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Apologies if dupe...

water-stained ceiling tiles above kitchen cabinet

Once or twice a year, in driving rain conditions, I get a ceiling drip on the northeast side of the house. Photo attached showing the damage. (Yes, kitchen. Yes, that is a stock of what used to be called Grade C maple syrup. Yes, the black thing is an electric bug trap -- low voltage, luckily, and hasn't yet been dripped on directly.)

It's a fairly slow drip when it happens, and I've been procrastinating for a decade on trying to fix it or get it fixed. "My cabin never leaks when it doesn't rain...", as the song has it. There is probably some water coming in without actual dripping, though, given the stain's slow growth and the warping of ceiling tiles.

This is happening at or near the junction between the original 2-storey house and the 1-storey extension. It's possible that some of the water is sneaking around the end of the lower roof. I haven't gone out in one of those storms to find out...

Any tips on how to find where the water is getting in, or things to try "on spec" to dissuade it from doing so?

keshlam
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    water garden hose, on the roof, spraying in spot by spot area, observing where it goes and does it drip – Ruskes Feb 28 '23 at 05:28
  • Maybe. I am guessing the problem is actually the eaves rather than the roof, since I re-roofed rather recently. ,(Say that give times fast...) – keshlam Feb 28 '23 at 06:09
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    So you re-roofed and did not investigate then? Any issue should have been spotted. – Solar Mike Feb 28 '23 at 09:52
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    If you want to force yourself to fix it, pull down the offending ceiling (you’ll have to anyway, right?) and watch for water. – Aloysius Defenestrate Feb 28 '23 at 12:49
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    Also note that if your roof is sloping, the location where the water is penetrating the roofing layers may be further up than the location where the ceiling is staining. – Huesmann Feb 28 '23 at 14:04
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    Bummer, but you have to take the ceiling tiles down and put your head up there, while someone is spraying with a hose mimicking the driven rain. If you know what direction the rain is driven in it will give you a better idea what to look for. During Hurricane Ian some of the condo units here had leaks that they never had before or since. Most were driven rain into the attic vents high up on the gable ends of buildings. – RMDman Feb 28 '23 at 14:10
  • ... I think that's an answer, @RMDman... Not the one I was hoping for, but an answer. I think this is one I contract out to people with more experience, partly so I have someone to grumble at should it recur and partly because as line as we're dealing with this I might as well have them inspect for other issues and discuss some other projects. Though having waited this long, I may wait a bit longer; still getting used to thinking about retirement finances. – keshlam Feb 28 '23 at 14:40
  • Yeah, forgot to ask while re-roofing. Overly optimistic that it was old damage, I guess. That one is on me. – keshlam Feb 28 '23 at 14:43
  • It would be worth looking outside to see if anything is evident that would be open to wind driven rain. That alone could be the issue – RMDman Feb 28 '23 at 15:23
  • Another look certainly wouldn't hurt. Thanks for the poke. – keshlam Feb 28 '23 at 17:09

1 Answers1

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Given it's

happening at or near the junction between the original 2-storey house and the 1-storey extension.

And susvived past re-roofing, I'll suspect the flashing between the wall and the lower roof, which was probably left alone in the re-roof, since you didn't mention the issue to the roofers.

Could also be flashing around any windows that may be on that wall.

Ecnerwal
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  • Certainly possible; I don't remember observing that part of the job, though they flashed the vent pipe and the bay window nicely. – keshlam Feb 28 '23 at 18:30