Satellite dishes are often installed right on the roof, bolted through the shingles and into the decking. It’s quick for the installer, but every bolt is a hole in your roof. Over time, those holes let water in. We see satellite dish roof leaks on Austin homes all the time, including on houses where the dish hasn’t been used in years.
Why Satellite Dishes Don’t Belong on Your Roof
You see them on most homes, maybe even your own, but satellite dishes should never be installed on your roof. Bolting a mount through the roof damages your shingles and possibly the wood decking underneath. The installer usually seals around the bolts, but that sealant dries out and cracks in the Texas sun. Wind also pushes on the dish and slowly works the bolts loose. Once water gets in, it can cause rotted wood and interior water damage long before you see a stain on the ceiling.
Signs Your Satellite Dish Is Leaking
- A water stain on the ceiling or wall near where the dish is mounted
- Damp or dark wood on the attic decking directly under the dish mount
- Cracked or missing sealant around the mounting bolts
- Rust streaks running down the shingles from the mount
- A loose or wobbling dish after a windy storm
Where a Satellite Dish Should Go
Satellite dishes should be fastened or bolted to the fascia board, trim, or siding. A pole mount in the yard is another option if it has a clear view of the sky. Either way, the dish never has to put a hole in your roof.
When you have a new satellite dish installed, tell the installers where you want it before they start. Believe it or not, many of them think it’s okay to bolt the dish through the roof.
Old Dishes You No Longer Use
Plenty of Austin homeowners have switched to streaming and left an old dish on the roof. An unused dish is still bolted through your shingles, and its sealant keeps aging whether you watch TV or not. It’s worth having it taken down.
Just unbolting the dish isn’t enough, though. Removing it leaves open bolt holes, and those need a proper repair, not a dab of caulk.
How We Repair Satellite Dish Roof Leaks
If you already have a satellite dish bolted through your roof, have it removed and, if you still use it, reinstalled somewhere else. Then have a professional roofing company like J-Conn Roofing repair the area. A proper repair includes:
- Removing the mount and all of its bolts
- Checking the decking underneath for rot or water damage, and replacing it if needed
- Replacing the damaged shingles with matching shingles, not just patching over the holes
- Sealing the area so it’s as watertight as the rest of your roof
J-Conn Roofing uses premium roofing products and proven roofing practices for every repair. Call J-Conn Roofing at (512) 479-0510 for a free roof inspection and any type of roof leak repair in the Greater Austin Area.