just read about roof issues popping up after winter - are you checking yours?

I get the urge to seal everything up tight, especially with how drafty some older places can be. But honestly, I’ve seen folks go a little overboard and end up with more issues than they started with - like you said, musty smells in weird spots. I’m not totally sold on the idea that just walking the perimeter is enough, though. Had a townhouse where the only sign of a roof leak was a tiny water stain in a closet - never would’ve spotted it from outside. Sometimes I wonder if we’re missing stuff by not poking around inside more often, even if it’s just a quick look in the attic after big storms.

Sometimes I wonder if we’re missing stuff by not poking around inside more often, even if it’s just a quick look in the attic after big storms.

That’s honestly the thing I see most people overlook. Walking the outside's fine for spotting missing shingles or obvious damage, but those little leaks almost always show up inside first - usually in spots nobody checks unless they’re moving storage boxes or something. I’ve lost count of how many times someone calls me out for “a small stain” and it turns out there’s been a slow drip for months, sometimes even longer.

Had one job last winter where the homeowner kept sealing up every crack and gap to keep drafts down, but never checked their attic. By spring, they had mold blooming along the rafters and insulation - turns out a few shingles had shifted, water was making its way in, and the lack of airflow just made it worse. They were actually trapping moisture inside without realizing it.

I get why folks want to seal things up tight, especially with heating bills what they are, but sometimes a little draft is better than trapping damp air. Are you running bathroom fans or attic vents at all? That makes a bigger difference than people think.

I always recommend popping your head into the attic after heavy snow or rain. Even just five minutes - look for wet spots on the wood, rusty nails, anything that smells off. The outside walk is good for catching big stuff (especially after wind), but like you said, those closet stains or weird musty corners are usually the first signs inside.

Curious if others have found leaks only from inside checks? Or am I just seeing all the weird cases because that’s when folks finally call for help...

I’ll admit, I used to just walk the yard and call it good - never thought to check the attic unless something was dripping. Then last spring, I found a weird musty smell in the guest room closet. Turns out there was a slow leak right above, but nothing showed outside. Now I do a quick flashlight sweep up there after any big storm. It’s not fun, but it beats dealing with soggy insulation and mold later.

- Good call on checking the attic after storms.
- I’d add: look for any daylight peeking through, not just water stains.
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“Turns out there was a slow leak right above, but nothing showed outside.”

- Good points all around. I see a lot of folks skip the attic check, thinking if the ceiling looks fine, they're in the clear. That's a gamble - I've seen water travel along rafters and show up in the weirdest spots, sometimes a room or two away from where it actually gets in.

- Daylight peeking through is a big red flag, but I’d add: don’t trust just your eyes. Sometimes you can smell mustiness before you spot anything. If it smells damp up there after a storm, something’s probably off.

- Popped nails are sneaky. They might not seem like much, but they’re often the first sign your decking’s shifting or your shingles aren’t holding tight anymore. I’ve crawled through more than one attic where everything looked fine until I pressed on a board and it flexed way too much.

- Sagging decking’s another one people miss. If you catch it early, you might get away with just replacing a section instead of the whole roof. Wait too long and you’re looking at major repairs - plus possible mold issues.

- Not gonna sugarcoat it: crawling around an attic isn’t fun, especially if you’ve got blown-in insulation or low clearance. But every time I find something early for someone, they’re relieved they didn’t wait for water to come pouring through the drywall.

- One thing I’ll push back on - sometimes those “slow leaks” don’t show up for months, especially with ice dams or wind-driven rain. Just because you checked once after winter doesn’t mean you’re set for the year. I always tell people: check after every big storm, not just at season changes.

- For what it’s worth, I’ve seen more problems with older asphalt shingles than metal or tile roofs - but even metal can leak if fasteners back out or flashing fails.

- Bottom line: catching stuff early is always cheaper and less stressful than waiting for disaster mode. You’re right to be thorough - even if it’s a pain in the neck (and knees).