Yeah, flashing issues are way more common than people realize. I've inspected plenty of roofs where homeowners swore it was ventilation or shingles, but nine times out of ten, sneaky little leaks around chimneys or skylights were the culprits. Honestly, before you start ripping out vents or replacing shingles, grab a flashlight and peek into the attic after a good rain—might save you some headaches (and cash) down the road. Roofs love keeping us guessing...
Couldn't agree more about flashing—it's often overlooked because people tend to focus on shingles or vents first. Another sneaky spot I've encountered a lot is valleys, especially if they're older or weren't installed properly. Water loves to follow gravity, and valleys can channel it right into tiny gaps you'd never notice from the outside. Definitely worth checking those areas closely too... catching it early saves a ton of hassle later.
Good point about valleys—seen plenty of leaks start there, especially when installers skimped on underlayment or didn't overlap shingles properly. Another tricky one I've noticed is around chimneys. Even if flashing looks decent from the ground, mortar joints can deteriorate and let water sneak in behind. Ever had issues with chimney leaks, or mostly valleys and flashing? Curious if others have run into chimney problems too...
"Even if flashing looks decent from the ground, mortar joints can deteriorate and let water sneak in behind."
Had exactly this happen last spring. Flashing looked fine at first glance, but after a closer inspection, found crumbling mortar joints letting moisture seep through. Lesson learned: always double-check chimneys up close... appearances deceive.
Yep, seen this plenty of times—flashing looks solid, but the mortar's toast. Did you end up repointing the joints or going for a full rebuild? Sometimes patching works short-term, but it's usually just kicking the can down the road...
