How to Spot Early Signs of a Roof Leak in Your Frankston Home

Roof leaks rarely happen overnight. They start small - almost invisible - and then grow into expensive headaches. In Frankston’s coastal climate, with salty air, strong winds, and sudden downpours, those small problems can turn into major repairs faster than you think.

Catching a leak early can save you thousands, protect your home’s structure, and stop mould before it spreads. Here’s how to spot the warning signs before water damage takes over.

1. Stains or Discolouration on Your Ceiling

That faint yellow or brown mark on your ceiling isn’t just “old paint.” It’s a red flag. Water stains often mean moisture is getting in through your roof and soaking into the plaster or insulation. Even a small stain is worth investigating - what you see inside is often much smaller than the problem above.

2. Damp or Mouldy Smell in Certain Rooms

If you walk into a room and it smells musty, there’s a good chance moisture is trapped somewhere. In roof leaks, this smell often comes from wet insulation or timber. Frankston’s coastal humidity can make mould grow fast, so don’t ignore it.

3. Water Drips or Pooled Water in the Roof Space

Not many people climb into their roof cavity, but if you do, check for pooled water, damp insulation, or visible drips after rain. This is the most obvious sign of a leak, and the faster it’s found, the easier it is to fix.

4. Bubbling or Peeling Paint on Walls

When water seeps down from the roof into your walls, it can push paint off the surface. Bubbling, peeling, or warped plaster near the top of a wall is often a sign the leak has been there for a while.

5. Rust or Corrosion on Gutters and Flashing

Your roof’s flashing (the thin metal sealing edges and joints) and gutters are your first line of defence against water. In Frankston, salt air speeds up corrosion, so rusted sections can let water in quickly. If you see orange streaks or pitting, get it checked before it fails completely.

6. Overflowing Gutters During Heavy Rain

Sometimes a “leak” isn’t in the roof at all - it’s caused by water overflowing from blocked gutters. That water can back up under your roof line and into the ceiling cavity. Regular gutter cleaning (especially before winter storms) is one of the cheapest ways to prevent roof damage.

7. Light Coming Through the Roof

If you can see daylight from inside your roof cavity where there shouldn’t be any, water can get through too. Cracked tiles, broken sheets, or loose ridge capping are common culprits.

Why Early Action is Critical

Leaving a leak for “just a bit longer” is risky. In our experience at Unlimited Plumbing, small leaks turn into big repairs in weeks - not months - especially after a string of wet days.

Early repairs are:

• Cheaper: Small patch vs. replacing insulation and ceiling boards

• Faster: One-day fixes instead of multi-day rebuilds

• Safer: Reduces risk of mould, which can affect your family’s health

What to Do if You Suspect a Leak

1. Call a licensed roof plumber - DIY patches often fail and can void insurance claims.

2. Get a full roof inspection - The leak may not be where you think it is.

3. Repair now, not later - Even if the rain has stopped, damage can keep spreading.

At Unlimited Plumbing, we specialise in finding and fixing roof leaks in Frankston before they turn into costly disasters. We know the local weather, the common weak points in coastal roofs, and how to make repairs that last.

Don’t wait for the next downpour. Book your roof inspection today and keep your home safe, dry, and damage-free.