roof leak

[alexpops]

The problem with roof leaks is that while you may see water evidence from below at say a seam between plywood panels, the leak could actually be higher up on the roof & traveling over/under the underlayment until it finds a break to the seam. I wish you lots of luck, but if the roof was fine before the gutters/leafguards/lean-to were installed, I'd concentrate on those aspects first. You need to understand what they did to the existing roof to attach the new elements, then working backwards, you can narrow down the most likely culprits. There are guys with extensive building experience on here. Some pics and maybe a description of the order things got done would probably save you a lot of time and access hole cutting.

 

[yanmars]

I have a flip phone. Does not really take very good photos and I really have trouble posting the same.
I work on the project doing various things nearly every day. Now that I have visual access to the inside of the lean to roof the next heavy rain I will see if I can see the source.
As far as sequence of events. The 38 lean to was open for 25 years. I first added the 6 inch continuous spouting with 4 inch downspouts to 4 inch PVC drain tile about 4 years ago. The 3 years ago the leaf guard. Then 2 years ago the snow guard on the standing seam metal roof. Then last year the the concrete floor was poured in the lean to. The 4 4x4 treated posts supporting the lean to were removed after perimeter blocks were laid on the concrete and then a 2x8 wall, 16 inch on center was placed and the 4x4 posts removed. The wall was sheeted with 3/4 inch plywood as I had plenty. All seam taped with water guard type tape on the inside and outside. Tyvec was placed on the sheeting before quality vinyl siding was added.
As I just recalled now before the siding was added I recall moisture getting under the Tyvac. I just then thought it must be condensation getting under there. It would dry up pretty quickly. In hindsight the leak was already occurring then I now believe.
That is the background. Will try to get some photos. I had earlier cleaned the staining off the soffit, spouts and siding when I removed the leaf guard to see if that caused the issue. The photos now will not show how bad it once was.
I will keep updates as I find out more, do more. Thanks for reading.

 

[chim]

Leaks are usually due to a simple error. Finding them isn't always easy. The wood trim above the end column on our front porch has water damage. After looking at it for a little while the source was obvious. The "J" channel at the bottom of the gable end drips water on the trim. The to-do list now includes replacing the damaged trim and re-doing the bottom of the siding.

 

[yanmars]

I do not have water there yet. Will have to wait for rain or pour water down with buckets.
My wife pulled up some photos of the "build" that will show the construction. Have not done a photo of the soffit stains. May help but mostly shows the water dripping out of the soffit, it is a continuous vent soffit. Leaks more away from the siding than close to it. The overhang is about 1 foot.
Another issue will be posting the photos. I do not know how, hopefully my wife will be able to do it. I can get some shots of the stains perhaps on Monday.
Thanks for all the interest. I need to get it corrected before continuing the project. There is a good roofing company relatively close. Will turn it over to them soon if I cannot determine the leak cause.

 

[yanmars]

I have some photos now. Hope to be able to send them late on Monday.

 

[yanmars]

Photos of the roof leak area, need help in finding the source. Unsure how to load my photos, hope this works.

 

[yanmars]

What I have tried to show is how the wall was done. The later photos show the staining under the soffit and some on the siding. The dark stain on the gravel shows how heavy the dripping off the soffit was.
The staining was much worse but I cleaned it off after a heavy rain. The lighter stain is from a light rain.
I cleaned it again today after I took off all the leaf guard. Seeing if that helps at all.
I can answer questions to help clarify anything, thanks for looking.

 

[chim]

It's tough not being able to walk around and look. The first couple of things that come to mind are the dormer and the tie-in to the existing structure. Can't tell from the pics if the dormer was part of the addition. A small mistake on a piece of flashing can be a big deal.

The color of the stains could lead me to think that the water is traveling between the layers of whatever the roof is made of.

I think you said there's nothing dripping inside. It would be strange, but did the roofer install ice & water & ice shield incorrectly?

 

[yanmars]

The dormer was there since the building was built in 1998. Everything was reroofed in 2016. All the old roof was torn off. No leaks then but it was only a 20 year roof.
The gambrel roof got a 40 year shingle roof. The shallow pitch lean to had 1/2 inch plywood placed over the 7/16 original decking as the 50 year metal standing seam required extra thickness.
Over that there was heavy snow guard type stick type underlayment. I think tar paper on top of that before the metal roof was installed.
At this point I have been unable to see any water marks on the underside/interior of the lean to roof. It seems that all the dripping/leakage is at the 1 foot soffit overhang. Will try to get a camera in there to see more detail.
As I have now cleaned off the staining and leaf guard removed and 1.5 inches of rain is forecast in the next several days I will see what happens.
As a side note. When the lean to was enclosed I made it tight, perhaps too tight. All plywood seams were taped inside and out. The Tyvec taped. The fan fold taped. Some areas caulked or spray foamed. Overall it may have blocked the soffit from letting air get to the gambrel roof and vents at the roof. I know when I cut out the access holes it let a lot of hot air come out from the lean to "attic". Don't know if that before that a "vacuum " could have drawn water somehow up slightly and into the soffit itself.
In my youth I worked for a roofing company. Did some slate, copper, standing seam work and repairs. This one has me and my contractor brother baffled.

 

[EddieWalker]

To me, it sure looks like an edge flashing issue. Did they remove your edge flashing when they installed the gutters?