Hi!
I live in a 3 year old house (2nd owner so no relationship with the builder ). This week, we saw a 12" wet mark on the ceiling of the 1st floor, approx directly under one of our 3 dormers. No water damage or visible leaks in the second floor bedroom where the dormer fits in. Apparently (I am guessing) the water leaked in (either along sides or at roofline base of dormer) during a rainstorm and then ran across the interior of the 1st floor ceiling and ran down a heat vent and dripped into the basement (filled up 1/2 of a 4 gallon bucket beore it dried up). Now (tonight) with a mild rain, I see a very-similar 6" ceiling wet mark in the living room ceiling under a different dormer. Again, no wet marks on 2nd floor bedroom walls or floor, just on 1st floor ceiling. I don't know where it's creeping in... Any advice or suggestions would be much appreciated! ( I am pretty sure the caulking around the dormer is OK... I checked it earlier this summer.) I do notice that the roofs of the dormers have very little pitch to them, but not sure if this is important.
Thanks for any advice! Clay

The most alarming part of your tale is the amount of water collected. Just doesn't sound right. Your water leak could be coming from any of the places you mention but I would first check the window sill flashing and any flashings below it or beside it at the wall to roof intersections. Theses are the most exposed areas. The amount of water makes me suspect a roof flashing problem but a lot of sustained blowing rain can add up in some strange places.

Hi All!
Thanks so much for the advice and responses. I was able to get the original roof installer to come out today and he clambered up on the roof. He found that the siding folks who "finished off" the dormers failed to seal the edging down and left a 1/4 inch gap where the bottom siding fitted into the side molding. He patched them and caulked them and said the repairs should last for 3-5 years (and should be recaulked when we repaint the dormer facings.) (Just like you advised, SpringtimeHomes! )

Again, thank you for your helpful assistance.
Best regards,
Clay