Yeah, flashing around vents and skylights is definitely a common culprit. I've seen homeowners chase leaks for weeks, only to find out it was something as simple as worn-out caulking or a tiny gap in the flashing. Another sneaky spot people overlook is the chimney area—especially if it's brick. Mortar joints can deteriorate over time, letting water seep in and travel along beams before showing up somewhere totally unrelated.
Had a client once who swore his leak was coming from the roof valley, but after some digging around, we found it was actually the chimney flashing causing all the trouble. He'd already spent money patching the wrong spot twice. Roof checkups really do pay off in the long run, especially if you catch these issues early.
Have you guys noticed certain roofing materials or styles being more prone to these sneaky leaks than others?
"Another sneaky spot people overlook is the chimney area—especially if it's brick."
Haha, chimneys are sneaky little devils for sure. Another one I've noticed is flat roofs—especially those with rolled roofing or older tar-and-gravel setups. Step one: spot a tiny crack. Step two: patch it confidently. Step three: realize the leak moved three feet away... repeat until you lose your sanity. Flat roofs just love playing hide-and-seek with leaks, trust me, I've chased enough of them around to know.
Haha, flat roofs are definitely masters of deception. Another sneaky spot I've run into is around vent pipes and skylights—those rubber seals dry out quietly over time, and before you know it, you've got a mystery drip in the attic. Best bet: check them every couple years, replace if they're cracked or brittle. It's cheap insurance compared to chasing phantom leaks all weekend... learned that one the hard way.
"Another sneaky spot I've run into is around vent pipes and skylights—those rubber seals dry out quietly over time..."
Yep, those rubber seals are sneaky. I'd add chimney flashing to the list too—seen plenty of leaks start there, especially if the caulking job was rushed or sloppy. Not totally convinced flat roofs are always the villain though... seen some pitched roofs hide their share of surprises. Regular checks definitely help, but sometimes leaks just seem determined to keep us guessing...
Flat roofs do get a bad rap, but honestly I've seen just as many issues on steep pitches. Had one client swear up and down their steep roof was bulletproof—until we found a pinhole leak behind some decorative shingles. Water found its way in and quietly rotted out an attic beam over months. Sometimes it's not even about the slope or obvious spots, just the sneaky ways water finds to travel...
