Roof Leak Water Damage in Poway, CA

Roof leaks here are seasonal. Months of dry weather and summer heat age a roof quietly, then the first heavy storm of the winter finds every weak spot at once.

Why tile roofs leak

Concrete and clay tile roofs are common across the area. The tiles shed most of the rain, but the underlayment beneath them is what keeps the house dry, and it wears out long before the tiles do. Cracked or slipped tiles, worn flashing at walls and chimneys and clogged valleys let water reach that underlayment. Shingle roofs fail at lifted tabs, nail holes and pipe boots.

• A stain spreading on the ceiling after rain.
• Drips at a light fixture or a vent.
• Wet or matted insulation in the attic.
• Peeling paint high on an exterior wall.

How the attic and ceiling are dried

The crew starts in the attic. Soaked blown-in or batt insulation holds water against the drywall and is usually removed. Roof decking and rafters are dried with air movers and a dehumidifier, and the ceiling below is checked with meters; drywall that sagged or stayed wet comes down. A roofer handles the roof itself, often with a temporary tarp until a dry day.

Roof leak or ceiling leak?

Water that comes from above the attic is a roof leak. Water from a pipe, a bathroom or an AC unit inside the house is a ceiling leak or an AC condensate leak, and the drying plan differs.

The National Weather Service San Diego office posts storm forecasts, and the California Department of Insurance explains how homeowners claims are handled.