Many houses these days have a low pitch roof. This means that the slope is gradual and not very steep. On windy days you may suffer from wind blown rain which is forced under your roof tiles and eventually finds its way to your ceiling. This is especially true of wind and rain storms, where the wind lashes the rain into the roof. Later, when you search for the cause of the leak, a source is not apparent.
You will probably need to be on the roof to see if any of the tiles could 'lift'. It is also a good idea to check for lifting against the direction of the pre-dominant wind direction in your area. Some roof problems can often only be seen at close quarters. Remember to look diagonally and sideways at your roof tiles.
If you venture up onto the roof, you may prefer to take a few precautions. Some people tie themselves to a chimney pot or a structural beam, to avoid falling the whole way off the roof! As walking on your roof can crack your roofing, put a ladder and planks across the structurally supported parts of the asphalt.
If your roof is old, then the shingles may be buckling under - a common problem with aging roofs. There is also the obvious leak problem: a missing roof tile, or a chipped or broken one. While you are up there check the flashing; it is a common trouble spot, accounting for 90% of all roof leaks. Flashings happen at chimneys, plumbing stacks, skylights, walls and valleys. Make sure that the flashing is at least three inches past the edge of the asphalt.
Of course tracking down the source of a leak is problematic, as the leak is often not where the water gathers or drips. Horizontal roof boards can encourage the water to navigate several feet sideways from the source of the leak. Also, different weather conditions can produce spasmodic leaks in varied locations.
If you have carried out all these checks to no avail, then another way that you may find a leak is to produce man made conditions. Or to put it plainly, drench your roof with a garden hose and get someone inside the house to tell you when and where it comes in. Sounds primitive but it can start your detective work off in the right direction!
Remember you will be trying to simulate rain, which falls downwards! Point the hose in a downward direction and start at the lowest part of the roof. Use a gentle flow of water, and be patient! - It may take several minutes for the leak to manifest.
If you feel confident that you have found the source of the leak, do not caulk it or use roofing cement! Some people successfully slide a piece of sheet metal under the existing tiles. If you can't replace it with a spare shingle or asphalt tile, then call a roofing company. You have already saved yourself some of the hourly rate by searching out the leak for yourself.
New Technology in Roof Insulation
Now more than any other time in history is the time to take a good look at your homes insulation, due to recent technological developments in insulation technology. If your home in the U.S. was built before the 1970s then there is a good chance that no insulation was installed in it when it was built. This is because insulation wasn't even required as part of the standard building code until the early seventies.
Now, using polyurethane foam insulation technology, you can actually insulate the roof of your home and stop the heat from entering the attic space where it can stay for up to twenty-four hours or more. Polyurethane foam is applied to the actual surface of the roof before the roof is tiled or roofed over, so it not only insulates your home but it also protects your home from leaks and water damage, such as dry rot.
Because it is rigid and durable it lasts the lifetime of your home and will never settle, like other insulation products tend to do. If you are worried about your roof looking different from any other roof in any way, you don't have to, because your roof will look no different then any other roof in the neighborhood. For commercial and industrial buildings that have limited or no attic space to insulate, polyurethane foam is a life saver and can make a working area that has had heating or cooling problems in the past far more pleasant to work in.
Mobile and modular homes have always been known for being hot in the summer, especially if they are located in direct sunlight. Now with polyurethane foam insulation another R19 can be added to the roof with just three inches of foam that is both durable and attractive. Why throw your hard earned money away on electric and gas bills when all that you really need, is to have the insulation upgraded on your home.