Guide index
Diagnose Home Repair Symptoms Room by Room
Start with what you are seeing, hearing, or smelling and work toward a likely cause. Each guide is written to help you narrow the problem before you decide what to do next. Showing roofing only.
- Total guides
- 331
- Guide types
- 3
- Systems covered
- 97
- Categories
- 18
10 guides
Page 1 of 1
Symptom Guides · roofing
Ceiling Water Stain: Shingle Roof Leak
A ceiling water stain under an asphalt shingle roof means water penetrated the roof (usually through worn shingles or failed flashing) and traveled along framing before soaking the drywall. The leak source is often several feet from the stain.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Roof Ridge Suddenly Sagging?
A sudden sagging ridge on an asphalt shingle roof is usually caused by a structural failure below the surface (a cracked ridge board, loosened rafter ties, or rot from a hidden leak) or by excess weight from extra shingle layers or snow load.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Daylight in Attic: Shingle Roof Causes
Intermittent daylight in an attic means there's a small gap in your asphalt shingle roof deck, flashing, or around a penetration. It only shows at certain sun angles but is still an active leak path that needs sealing.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Chimney Leak Getting Worse? What's Wrong
A worsening leak at a chimney is almost always failed roof flashing: cracked sealant at the counterflashing, lifted step flashing, or a missing chimney cricket letting water pool and force its way in.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Rust Stains Near Roof Flashing
Rust stains at roof flashing in an older home mean the galvanized steel flashing or its fasteners are corroding after 20 to 40 years, thinning the metal and eventually letting water through.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Step Flashing Lifts in Heavy Rain
Lifted step flashing during heavy rain is almost always caused by loose nails, failed sealant, or step pieces that aren't properly overlapped, letting wind-driven water get behind the flashing along a roof-to-wall joint.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Downspout Disconnected in Winter
Your downspout disconnected in winter because ice buildup added weight, the cold made the metal or vinyl contract, or a frozen clog expanded and forced the joint apart. Reconnect it once it thaws and secure it with a self-tapping screw.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Flat Roof Ponding Water in Summer
Ponding water on a flat roof in summer usually means poor drainage from a clogged drain, a sagging deck, or insufficient slope. Standing water plus heat degrades the membrane fast, so it should be cleared and inspected within a couple of days.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Flat Roof Membrane Seam Separation
A flat roof membrane seam separates when the adhesive or heat weld holding two sheets together loses its bond, usually from bad installation, age, or thermal movement. It's an active leak path and should be sealed promptly.
Symptom Guides · roofing
Alligator Cracking on Flat Roof Membrane
Alligator cracking on a flat roof membrane means the surface coating or asphalt has dried out and lost flexibility from years of UV and heat exposure. It's usually a surface-level aging problem fixed by recoating, not an emergency, as long as the cracks haven't let water reach the layers below.