Finding a leak means following the water backwards from the stain to the opening. On tall Redland houses with chimneys and lead gutters, that takes a methodical look inside and out.
The wet patch on your ceiling is where water gave up, not where it got in. Redland roofs are often large, with chimney stacks, lead-lined gutters and several slopes, so there are plenty of places for water to enter. Tracing it is a matter of working backwards in a set order.
Start inside, with the pattern
Begin at the stain and note when it appears: only in heavy rain, after wind, or whenever it has been wet for a while. That points to the type of fault. In a house converted into flats, ask whoever lives above or below as well, because the water may be entering at a part of the roof you cannot see into.
Write down the date and the weather each time you notice it. After a few notes the pattern is often clear: a leak that shows only in a south-westerly gale points one way, a leak after days of steady rain points another. Those small observations save time on the roof and help us bring the right materials.
The loft is the best clue
From the hatch, a torch shows a lot. Water follows the underside of the covering, so the highest wet point is usually nearest the way in. Look from the hatch only and do not step between the joists, because the ceiling below is not made to be stood on.
- Daylight through the covering suggests a missing or slipped tile
- Dark tide marks on timbers show where water has run for some time
- Damp insulation beside a chimney points towards flashings or the stack
- Wet timber near the eaves can mean a gutter or valley problem
Likely culprits on older houses
On Victorian and Edwardian roofs the usual suspects are lead flashings around tall chimneys, lead-lined gutters and valleys, ridge bedding and slipped coverings. Pointing on the stack can also let water in. We work through these in turn, because several small faults often sit close together and only one of them is wet that day.
From the ground, with binoculars
You can learn something from the garden or pavement. Look for slipped or missing tiles, a sagging gutter, plants in a valley or a chimney with cracked flashing. Photograph what you see and note which rooms are affected. Please leave any close inspection of the roof itself to us.
Check the outside of the walls too. Water spilling over a blocked or leaking gutter can run down a wall and show as damp indoors, which looks like a roof leak but is not. Stains beneath a gutter joint, or green streaks on brickwork, are worth mentioning when you call us.
How we confirm the source
Once we have a suspect we check it against the loft evidence so the two agree. If they do not, we keep looking, because patching the wrong place only delays the next leak. Sometimes we test sections with water, starting low and working up, so the entry point shows itself before any repair is made.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I find the leak myself?
You can narrow it down from inside and from the ground, which helps us. Confirming the exact entry point usually needs someone on the roof with the right access, so we ask you not to climb up. Share your photographs and notes and we will do the close inspection.
Why does the leak appear so far from the fault?
Water runs along the underside of tiles, down rafters and across felt and timber before it finds a way through the ceiling. On a large old roof that path can be long. The stain tells you which area to look at, not which tile to fix.
Does every leak show up in heavy rain?
Not always. Some openings only let water through in wind-driven rain, or when a gutter backs up. Others leak slowly and only show after days of damp weather. Telling us exactly when it happens is one of the most useful clues you can give.
Talk to our team about roof repairs in Redland
Every roof is different — the fastest way to get an accurate answer is a quick chat with our team.