Carport felt roof leak

[The Gauge]

Looking for suggestions as to where the leak could be on my car port roof please.

Noticed a wet board on the underside of the roof the other day...





The wet patch lines up perfectly with a row of ridge tiles above (there's a short tiled pitch on the other side of side), in this photo i'm stood on the roof and you can see the ridge tiles at the far end..




The is the last area to dry out from rain as it remains in the shade longer, and has some moss built up..




I cleared the moss away and cleaned the area expecting to see some failed mortar, or a tear in the felt but it all looks ok. The mortar between the ridge tiles looks ok...




So assuming there could be a hairline crack where the motor joins the felt, I poured some bitumen along the joint.
Hoping the wet board dries out, but if I haven't cured the leak can anyone suggest where else it might be coming from please?

[Spare tyre]

I would start by putting some felt over the ridge tiles and waiting

I work in computers not roofing mind

[Flooble]

When I have had this sort of issue I've generally got away with slapping a load of Thompsons Roof Seal all over it.

I also am a desk jockey. And incompetent in all practical matters.

[Aluminati]

The mortar is far from ok. Especially on the left where it abuts the render. You also do not know where or how high the felt has been taken up. ..( Should of been a separate flashing)

[The Gauge]

Aluminati said:

The mortar is far from ok. Especially on the left where it abuts the render.

The render is the neighbours house wall with approx 6" gap between

[Rough101]

Is it running downhill to the back of the tiles?

[The Gauge]

Rough101 said:

Is it running downhill to the back of the tiles?

Well the general fall is away from the tiles, but water does remain by the tiles longer but it is at the shaded end of the roof .

Hasn't leaked in the previous 18yrs, though I don't know how old the felt is, It could do with re-roofing with EPDM perhaps.

[Huzzah]

I repaired a knackered shed roof (looked worse than yours) with some bitumen from a tin (I can't remember which brand)

It worked very well indeed, even filling in the odd tear.

Wear old clothes, gloves and chuck them away at the end. Very messy, sticky stuff indeed.


ETA, better done in warm weather.

Edited by Huzzah on Thursday 11th December 10:06

[Vtekkers]

Me personly i would pull up the ridge as its only a short run.

Clean what ever is underneath treat / seal and suspicious looking bits with bitumen paint and re-bed the ridge

Shouldn't take to long if you are competent at DIY (im not a roofer but did re board and felt my small flat roof a few years ago its not hard to do just a bit of patients doing stuff in the correct order)

[bangerhoarder]

Just as above - whip those ridge tiles off (maybe even just the two), check, re-bed, point.

[The Gauge]

Vtekkers said:

Me personly i would pull up the ridge as its only a short run.

Clean what ever is underneath treat / seal and suspicious looking bits with bitumen paint and re-bed the ridge

Shouldn't take to long if you are competent at DIY (im not a roofer but did re board and felt my small flat roof a few years ago its not hard to do just a bit of patients doing stuff in the correct order)

Yes, I DIY replaced my garage ridge tiles last year as the mortar had gone. I think one broke when removing but I have a few spare at the bottom of my garden, salvaged from a neighbours skip.