Patriot Roof Guide
Checking Your Attic After Heavy Rain
After a long, hard rain, the attic is where a hidden roof leak first shows itself. A short look with a flashlight can tell you a lot.
Stay safe
Step only on joists or a floored walkway, never between them. Watch for nails coming through the roof boards above you. Go in daylight, take a phone and tell someone you are up there.
Where to aim the light
- Around pipes and vents that pass through the roof
- Along valleys, where two roof slopes meet
- Near the chimney
- At the low edge of the roof, above the outside walls
What a leak can look like
Fresh drips, damp or darkened wood, water rings on the roof boards and matted insulation are all clues. Old dark stains that are dry to the touch may be from a past leak.
Write it down
Take photos with something for scale and note where you were standing. That helps anyone who looks at the roof from outside find the matching spot.
What this check cannot show
You will not see everything from inside. Some water travels along boards before it drips. If you find signs of water, send us your photos and describe what you saw.