5 Signs Your Roof Is Leaking (Before the Drip Starts)

Most homeowners discover a roof leak when water stains the ceiling — but by then, the roof has usually been leaking for weeks. Here are the earlier signs Sayreville homeowners should watch for.

A musty smell in the attic or closets. Moisture collecting in insulation and decking produces a musty odor long before it drips. If a room under the roof smells damp after rain, water is getting in somewhere.

Shingle granules in the gutters. Asphalt shingles shed granules as they age. A handful in the gutter is normal after a storm; a steady buildup means the shingle surface — your roof's waterproof layer — is wearing thin.

Lifted, curled or missing shingles. From the ground with binoculars, look for shingles that no longer lie flat, especially on the side of the roof facing the Raritan Bay winds. Lifted tabs let wind-driven rain underneath.

Staining around bathroom vents and the chimney. These are flashing points, the number one leak source on older Sayreville homes. A faint brown ring on the ceiling below a bathroom often traces to a cracked vent boot, not the roof field at all.

Daylight or water trails in the attic. After rain, take a flashlight into the attic. Shiny trails on the underside of the deck and damp insulation mark the leak's path — and they are far easier to spot in the attic than on the ceiling below.

If any of this sounds familiar, an inspection will tell you where you stand. Call (732) 555-0142 to schedule one anywhere in Sayreville.