Homeowner Forum / Construction / November 2003

first thing to do is go into the attic and look for light
also look for the path of the water.

this is black asfault paper they used not the  red construction paper ???
it should be anyway.

did they run a strip of it up the valley of places where 2 roof angles meet?

do you have a ridge vent that is cut on the very top of your roof peak?
if they didnt shingle the ridge vent yet I would bet thats your problem.

look for light  look for water path

bob marencin
www.yourepair.com

Were building a new house had a large amount of water get through.

Agree.  I can tell you that with a proper felt job basically no rain
should get in.  Our house was very dry except a few drips when heavy
rain came on our felt.

---
Fighting cancer for Team TIVO: Put your computer to work - join and help the fight.
http://www.grid.org/services/teams/team.htm?id=935D6C4D-7331-4693-8342-DC755FDBB7AA

None of the flashing is done yet. I've attached a few more pictures. I can
see where we would be getting some water in at areas where the lower roof
meets walls as in 1 of these pictures.(These areas are under soffit) But
water was coming in, in the middle of the roof. We will be getting roof
vents, but the felt is covering that area for now. The felt used was 15#
atlas asphalt saturated organic felt.

http://users.adelphia.net/~lbaker12/images/roof5.jpg
http://users.adelphia.net/~lbaker12/images/roof6.jpg

Properly installed, a single layer of 15-lb felt should shed
water in a normal rainfall.  However, it is not a permanent
roofing by any stretch.  How long was that felt in place
before the rain?  If more than a few days, damage can occur.
If more than a few weeks, that's just too long to expect
continued performance.

Regardless, it should NOT leak.  If the felt had been down
too long, the contractor should have repaired or covered it.
If not, it was not properly and/or completely placed
originally.

The good news is, you can either correct it or make sure the
building flashings, ice shields, etc., are properly placed
and complete before the actual roofing shingles are placed
(also properly).  Also, check the roof sheathing for
unevenness at the joints, unlaminations or curling at the
edges, etc., or other signs of structural diminishment of
the sheathing.  Some renailing may be required, but even
then a properly nailed sheathing job should be OK even after
all that leaking.  With a sound base, there is unlikely any
damage, and the wet will dry.

(The general contractor or framing contractor usually lays
the felt.  The roofing contractor usually does any cleanup
and minor repairs prior to final roofing.  If it is major,
expect the roofing contractor to charge you extra.  You can
backcharge a like amount to the general.  I wouldn't send
the framing folks back up for any other than very minor
repairs or replacements.)

Jim