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Roofing and Siding since 1985
Sat, May 16 2026, 9:57am [ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, [3] ]
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Date Posted: Tue, Sep 03 2002, 3:45pm
Author: Richard
Subject: Roof leak

Problem: I put an addition on my house about four years ago. On the north side there is a large dormer that has leaked every spring. I believe the leak comes from the snow and ice dams that build up on that side of the house. The leak is coming somewhere near the peak of the dormer which is only a few feet from the main roof cap.

Situation: The roof is steel; the pitch is 6/12 on both the house and dormer. If I remember we used a 4-foot wide valley pan, with 40# felt paper. Both the dormer and the roof are vented along the cap (vaulted ceilings on both). We get several feet of snow during most years and it does not melt from the north side all winter.

I have removed part of the roof to check the seal. I added Cobra venting on all caps. I have had a roofer who spent two-hours and two hundred dollars tightening screws and applying sealer. And it still leaks.

I am thinking about removing most of the roof (width of the dormer), remove the felt and replace it with ice and water barrier. I would then add 1 by 1 inch foam weather striping under all ends of the metal roof to prevent the ice dam from backing up (at the valley and along the ridge). Does this sound like over kill to stop less than 2 oz of water a year or is there a easier way? Is it possible for a metal roof to leak at the seam between two panels?


Richard

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Replies:

[> Re: Roof leak -- A Roofer, Wed, Sep 04 2002,11:39am

Could it be condensation? If its a standing seam roof, at the top of every panel under the ridge each panel should have been bent up. I sincerely doubt a standing seam roof is leaking on a seam unless it hasn't been properly fastened or snapped into place.
You could do all that you are considering doing but I would want to find a specific cause for the leak to have confidence in my solution.


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[> [> Re: Roof leak -- Richard, Mon, Sep 09 2002, 1:00pm


Thanks for your advice.

I checked it and it looked like the flashing at the top of the valleys was made of two small pieces of metal with sealed nails in the top. It was sealed with spray foam. It looked very nice, but I think it was the cause of the leak. There was even dust under the flashing.

I replaced it with a single piece of flashing, but had a very hard time forming it over the dormer roof, valleys, and the main roof. The gap between the valleys and the cap is wide, but I hope I can seal it. It looks plain ugly, but it might work. I will find out in the spring.

Is there a good heat tape that can be used to stop ice dams on a metal roof?

Thanks again.

PS. Wouldn?t you know with the roof off Saturday night, it rained for the first time in three months!


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