Roof Repair
How to Find a Leak in a Metal Roof
Metal roof leaking? Check the screws, seams, and flashing first. A step-by-step guide from Hot Springs roofers. Free inspection. Call 501-359-5550.
Where do metal roofs leak first?
Metal roofs leak at the screws first, not the panels. The rubber washer under each fastener dries out and cracks after 15 to 20 years of Arkansas sun. Water then follows the screw straight down. Seams, flashing, and valleys come next. Flat panel is almost never the problem.
Here is where to look, in order.
| Where to look | What you will see | How bad |
|---|---|---|
| Screws and washers | Cracked rubber, rust ring | Most common |
| Seams and laps | Gap, lifted edge | Common |
| Flashing at chimney or vent | Loose metal, old sealant | Common |
| Valleys | Packed debris, standing water | Common |
| Flat panel | Puncture or hole | Rare |
How do you find the leak from inside?
Start in the attic on a bright, dry day. Look for daylight coming through, dark wet wood, or rust streaks on the underside of the panels. Mark every wet spot you find. This is the safest way to hunt a leak, and it usually works.
Bring a flashlight even on a sunny day. Shadows hide a lot.
Water runs downhill before it drops. Follow the wet trail up the framing until it stops. The top of that trail is near your hole.
If the attic is dry, wait for the next rain and go back up. A leak that only shows in a hard, wind-driven rain is usually flashing, not a screw. That is useful to know before anyone gets on the roof.
Why does the stain sit in the wrong place?
Because water travels before it falls. It rides the panel, then the purlin, then the rafter. Your ceiling stain can end up ten feet from the actual leak. Never assume the hole is right above the mark you see.
This trips up a lot of homeowners. They patch the spot over the stain, and the leak keeps going.
Trace the path instead. It takes longer and it saves you a second trip.
Age helps you guess. A roof under ten years old rarely leaks at the screws, so look at flashing and seams first. A roof past 15 years often leaks at several screws at once, and that changes the fix from a patch to a fastener job.
What should you check after a storm?
Check the flashing and the valleys. Hot Springs storms bring high winds and hail, and both go after the edges of your roof. Wind lifts flashing. Hail dents panels. Debris packs the valleys and holds water where it should be running off.
Look at your gutters too. When water backs up, it can push in under the edge of the roof. Clogged gutters cause leaks that look like roof leaks.
Check the ridge and the eaves as well. Wind pushes rain uphill under the trim on those edges. A leak that only shows up in a storm, and never in a steady rain, usually starts there.
If a storm just came through, read about storm damage repair and hail damage repair.
What should you not do?
Do not climb up on a wet metal roof. It is slicker than it looks, and the fall is a far bigger problem than the leak. Do not squeeze caulk over everything either. Caulk cracks in our summer heat and hides the real cause.
Two more things to skip:
- Do not tighten every screw hard. Overtightening crushes the washer and makes a new leak.
- Do not ignore a small drip. Wet decking rots quietly for months.
When should you call a roofer?
Call when you cannot find it, when it is on a steep pitch, or when the drip keeps coming back. Those three point to flashing or seam work, and that is hand work. It is also the point where guessing starts costing more than a repair.
We inspect for free. We photograph what we find and show you the picture, so you can see your roof without standing on it.
Learn more about roof leak repair and metal roofing, or see the rest of our work in Hot Springs.
Who fixes it?
Our own crews. We are at 209 Albert Pike in Hot Springs, licensed in Arkansas under RR0540931024. We have been roofing Garland County for over 20 years with 20 trained people on staff.
We do not sell your job to a stranger.
Got a drip you cannot track down? Contact us or call 501-359-5550 for a free inspection. We answer seven days a week, 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
Frequently asked questions
Where do metal roofs leak most often?
Metal roofs leak at the fasteners first. The rubber washer under each screw dries out and cracks over 15 to 20 years, and water follows the screw down. After that, check the seams, the flashing around chimneys and vents, and the valleys. The flat panels almost never leak.
Can I find a metal roof leak myself?
You can often find it from inside the attic, and that is the safest place to look. Go up on a bright day and hunt for daylight, wet wood, or rust trails. Stay off the roof itself. Wet metal is slick, and a fall is worse than a leak.
Why is the water stain far from the actual leak?
Water travels along the metal panel and the framing before it drops. A stain on your ceiling can sit ten feet from the real hole. That is why you trace the wet path uphill instead of assuming the leak sits right above the stain you can see.
Should I use caulk on a leaking metal roof?
Caulk is a short-term patch, not a fix. It buys you a few months and then it cracks in the Arkansas heat. Worse, it hides the real problem from the next person who looks. Tighten or replace the failed part instead, and let a roofer confirm the cause.