, (there are around 20 loose shingles already), I feel that it would be honest to tell the owner that he needs a new roof.

(And I can not do a whole roof.)

I would feel bad fixing the leak knowing that it would not be long before another one showed up.

Just my opinion.

[Gunner]

He has five buckets to catch the water. :-)

That is not a small leak!

But with the shingles being so old, (there are around 20 loose shingles already), I feel that it would be honest to tell the owner that he needs a new roof.

Time for a new roof.  Depending on how many layers of shingles there are, a rip off might be needed.  A  roof and shingles don't only prevent water and elements from getting to you, they prevent many other problems like rot.  Shingles protect your investment (House)

Guess what, the leak might not even be coming from the roof (but if he has 5 buckets to catch water, it might be a valley that is leaking and/or is not a small hole in/under the shingles)  the water can be entering from the other side of the house, from bad siding, bad flashing, bad rubber boot on a vent pipe, coming in from an eve.  Your friend needs a professional.

Just my 2 cents of being a carpenter.

[Magnum]

You are quite right.

The roof has a flat area that is about 6 foot by 20 foot.

I feel that there is much opportunity for water to stand in that area.

This is one situation that I know I should walk away from. :-)