The leak in our bathroom ceiling

Ah, the thrill of homeownership.

Keep in mind the peeling paint in the bathroom ceiling that I discussed final week? The peeling paint that I felt sure was as a consequence of humidity from the bathe and lack of ample air flow? Nicely, I used to be improper. The paint is peeling as a result of we’ve got a leak within the roof.

It appears to be a small leak, nevertheless it’s a leak nonetheless.

Monday morning, I seen that there was a tea-colored water stain within the space the place the paint had peeled. “I do not like that,” I assumed, and I snapped a photograph.

I drove as much as the household field manufacturing unit, the place my brother and I spent a number of hours waiting for Mom to be discharged from the hospital. Whereas we waited, we sorted by her paperwork to make sure we had all the things so as. We up to date her personal-finance information. We chatted in regards to the future.

In the long run, Mother was not launched from the hospital on Monday, so I drove residence within the heavy rain. After I arrived, I checked the water spot within the toilet ceiling. Had it grown? It had.

So, I ventured into our attic for the primary time.

Crawling round at midnight, I managed to find three roof leaks. None of them had been excessive — there was no water pouring in wherever — however all had been most actually leaks.

Yesterday morning, I climbed on the roof to see if I may find the sources. I couldn’t. Though I helped set up a roof as soon as way back — again in 1993! — I am no roof professional. I poked and prodded on the shingles, however I could not discover any apparent injury. (The supply of a leak, in fact, is not all the time the place the leak manifests. The injury could possibly be upslope and working beneath the shingles earlier than it finds a spot to drip.)

As a result of our attic had no walkways (which means that with the intention to transfer round up there, I needed to transfer from joist to joist), I purchased ten low-cost boards at Residence Depot. I hauled them up the ladder and into the attic, then nailed them down with the intention to make it considerably simpler to maneuver by the cramped area. After that, I moved in to get a more in-depth view of the leaks.

In the end, I made a decision there are two (probably three) issues:

• There’s a very small leak — a seep? — coming from the chimney. That is doubtless as a consequence of issues with the flashing, which the house inspector had referred to as out in August. This seep wets a rafter, however I can not discover any indicators that it ever drips. The insulation and joist beneath weren’t moist, and I can not discover something inside the home that may present earlier issues.
• The bigger leak, the one which spurred all of this, is close to a photo voltaic tube. The wettest space is close to the downslope a part of the photo voltaic tube, which is sensible, however the upslope a part of the roof is moist too. To me, this means that the leak could possibly be above the photo voltaic tube — or that the whole space across the cut-out is problematic.
• The third downside spot is about twelve inches downslope from the photo voltaic tube. This is perhaps a 3rd leak, nevertheless it may additionally be residual run-off from the larger leak upslope. I do not know.

After three hours mucking round with the roof, I got here inside to do analysis on the interwebs. Is that this one thing I can repair myself?

I made a decision that whereas repairing leaks is theoretically non-difficult, it isn’t one thing that I am certified to deal with in the midst of Oregon winter. If this had been summer season and I had time to fiddle with the shingles, advantageous. I would attempt it. However it’s not summer season. It is a very moist winter (as all the time), and I am afraid that if I started to tinker, I would make issues worse.

I referred to as the specialists.

The person who answered the cellphone on the roofing firm requested me some questions in regards to the concern. “This does not sound too unhealthy,” he stated. “We’ll ship anyone out tomorrow or Thursday. If this is so simple as it sounds, he ought to be capable to repair it in an hour or two.” I certain hope so! There is a $250 cost only for popping out (which incorporates the primary hour of labor), then it is $130 for every further hour. Plus supplies, in fact.

Whereas I do know that issues like this occur with homes — particularly older properties like ours — I can not assist however be a bit of distraught. We simply offered a house that wanted fixed repairs (though by no means on the roof, humorous sufficient), so I’ve a little bit of PTSD. These roof leaks are most likely a minor one-time blip. I get that. However the cynical aspect of me worries that that is an unwell omen.

Once we purchased this home, Kim and I talked about future adjustments we might wish to make. There’s not a ton to do, however there are just a few bigger upgrades we might wish to deal with.

We hate the carpeting within the bedrooms, as an illustration. It is an off-white that stains simply and exhibits each little bit of grime and particles. Yikes. I needed to exchange the carpeting earlier than we bodily moved in. Kim satisfied me to not. On reflection, we should always have finished it.

The largest challenge we might wish to deal with is reworking one (or two) of the bogs. We now have three bogs however no tubtubs. As a result of Kim and I each wish to soak, it is a nuisance. Now that we’ll need to repaint the ceiling within the corridor toilet, I’ve begun toying with the concept of taking the chance to really transform that room this summer season — and to do it myself. It might be a problem, little doubt, however I believe it is perhaps enjoyable.

We’ll see…