A CT Homeowners Guide To Spotting Roof Leaks

 

When Connecticut weather turns wild, a small roof issue can quickly become a big, wet headache. Brown Roofing has protected homes across Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven counties for more than 50 years, and we've learned this: leaks rarely "just happen." They leave clues. Catch them early, and you'll save money and stress. "A ceiling stain is the symptom-not the source. Leaks usually start where water can pause: flashing laps, nail heads, or clogged valleys,"
- Eddie Griffin, Owner, Brown Roofing

 

 Spotting Early Warning Signs Inside Your Home

* Ceiling or wall stains: Yellow-brown rings usually trace back to a roof penetration or valley.

* Peeling paint or bubbling plaster: Moisture trapped behind finishes.

* Musty odors or visible mold: Persistent dampness in upper rooms or closets.

 

In the Attic

* Daylight or dark streaks through the deck, water-stained sheathing, or matted insulation point to active or recent leaks.

* Rusty nails (“nail pops”) can drip in freeze/thaw cycles.

 

On the Roof

* Missing, cracked, or curled shingles reduce water-shedding.

* Loose, rusted, or gapped flashing at chimneys, skylights, and walls is a top leak source.

* Clogged gutters back water under the eave edge. * Debris in valleys causes ponding.

“If you’re seeing a lot of granules in the gutters, that’s your roof aging in fast-forward. It’s time to look closer,”
— Eddie Griffin

 

Preventing Roof Leaks: What You Can Do

1. Seasonal checkups - Walk the exterior each spring and fall; schedule a professional roof/attic inspection every 2–3 years (or after major storms).

2. Keep water moving - Clean gutters and downspouts; consider guards to reduce clogs.

3. Mind the penetrations - Reseal worn pipe boots and skylight seals before they fail.

4. Trim overhanging limbs - Reduce debris, shade-driven moss, and shingle damage.

5. Ventilate the attic - Proper intake and exhaust cut moisture and heat that shorten roof life.

6. Ice-dam defense - In CT winters, heat loss plus snow = ice dams. Improve insulation/air sealing and use ice & water shield at eaves and valleys.

According to Eddie, “In Connecticut, ice dams are leak-makers. We fight them two ways: better attic air sealing and a premium ice & water barrier at the edges”.

 

How Brown Roofing Leak-Proofs Your Home

When repairs or replacements are needed, our installation standards go beyond the basics to help stop leaks before they start:

* Ice & Water Shield where it counts - Along eaves, valleys, and penetrations—wrapped cleanly to protect vulnerable edges.

* Seam-sealed decking - We apply seam tape over plywood joints to reduce wind-driven rain infiltration.

* High-performance underlayments - Synthetic underlayment for stable, wrinkle-free protection.

* Oversized metal edges - F-8 drip edge at eaves and rake metal on gables to lock down underlayment and shed water.

* Stronger fastening - We use ring-shank nails and back-nail decking where required to resist uplift and prevent fastener leaks.

* Precision at flashings - Step, counter, and chimney flashings are custom-fit and properly integrated—no shortcuts with caulk-as-a-fix.

“Our inspections focus on the cause, not just the stain. Anyone can patch a wet spot. We correct the pathway water used to get there,”
— Eddie Griffin.

 

When to Call a Pro—Immediately

* Ceiling stain or active drip

* Missing shingles after wind

* Recurrent ice dams

* Interior mold/mildew in upper levels

* After any hail or “once-in-a-decade” rain event

“If you’re asking yourself, ‘Is that a leak?’—call. A quick assessment today can save a ceiling tomorrow,”
— Eddie Griffin

 

Free Leak Check & Honest Options

Brown Roofing offers thorough inspections, clear photos, and straight talk—repair when a repair will do, replace only when it’s time. If you’d like, we’ll also review attic ventilation and insulation to address root causes.