New Orleans averages over 60 inches of rain per year. That’s more than Seattle, more than Houston, and enough to find every weak spot on your roof at least once a season. If you’ve spotted a water stain on your ceiling or noticed a musty smell in the attic, you’ve got a leak — the question is where it’s actually coming from. Big Easy Roofing tracks down roof leaks across Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish on sloped shingle roofs, flat roofs on commercial buildings, and everything in between. Here’s how to start finding yours.
Most homeowners don’t notice a leak until it shows up inside the house. Here’s what to look for:
Water stains on ceilings or walls. Brown or yellowish rings on drywall usually mean water is pooling above and soaking through. In older homes across the Garden District and Uptown, these stains can show up far from the actual leak point because water travels along rafters and joists before dripping down.
Musty or moldy smell in the attic. In New Orleans humidity — regularly above 75% — a leak that’s been dripping for even a few days will produce a noticeable smell. If your attic smells damp and there’s no obvious ventilation problem, water is getting in somewhere.
Daylight through the roof boards. Go into your attic during the day and turn off the lights. If you can see pinpoints of light through the roof deck, those are entry points for rain.
Peeling paint or bubbling drywall. Moisture behind walls causes paint to blister and drywall to soften. Check walls that share a surface with the roofline — especially dormers and gable ends common in Mid-City and Gentilly homes.
Wet insulation. If your attic insulation is damp or compressed in one area, that’s where the water is landing. Mark the spot and check the roof directly above it.
By Big Easy Roofing 
Mar 23, 2023