if you have a new roof and it leaks how do you fix it?

Question

we added a room on but we can't get the added roof to quit leaking.I would really like some suggestions.

Answer 1

You will have to go up and figure out where it is coming in and why it is coming in. Did you use asphalt shingles as roofing material.? You may need to take a full width and run it up centered on the join(new roof to old roof(if it is 3 ft long...18" on the house and 18" on the addition all the way for the full length. Sure it looks like a patch seam....but if the leaking is stopped, that is what matters. Besides, the next time you roof the house you can make it all 1 roof. You have to fix it from the outside(not from the inside for that won't work)

Answer 2

Without a little more information i.e. pitch of the roof, any connecting angles. This will be tough to answer.

Check where the roof of the addition connects to the original roof and if the is flashing that runs along the seam you should be good. Another thing is if the shingles are overlapping correctly. Also were the joints of your roof board sealed with silicone or some form of caulking. If the pitch of the roof is not very great then you may get some puddling.

If none of these are the problem then you need to call a roofer.

Answer 3

I'm going to assume that whomever put the roof on the new room originally has done what they can to fix it.

That being said the roof itself may not necessarily be the problem, it could be that water from elsewhere is now travelling to an area that is covered by the new roof where the leak is becomming evident.

Or perhaps it really is the roof and you may need to crawl up into the rafters to figure out where its leaking from then replace / repair the area above it.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

This may sound too obvious and I don't mean to offend anyone. The source of the leak needs to be determined by someone capable of figuring out where the water is coming in. This could be you or someone who understands how roofing systems work. Once that is determined the solution is usually fairly simple. I would consider someone other than the person who installed the roof if they have already attempted to repair it. Did you install the new roof yourself?

Answer 5

Unless it's a really bad roof job, the most likely culprit is that it is leaking where the new roof ties into the original building. This is the area most needing special consideration (and flashing) to be right, and the area most commonly "shorted" on an addition. I'd start there.

Answer 6

I really need more information such as type of roof (asphalt, tile, sheet metal?) Also who did the roof? How was it done?

A new roof should not leak, there is an installation issue here. Depending on the type of roof, the repair will be different.

Answer 7

Well for the more than 10 years I have been in construction every construction project is warrantied for one year following the completion of the project. Contact the contractor and tell him it is still leaking, and he should come out and fix it for no charge as his work should be done correctly. If he doesn't come do the work you can contact the attorney general or the contractors bonding company and they should be able to help you get some resolution.

Answer 8

I don't know why, but one thing I can tell you is that where you see the water isn't where the roof is leaking. Leaks never spoil the area directly beneath them. They travel down rafters and ruin a part of the ceiling several feet away from the leak.

Answer 9

call a roof leak specialist.you left out the many possibilities roofing material,pitch,did you use flashing,is it a flat top.composition,shake,tar n gravel. if you want to fix it your self. try colored food dyes red in one area,(possible leaking that is) blue in another and see what color you get inside.if its purple you really got the connecting roof wrong.

Answer 10

Warranty is the only word i am thinking of.