Tips for Newbies - Roof Leaks
OK, so you see a water stain on the ceiling. Almost always (with a few exceptions), the leak will originate from a point where something is protruding through the roof (vent pipes, chimneys, etc) or where there's a change in the roof line (including dormers or "dog houses"). Often, it's a simple case of needing to replace a dry-rotted rubber boot on a vent pipe. These fixes are cheap and easy (maybe $15 in materials and 1/2 hour in labor). On the other hand, I've had leaks that have been very difficult to track down and get repaired. And I mean VERY difficult. My luck seems to have been worse with metal roofs. Anyway, just know that some leak sources are very obvious and easy to fix and others can be a real pain in the butt and the wallet.