Roof Leak Investigation and Interior Restoration for a French-Style Luxury Home

Project Overview

This project involved a roof leak investigation and interior restoration for a French-style luxury home in Melbourne.

The issue first appeared in a second-floor bedroom, where significant water stains and mould were found along the bottom section of one wall. What looked like an internal wall damage issue was later confirmed to be caused by water entering from the roof area and travelling into the wall cavity.

ECOCAM Construction was engaged to investigate the source of the leak, carry out roof waterproofing repairs, monitor the area after repair, and restore the affected bedroom wall back to a clean and safe condition.

The Issue

The bedroom wall showed visible water damage, staining and mould growth near the lower section of the wall. After opening part of the plasterboard for inspection, the extent of the issue became clearer.

Some of the skirting, plasterboard, insulation and timber framing had been affected by moisture and mould. Several areas inside the wall cavity had turned dark, indicating that water had been entering the wall for some time.

Because the leak source was not immediately obvious from inside the room, further investigation was required before any internal repair work could begin.

Leak Investigation

To identify the source of the problem, ECOCAM Construction carried out a detailed inspection using a thermal imaging camera and moisture meter. These tools helped identify moisture patterns inside the affected wall and surrounding areas.

A controlled water test was then carried out to check the roof area and confirm where water was entering.

The investigation found that the leak was caused by aged and corroded screws fixing the roof moulding and flashing. Over time, the screws had deteriorated, allowing rainwater to penetrate through the roof fixing points and enter the wall cavity below.

Our Repair Approach

Once the leak source was confirmed, the roof repair work was completed first. This included replacing the affected screws, sealing the fixing points, and applying waterproof tape as a second layer of protection.

The surrounding roof area was also checked, and additional sealing was carried out where required to reduce the risk of future leaks.

After the roof repair was completed, the area was monitored for approximately two weeks. A follow-up inspection was carried out using the thermal imaging camera and moisture meter, and no further signs of water ingress were detected.

Only after confirming that the leak had stopped did we proceed with the internal restoration work.

Interior Restoration

The affected internal materials were removed and replaced where required. This included mould cleaning and treatment, replacement of damaged plasterboard, sections of timber framing, insulation and skirting.

Once the repair work was completed, the wall was finished with new paint and the room was thoroughly cleaned.

The final result was a clean, safe and fully restored bedroom, with both the roof leak and the internal damage properly addressed.

Insight

Water damage inside a room does not always mean the problem started inside the room. Roof leaks can travel through cavities, framing and concealed spaces before appearing as stains, mould or swelling on an internal wall.

For this reason, it is important to identify and confirm the source of the leak before carrying out plasterboard replacement or repainting. Cosmetic repairs alone may hide the issue temporarily, but if the water source is not fixed, the damage is likely to return.

Using tools such as thermal imaging, moisture meters and controlled water testing can help locate hidden moisture and confirm whether the repair has been successful before internal restoration begins.

This project reflects ECOCAM Construction’s practical approach: investigate the cause, repair the source, monitor the result, and then restore the affected area properly.