Roof Leak & Ice Dam Help in Newton, NJ

Water seldom comes in right above the stain. It can run along rafters and decking before it shows on a ceiling, so a roofer usually starts in the attic and around flashing, valleys, vents and skylights. In northwest New Jersey, a winter leak near an outside wall is often an ice dam: snow melts over a warm attic, refreezes at the eaves and backs water up under the shingles.

Do not chip ice or climb up with a shovel. From the ground, a roof rake can pull snow off the lower edge of a single-story roof. Inside, catch drips, move belongings and switch off any circuit with water near a fixture.

Ask the roofer about the cause as well as the leak: attic insulation, ventilation and ice and water barrier along the eaves are what keep ice dams from coming back.