Roof and Downspout Leak Ceiling Work in Milwaukee, WI

Tracing from the stain back to the roof

The trace follows the wet path from the ceiling to the roof, not the stain alone.

The stain shows where the water came out, not where it came in. The crew reads the ceiling and the wall below it, then works up along the framing and the cavity to see where the readings are highest. The path is recorded, and the roofer receives it as a starting point.

A trace that stops at the stain is not enough, because water can run far along a rafter before it drops. The trace goes as far as the readings allow.

Cutting back the ceiling in a neat area

The ceiling is cut back in a regular shape around the wet area, which keeps the repair small.

A ceiling is cut back in a neat rectangle or square around the wet area, not in an irregular hole. A neat cut is easier for a trade to patch and it keeps the removed area to what is needed.

The crew photographs the ceiling before the cut, marks the area on the ceiling and records the size of the removal.

• Photograph the ceiling before the cut
• Mark a regular area around the wet board
• Cut the board in a neat shape
• Record the size of the area removed
• Measure the cavity for the trade

Drying the cavity and checking the framing

The insulation and the framing are removed or read, and the cavity is dried before it is closed.

Wet insulation holds water against the ceiling board and keeps the cavity damp. The crew removes the wet insulation above the stain and reads the joists and the sheathing. The cavity is dried to readings before any new board goes up.

A sheathing reading that stays high is a sign of a leak still active or a hidden wet area, and the crew stops the plan until it is traced.

• Remove wet insulation above the stain
• Read the joists and the sheathing
• Dry the cavity to readings
• Stop the plan if a reading stays high
• Confirm in writing when the cavity is ready to close

Gutters and downspouts

A blocked gutter or downspout is a common source of ceiling leaks, and the crew records its condition.

A gutter that is blocked or a downspout that discharges against the wall can push water into the eave and then into the wall above the ceiling. The crew checks the gutter and the downspout and notes whether they overflowed on the day.

The homeowner can clear the gutters before the next storm season, and can ask the roofer to check the flashing and the soffit as well.

• Check the gutter for overflow marks
• Check the downspout discharge location
• Clear debris from the gutter and outlet
• Ask the roofer to check the flashing
• Ask the roofer to check the soffit

Repair and the trade handoff

The roofer repairs the roof, and the ceiling trade closes the cavity once the readings are at target.

The crew does not repair the roof or the flashing. It gives the roofer the trace and the entry point in writing, and it gives the ceiling trade the list of what is open and what is ready.

The homeowner should not close the ceiling until the crew confirms the cavity is ready. A ceiling closed over a damp cavity can grow mould before anyone sees it.

• The roofer receives the trace and the entry point
• The ceiling trade receives the list of open areas
• The cavity is confirmed ready in writing
• The repair is recorded with dates
• The invoices are kept with the scope

Testing the roof after the trace

A roofer tests the suspected path with water, and the crew records the result.

After the trace, a roofer can test the likely path by running water from above while someone watches the ceiling below. The test shows whether the trace was correct, and the crew records the result in the file. A failed test sends the roofer to the next likely point.

The homeowner should be present for the test and should photograph the result, so the file shows where the water was found.

• Run the test from above while the ceiling is watched
• Record which point produced the leak
• Photograph the result and the point
• Keep the roofer's note with the file
• Repeat the test if the first point does not show