rain leaks...

[michael h1]

Anyone else have this or something similar?


I live in a twin in Rhawnhurst for a few years now.. This past Saturday’s storm caused leaks along the entire back side of my house but rather strange ones. There are no visible stains or leaks at the second floor bedroom ceilings… The main focus on the leak was right above my dining room windows.

I removed some of the wall plaster to expose the leak thinking it was the window flashing and found the water to be running down on the actual interior foundation wall well above the windows.

I than thought perhaps it was the flashing around the back bedroom window above the dining room windows. This window flashing is intact with no missing mortar or caulking around the entire window leading me to believe it may be the roof… My entire house (all brick) was re-mortared 5 years ago so it is no brick issues.

My downspout howver is located about 6 feet to the left of the leak and perhaps the flashing failed on the roof at this area, but who knows.

I plan to have a roofer first come out and address the roof, but again, I am skeptical as the roof was just re-coated 3 years ago so who knows.

The leak from above had also continued down to the basement and garage sill plates again, all along the rear of the house…

I never had this leak the entire time I lived here and the rain was never hit this side of the house unitl this weekends wind sweep rains..

A neighbor a few houses up from me had something similar issues about 10 years back and supposedly it was the edge capping on the roof...but her leak is now back as well...

If you had a similar experience let me know what it was and who you used to fix this mystery leak..
Thanks all!

[Seanibus]

Have any open standpipes on the roof? The pipes run down to the plumbing in the basement and they can develop small interior leaks, particularly if the pipe twists and turns on the way down. If you do have open pipes, try getting an endcap - that keeps the rain from running down the pipe.

Also, lean over the side of the house in the area where the rain was hitting and see if any mortar is flaking out from between the bricks. That happened to me - turns out there was an empty cavity between the roof and the ceiling in one of my bathrooms and the water was blowing and dripping into a relatively small chink in the mortar that just happened to be right under where a stream of water ran off the roof. It only happened when we had a stiff rain blowing from the north, which is relatively rare, so it took ages for me to figure it out.

[Hospitalitygirl]

Originally Posted by Seanibus

Also, lean over the side of the house in the area where the rain was hitting and see if any mortar is flaking out from between the bricks. That happened to me - turns out there was an empty cavity between the roof and the ceiling in one of my bathrooms and the water was blowing and dripping into a relatively small chink in the mortar that just happened to be right under where a stream of water ran off the roof. It only happened when we had a stiff rain blowing from the north, which is relatively rare, so it took ages for me to figure it out.

Somehow, no one thinks to do this frequently enough. We had a huge problem, and two other roofers missed this issue. Hubby fixed that problem and crawled around on the roof itself to do a million little patches--no leaks so far after three straight days of rain and even winds.

[michael h1]

Don't recall any standpipes in this location but I will check it out...this is the first time I had heavy rains from the north living here but I don't want a reoccurance.. Mortar is in tact but I will check again...strange stuff...

[Seanibus]

Originally Posted by michael h1

Don't recall any standpipes in this location but I will check it out...this is the first time I had heavy rains from the north living here but I don't want a reoccurance.. Mortar is in tact but I will check again...strange stuff...

Yeah, look carefully, particularly in the vicinity of any facing boards you have along the roof edge. Water can sneak in even the smallest of holes.

Good luck - roof leaks are an absolute nightmare.

[bobside]

It was a weird storm. Heard a lot of stories over the weekend. I had windows leaking as well.

[Sharkfood]

This weekend's storm was noted for high winds. If you had a leak this weekend but not during February's snow melt, my guess is your problem is not with the roof but some entry point on a side wall or window.

[Polar Cub]

I'm in Rhawnhurst too. Same thing. It's happened twice in 8 years. Water came down in the rear, above my basement door. Last time, 8 years ago, it was the garage.
After the real heavy stuff ended, it subsided. Now nothing, despite continued showers.
I'm not concerned. Hard blowing rain can end up in strange places. It took eight years for it to repeat.

[michael h1]

I wish I could leave it alone, but it damaged all the plaster and drywall around my dining room windows...Even with the wind blown rain ending and the change in direction of todays rain, the leak is now back....I had nothing with the snow melts leading up to today so I wonder if it is a roof issue with the drain basin in the roof...

[Seanibus]

Originally Posted by michael h1

I wish I could leave it alone, but it damaged all the plaster and drywall around my dining room windows...Even with the wind blown rain ending and the change in direction of todays rain, the leak is now back....I had nothing with the snow melts leading up to today so I wonder if it is a roof issue with the drain basin in the roof...

Don't let it ride. If it did it once, it will do so again sometime, however far in the future. Better to nip it early - I know this buy bitter experience.

[Jaybone]

common problem. I see it alot. Make sure your drainage holes in your windows are clear and that the "slam guards" located at the left and right bottom corners of the window are up about half an inch..... water can blow inside them and fill up causing a leak. If the bottom window track is dirty rubbing alcohol and a q tip helps clean that up.

[Jaybone]

If anybody need a roofer I know a great 4 th generation roofing company........

[Cya]

Originally Posted by Jaybone

If anybody need a roofer I know a great 4 th generation roofing company........

Well, come on, Jaybone. Don't keep us all in suspense.........