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What Should You Do If You Discover Moisture Damage In Your Attic?

28 April 2022 by Kyle Brown

There's almost nothing quite as disheartening as discovering moisture damage in your home's attic. Water stains or similar moisture damage on the underside of your roof decking indicates a problem with the upper layer of your roof. Once water penetrates under the shingles, it can rot out your plywood decking, create leaks, and, given enough time, force you to replace your entire roof.

The good news is that a single leak or evidence of water damage isn't usually enough to condemn your home's entire roof. However, it's also not a problem you can ignore. Once water makes it under your shingles, the damage will inevitably progress and become more severe. Locating and addressing the problem as quickly as possible is your only option to avoid a complete roofing replacement.

How Severe is the Problem?

Your first step when you notice water entering your attic is to determine the severity of the issue. If you're comfortable climbing onto your roof, you can conduct a quick inspection on your own. Always tread carefully and test your footing since a moisture-damaged roof may contain weakened or soft sections of decking.

While you're on your roof, look for discolored shingles and feel for parts of the roof that seem soft or less secure. Remember that tiny amounts of damage can lead to substantial water problems. A large leak in your attic may originate from problems as minor as an open nail hole or a small tear in the rubber skirt around a roof vent.

If your roof decking seems secure and stable, you may have caught the problem early enough to avoid more substantial repairs. On the other hand, you should climb down from your roof and contact a professional immediately if you discover any soft or weak spots on your roof. Likewise, you'll need to hire a professional for an inspection if you aren't comfortable getting onto your roof yourself.

What Can You Do?

You'll typically only need to replace your roof if the entire roof system shows signs of wear or if you have substantial problems in multiple areas. In these cases, attempting to spot repair multiple issues can cost more money over the long run, and installing a new roof will ultimately be more cost-effective and help you avoid future leaks.

Fortunately, you won't need to take this drastic step if you only discover problems in one or two areas. A qualified roofing contractor can repair most issues, including damaged shingles, leaking flashing, failing vent seals, and even rotting decking. If you find severe problems in one area, your contractor may need to cut out and replace that portion of your roof's decking and shingles.

Ultimately, there's never any advantage in ignoring water infiltration in your attic. As soon as you notice a problem, you should inspect your roof for damage or contact an experienced contractor to perform an inspection for you.

Contact a roofing contractor to learn more. 

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