The homeowner called in because of missing shingles that were causing a leak.

The Problems We Found:

Upon inspection of the roof we discovered there were 2 shingles missing.  The wood underneath was exposed as there was no existing underlayment and thus water was getting into the attic.

We inspected the rest of the roof and found that there were several lifted cap shingles.   On the porch on the right side the flashing had been installed incorrectly along the top wall and was loose. The actual construction of the wall protrudes in and comes back out in three spots. The original roofer ran flashing straight across and had not sealed it  - it was floating across and could potentially cause problems (leaks).

The rest of the roof was in good condition and all the vents had been animal proofed with screens.

The Solution for the Roof:

We replaced the missing dual grey shingles and re-secured the lifted cap shingles.  We then tucked the loose flashing back under the moulding that was embedded in the brick.

Further Recommendations for the Homeowner:

A permanent solution would be to remove flashing and tie it in properly around the corners and seal custom bend along the top wall.

A quote will follow for this permanent repair.

We were called in because the roof was missing shingles and there was a leak in one of their bedrooms.

Solutions for the Roof:

During our inspection we discovered that there was a shingle missing on the front as well as others missing where the leak was, above the vent; wood was exposed.

The front 2 dormers had no venting and the homeowner indicated that this area had a lot of ice build up during the winter season.

Solutions for the Roof:

We installed 3 new shingles behind the vent and sealed them with chem caulking to prevent them from lifting.  We replaced 2 shingles in the front along the dormer.

Further Recommendations for the Owner:

For the dormer area, which lacked venting, the solution would be to install ridge venting.  This would not only be cosmetically pleasing, it would also allow proper ventilation.  With improved air flow in this area, the ice damming would be less be more infrequent.

A quote will follow to install ridge vent and to install heating cables in eaves troughs to help the melting process.

A leak was discovered in the living room.

The Problems We Found:

We went up onto the roof to investigate the source of the leak.  While up there we took a look at where was supposed to be an ice and water shield but discovered that only roofing paper had been installed along the starter shingles.

A gap was found in the brick that meets the siding on the outside wall just below the soffit.  It was approximately 1.5” in width and it exposed some wood and brick.  This gap was congruent with the wall that showed the water marks in the living room.

Solution For the Roof:

We sealed the gap with caulking to close it off, starting from the flashing on the fascia along 8 ft of siding.

Further Recommendations for the Homeowner:

We informed the homeowner that the area where an ice and water shield (waterproof membrane) should be, there is regular roofing paper.  A proper shield will need to be installed.

A quote will follow for this permanent repair.

There was cracking in the ceiling of the homeowner’s bedroom.  They had lived in the home for 5 years, and though there had been a previous repair this is the first time the new homeowners had noticed any issue.

The Problems We Found:

We went into the attic and found that there were 3 exhaust vents that were not connected to any hole.   1 vent was approximately 4 feet away from the nearest hole.  The 2^nd vent was brought to the wood and was exhausting into another attic vent.  The 3^rd vent is a plumbing PVC tube brought up to an exhaust vent and is not actually connected – the tube size does not allow for a proper connection.

One attic vent was not nailed down and the wood is wet around the vent.

Solutions for the Roof:

We reinstalled and sealed the vent that was not nailed down.

Further Recommendations for the Homeowner:

This temporary repair was done to allow the homeowner time to complete the permanent repair. There is no guarantee on how long a temporary solution will stop or slow the leak and it is suggested that a permanent repair be completed as soon as possible. A permanent repair will ensure the area is water tight and no longer leak which would lead to further interior damage.

We spoke with homeowner regarding what is required for a permanent repair to ensure this area is water tight and will not leak.

2 attic vents will need to be replaced with 2 proper exhaust vents and 1 further exhaust vent needs to be replaced. All of these vents will also need to have proper hoses connected in the attic.

The attic shows signs of moisture which is due to inadequate venting.  This poor ventilation allows for moisture build up an is likely the cause of the cracking ceiling in the bedroom.

A quote will follow for this permanent repair.

A leak was discovered when they noticed a spot in the pot light in the bathroom near the exhaust fan.

The Problems We Found:

We inspected the entire roof surface.  We removed one attic vent as well as shingles around the plumbing stack to see if these were the source of the leaks, but both areas were dry.  We reinstalled shingles and vent and sealed off the areas with roof cement.  There were no other visible signs of leakage from the roof.

We then inspected the attic where we discovered that the PVC pipe by the plumbing stack was installed incorrectly as there was no glue holding it in place.  When it rains, water travels into to the pipe, through the joint on the coupling and causes water to spill onto the insulation and vapour barrier and seeps through to the pot light.

The Solution for the Roof:

The PVC pipe in the attic is in need of permanent repair to ensure it is water tight and will not leak.

A quote for this repair will follow.

The homeowner noticed a leak in their tenant’s bedroom

The Problems We Found:

The leak was evident from the cracking around the ceiling lamp and the wall to the adjacent bedroom. There is no evidence of a leak in the second bedroom, however the water damage continues down to lowest point of the wall.  On the roof of the home, the flashing along the brick parameter wall is rusted and breaking away.

Solution:

To temporarily solve this issue, a sealing was applied to the cracked brick wall (approximately 15 feet) along with the top wall flashing using roof cement to stop or at least slow down the leak.  In addition, a self-sealing leak-stop solution was applied to the flat roof surface to help seal holes and cracks where water could be entering the home.

There is no guarantee on how long this temporary solution will stop or slow the leak,  therefore it was our recommendation that the homeowner arrange for permanent repairs to the flashing as well as the parapet wall, which not only has incorrect capping, but has been improperly installed.  Furthermore, the brick mortar needs to be redone and a masonry expert will need to be contacted.  We encouraged the homeowner to have these permanent repairs completed as soon as possible.

A quote will follow or a permanent repair for the flashing and parapet wall.

An assessment was wanted as there was a leak occurring when the snow was melting where valley comes down onto front dormer where it meets the wall.

The Problems We Found:

At the beginning of the shingle the flashing along the walls were installed incorrectly and not properly sealed. The top wall was not sealed against brick. This allows exposed area where brick meets the wall which can allow water to get in.

A pan was installed on top along wall to help water to flow into eaves trough however there were exposed nails where water could seep through. Caulking was broken and the seals were cracked and water can enter through brick itself.

Upon further inspection of the valley of dormer where it meets the wall, we discovered there were no starter shingles installed.  An ice and water shield was only installed at the top of the valley and then shingled on top.  This creates water flow under the shingles of the valley and soaking the wood underneath, which could allow water to get in as the snow melted.

There was an ice and water shield along shingled area of the valley, however there are exposed nails and some shingles are cracked. There was no step flashing installed in between shingles to close off wall ice.  If ice and water shield is cracked then water is also able to get in from there.

There was tar or caulking applied to close off the gap where the brick meets the wall and this was cracked and allowing water to get in. At the top, where the soffit meets the top of wall, was exposed wood where water could also be getting in.

Further to the valley damage, it was determined that two of the attic vents were installed where bathroom exhaust vents should have been used.  These will need to be replaced with proper exhaust vents as moisture loss around the shingles is visible and can lead to wood rot.  An attic vent will also need to be installed near the front dormer as there are signs of shingle stress due to moisture build up from the interior of the home.  The life expectancy of the remainder of the roof is approximately 3 to 4 more years before roof replacement should be considered.

A leak was discovered in the home coming in from both the wall and the ceiling.

The Problems We Found:

Upon inspection of the 2 year old Torch Down roof, we noticed there was no flashing around the chimney. The membrane went up the chimney and was sealed with caulking which had deteriorated and cracked and was the same on the adjoining neighbours sides.

A breather vent is required to allow circulation in the attic, which will allow the flat roof to breathe.  Fascia needs to be installed (approximately 12 feet) as there is wood exposed in this area and is the source of the leak inside the home.

The back lower porch is missing flashing on the wall and the roof.  There is signs of wood rot and is a leak source.

Solutions for the Roof:

As a temporary solution we sealed around the chimney with roof cement and sealed the areas that tie in with the adjoining neighbours. This repair was done to allow the homeowner time to complete a permanent repair. There is no guarantee on how long a temporary solution will stop or slow the leak and it is suggested that a permanent repair be completed as soon as possible. A permanent repair will ensure the area is water tight and will no longer leak which would lead to further interior damage.

A quote will follow for this permanent repair.

The homeowner called in because of a leak in the bathroom – the water was entering through one of the pot lights.   The roof had been installed in the last year and already the roofers had to come out 3 times to take a look and then reported that there was no problem.

The Problems We Found:

One of the attic vents was installed incorrectly over the hole and was wedged inside the hole itself.  We investigated further but attic was tight and we could only put our heads through the hole and use a flashlight.   We could see the exhaust vent and attic vent and there were visible signs of wetness down the truss.

We then went to inspect roof’s surface. We opened the vent and removed 4 shingles.  The plywood was wet around vent and therefore was a possibility that this was the leak source.

We then inspected the skylights and found that they too had been installed correctly. Step flashings had been installed but were too high on shingles allowing wind driven rain to get in.

The Solution for the Roof:

We sealed the exposed area with roof cement and then installed shingles using roof cement in between each layer, to ensure vent was properly sealed and water tight.

Further Recommendations for the Homeowner:

To ensure all the areas of penetration are watertight and will no longer leak, a permanent repair would be required.

A quote for a permanent repair for the skylights and to properly reinstall all attic vents, exhaust vents as well as plumbing stacks would be given to homeowner.