My roof is leaking....

[Mr Bogus]

Ok this was being discussed on a thread about bikes so I moved it here...

Ok James, Chris or anyone else that knows this kind of stuff... here is what I have...

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[ThunderJohn]

Any pics from the top of it. See what the flashing and calk job look like. How old is the roof?

 

[Mr Bogus]

The roof was redone 2 years ago (added a layer without stripping the old) They did not redo the skylights and I climbed up there today with a gallon of "fibered sealer" and resealed the skylights.. The neighbors have the same skylights and there is not a bit of that black goop around them so I got a bad feeling here... as you can see by the skylight woodwork, there is no way to check the skylight from the attic..

I do not know the first thing about all this and feel like a lost kid at the circus...

 

[twotonevert]

Randy, skylights are notorious for leaking. They should have redone the flashing at the top when they redid your roof. Have no fear, it can be fixed. I am with John on needing pics from the top. I used to frame houses when I was younger and have installed many of these. The skylight sits on a box. The roof flashing should have a solid piece of sheet metal approx 12" wide that will be installed on the upward slope of the roof and on the top of the skylight box. This should extend up and between the skylight frame and box. You should also have metal shingles that run the length of the box down the roof line. If this is installed correctly, with no holes, then the composite shingles that make up the roof will cover all nail holes and allow no leaks. But, things come loose, weather happens, and they need attention from time to time. You could have found the leak with the roofing tar, but having 2 layers of shingles is not recommended and will make the job harder to find. Reason being, we dont know which roof is to blame, the underlaying roof, the top roof, or both. With that said, it could be one or the other that is not sealed well at the skylight box frame.

 

[99'busa]

alrighty, no biggy. like james said it is more than likely the flashing around the sky light. It may not have the box that james is referring too. some are just a frame about 6" deep and to install all you do is frame a rough opening hole drop light in and screw the mounting brackets to the roof. and trim the inside with either wood (yours) or drywall. question about this pic.

is that a run in the stain  or   water stain from the leak (will help knowing the exact cause)

 

[Mr Bogus]

I can see no water damage on the wood around the skylight at all... might be a reflection?

what I see in that photo and not in real live is how dark the bottom trim piece is.. it looks a lot darker in the photo like water has been getting in from behind...

 

[99'busa]

if its the flashing it can be replaced. it takes a gentle hand but the shingles can be removed around the light....old flashing taken out and new put in.

or if its a small area that is failed some tar (black goop you spoke of) can patch it. note: tar is temp. fix wont last forever. its more of a bandade.

how long did it take the water stain to look like that.....will help to determine severity if leak.



this could just be a nail head that didnt get any tar on it. some exposed nail heads you cant help but you should put some sealant on it for this reason.

 

[99'busa]

you want to fix asap or that water stain will go from an easy kilz and paint job to a retexture job.(do not want that)

 

[Mr Bogus]

I pushed one of those wire hooks through the center of the water stain (picture hanger thing) if it still leaks it should "wick" to the wire and drip? if it does, I guess "Plan B"

 

[twotonevert]

Uh Oh, what is plan B?

 

[99'busa]

looking at this pic. it seems to be on the left side that has failed. (looking up at it). should be easy to see from the roof.

if your patch job worked it can buy us some time till I can come up there and inspect thoroughly.

 

[99'busa]

if you can imagine a joist running down ea. side of light and a board running between them at top of light and at bottom of light.(boxing in the light) the water is running down to the tape joint in your drywall (why its staining in a straight line) because the stain is stongest on 1 side tells me which side its on. the stain is extending over towards the other side just from soaking the drywall but the joist on that side keeping it blocked some.

 

[99'busa]

I pushed one of those wire hooks through the center of the water stain (picture hanger thing)  if it still leaks it should "wick" to the wire and drip?    if it does, I guess "Plan B"

plan B will be me. RIGHT! Dont get rapped by a roofer when you got me down the block

 

[Mr Bogus]

yea I figured that small "thinning" spot was where a joist was and the water is going left and right of it (more left).. Just to either side of that small thinning area is where I pushed that wire hook through

can sort of see the shadow of th joist running down the left side of the skylight line..

feel like a retard here..

 

[Mr Bogus]

OH if it makes any difference, the sheet rock was solid and dry at the water stains.. had to push like mad to get the wire hook through the stuff...

 

[99'busa]

OH if it makes any difference, the sheet rock was solid and dry at the water stains..  had to push like mad to get the wire hook through the stuff...

that is very good. its a small leak and probably took awile to get that big. and may only leak in heavy rains. you only have cosmetics to worry about. buy some "kilz" in a spray can $6.00 at lowes and spray it. it may blend in real good

with it being such a small leak you more than likely fixed it. probably killed an ant with a shot gun. but what ever gets it

 

[Mr Bogus]

I pushed one of those wire hooks through the center of the water stain (picture hanger thing) if it still leaks it should "wick" to the wire and drip? if it does, I guess "Plan B"

plan B will be me. RIGHT! Dont get rapped by a roofer when you got me down the block

eeeeeyup.....


Killed an ant with a shotgun?

that is how I like to fix things.. overkill.. I kept it sanitary looking on the roof too.

 

[99'busa]

I pushed one of those wire hooks through the center of the water stain (picture hanger thing)  if it still leaks it should "wick" to the wire and drip?    if it does, I guess "Plan B"

plan B will be me.  RIGHT! Dont get rapped by a roofer when you got me down the block

eeeeeyup.....  


Killed an ant with a shotgun?  

  that is how I like to fix things..  overkill.. I kept it sanitary looking on the roof too.

thats just how I like to do it. If a small hammer works.....a bigger one is better

 

[Mr Bogus]

oh another thing you guys were right about... it only appeared after about 3 solid days of rain... feeling a little better about this.... all I could imagine is a $3000 roof job...

I got something called "stinson" primer? not sure the name but it is a primer

 

[99'busa]

oh another thing you guys were right about... it only appeared after about 3 solid days of rain...   feeling a little better about this....  all I could imagine is a $3000 roof job...

I got something called  "stinson" primer?    not sure the name but it is a primer

any oil base primer will work but I aint never heard of that. use a kind in a spray can if that isnt. a spray can is easier and cleaner (no roller or brush to clean out with thinner) a spray can you can also float out to blend better. the brand "kilz" is all we use (we go through about 10 cans of it a week) its better than other brands and dont use the "odorless" it dont work as good.