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Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:28 pm
by daves_not_here
Hello folks :)
I know this subject has been discussed before but the threads are now closed so here we go again! I live where it gets snow and ice buildup on roof of my 1978 Governor mobile home. I started getting a "roof" leak about 3 years ago. I have coated my roof, and I even dug open my ceiling. I traced moisture from where water was leaking (about 2 feet from the outside wall and it appeard the moisture was coming from the outer wall/roof seam.
Having patched everything I can think of I thought it was fixed. Now mind you, I could be in the middle of a virtual monsoon - raining buckets & strong winds - and not a drop! However, get some snow/ice buildup on the roof, then have a nice warm day where it starts to melt what is on the roof, and sure enough... drip drip drip!
I had suspected condensation all along, but I had a hard time believing that I could get close to a gallon of water in my bucket before it quit dripping. But having read some previous thrads on this forum, I am beginning to believe! And now that I look closely I think this all could have been created by installing one of those swag hooks that has the toggle bolt end on it - this could have been the original puncture to the moisture barrier.
I have also covered the ceiling back up for awhile but I doubt that I get the moisture barrier totally sealed because, after over a year of no "leaks" we got some snow last week and when it melted off yesterday morning, guess what? Drip drip drip... so I guess the answer is to tear it apart again and seal the living heck out of it. There is really no roof ventilation built in that I can see, so... any other ideas, helpful hints, or other comments?
Thank You! :roll: :roll:

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 11:36 am
by Greg S
Your problem definitely does not sound like condensation issues. Too much water.

The tip off is the fact that it starts only when ice and snow buildup begins to melt.
You definitely have a roof leak. When the ice and snow starts to melt a ice dam is created and the water is backing up under something resulting in the leak.
If it is always in the same location(s) you need to find the indirect route to the leak.

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Thu Nov 26, 2009 7:55 pm
by daves_not_here
That is interesting. Like I said, I traced it to a seam on the outer wall. It corresponded to the joint where the outside corner molding (there is no gutter) pieces joined, along with one of the roof seams. But since that time I have gone out and put new roofing screws in to tighten it all up, put roof patch on it. I even painted all the seams on the roof this summer with that white plastic coating. Guess what? No leaks in the rain but the first snow this winter, followed by warmer rain and the leak showed up again. What else can I do? I can't see where or how it could be building up a dam unless it is actually just building up on the inside of the roof material due to condensation from moisture inside the home. And what I don't understand is, what the roof leak has to do with the condensation problem? How are these two problems feeding off each other? I am confused... :(

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 10:18 am
by Greg S
On the day it started to leak again, after the snow fall, did you have any condensation on the windows of your home.
If not then the moisture level in your home is unlikely to be high enough to cause enough moisture in the attic to result in a water problem.
The moisture level in your home would have to be extremely high to have a single opening in the ceiling cause a condensation problem that would be a constant drip.
Still sounds like a leak in the roof to me.

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:45 pm
by Greg
I would tend to lean towards the leak idea. It seems strange that a condensation problem would only appear in one spot.

Go topside and take a very close look treat ANYTHING that even looks suspicious as a leak and seal it.

I had the same problem by my skylight, only snow would cause a drip. I ended up scraping down to the metal and found a hairline crack. Greg

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 1:59 pm
by daves_not_here
The reason I think it could be in this one area is I know the vapor barrier has been punctured there, and it still is not sealed. And YES I do get lots of condensation on my windows, even ice when it gets real cold - they are original single-pane with separate "storm" windows which I'm sure are not airtight. And I have already been on the roof sealing it all - and sealed all seams on the roof this summer!
Like I said it ONLY leaks when it has been cold enough for a good layer of snow/ice to build up on the roof, followed by a warmer rain that melts the snow off. As soon as that scenario happens, drip, drip, drip - and only does it long enough to "leak" whatever is there, THEN it stops - regardless of what the weather is doing outside. Except if it gets cold enough to freeze again. This last episode yielded at the MOST a quart of water. And if there is no ice on the roof it could rain 10 inches in 10 minutes and it won't leak. Sealing the moisture barrier is one thing that has not been done, only because it means tearing down that portion of the ceiling once again. A contractor once told me that what needed to be done is to remove the exterior corner molding/flashing (hot sure which is the appropriate term for this - it is metal), strip all the old caulking off, then install all new molding/flashing. I was actually going to hire him to do this a couple years ago, but he never had time to do it, and now he has moved away... this is driving me craaaaazy!!!

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2009 9:29 am
by Greg S
The reason your roof does not leak, or likely not enough to be visible, when it rains is because the rain water is free to run off of the roof.
Your leak is caused by a very small breach in the roof that is not visible to the eye under normal inspection.
With snow conditions the water forms under the snow and is trapped there allowing it time to work it's way through the tiny hole creating the leak in your attic.
If after it starts to melt it were to then freeze again, say at night, the leak would stop until the temperature was such that the snow started to melt again.

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2009 6:08 pm
by Yanita
This does not help your roof leak but we advise all MH owners to diligently run the exhaust fans in the winter. Do this especailly when cooking or showering, leave the exhaust fans running for up to an hour after finishing each.

Greg S is on the money with this one in my opinion.

Yanita

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 11:45 am
by daves_not_here
This all sounds great, and I agree it is weird that it is just in one area, but it has been well patched, or at least I sure thought so. And the bit about exhaust fans is interesting, except for one thing... WHAT exhaust fan(s)? This home doesn't have any! And isn't that a heck of a good way to run up your heat bill? Oops I take that back... except for over the stove - it is pathetic at best and could use replacing - and I don't have one in the bathroom so yeah, that could definitely be a source of moisture. I guess I should look into installing a bathroom fan... darn, I was afraid this wasn't going to be an easy fix...

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:16 am
by flcruising
I believe Greg is right. This symptoms you describe are exactly what happens in a ice dam situation. The only solution I know of is to completely weather seal underneath your shingles with an 'Ice & Water Shield' peel and stick waterproofing.

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 9:03 pm
by meepscat
I have the same prob. IT IS condensation. There doesnt seem to be many folks that have delt with this much. I have been trying to get answers for over a year. The best I can tell you is to get a fan in the bathroom and make sure the fan in the kitchen blows outside and not through a filter. You need to make sure all the walls and ceiling have a good vapor barrior. getting the water vapors outside is a start.
I live in northern Minnesota and only have the problem with leaks in the winter after a good freeze and then a warm up, thats when the leaking starts. I removed the ceiling last winter and there was a LOT of water droplets frozen to the inside/underneath side of my steel roof.
There seems to be no one that knows a fix to this. Vents and vapor barriers do not solve the prob totally. My leak started today and there is NO snow/ice on my roof.
Good luck with a good fix, I sure hope someone can figure this out

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 5:09 am
by blackchristiandate
Great Forum!! I'm Cesar and I'm new here, just browsing for some good stuff and informative posts..

Re: Condensation in ceiling/roof area - Again!

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:10 am
by Rod
I would get a hygrometer so you know what the humidity level in the house is. Take a reading in the room where the leak is. Anything above 40% and I would be suspect of condensation. Under 40% and I would say you need to look at the roof again.

Hygrometers can be purchased at most hardware stores, Walmarts etc.

Good Luck

Rod