You need a contractor or roofer, not an architect.

I had the roof done last year and as soon as the leaks started (only a few weeks after) I contacted the company to have them fixed but according to them the leaks are coming from the windows something I could not myself see. So now, will a good contractor be able to determine where it's coming from and tackle it?

The leaks from the tv room and the garage are from adjacent rooms and the leaks are in line.

The main living area is leaking from both the ceiling and the floor, the leaks are perpendicular !!

I have contacted a contractor but any opinion can help prior to meeting them!

Please post some photos of the leak areas and the cracks. Do you have trouble with doors not closing properly or getting stuck? Any cracks in floor tile?

Sorry. cross post. What is above that area?

Improper flashing. You’ve got a 20 year old mold sandwich behind those walls. Guaranteed.

The first place I’d start is with a home inspector. Someone good, not a realtor’s pet yes man. Once you have the scope of the issue, you can figure out if this is something you can afford to tackle. Frankly, this is the kind of house people just walk away from.

Floor is raising between the ceramic and hardwood between kitchen and main living room -_-' oh lord.

ALRIGHT ALL! Thank you all so much for helping and taking the time to post! I definitely got some great insights! Home inspector is the next step!

https://buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-0407-installing-a-window-with-building-paper-on-osb-over-wood-frame-wall/view 

Deborah, my house is almost 60 years old and I have owned it for 18 years, lots of abuse and neglect while raising kids, but I do not have the major issues you are experiencing. Looks like a lot of shoddy work by the builder. Sophie gave some great advise. In addition to the roof and/or window issues, from what you described about the floor there may be improper moisture vapor protection or plumbing issues under the subfloor, or possibly not proper expansion left around the parameter of the tile and hardwood flooring for expansion. I would definitely inquire about a home inspector.

Let's hear it for old houses, Donna! One of the things I've found in over 40 years of home ownership is that while old houses weren't always built better than new ones, most of the old houses I've owned have overall been more solid and trouble-free than the newer ones.

On the downside, dimensions in old houses can be kind of weird and variable, which makes working on them with modern materials interesting.

Even dimensions that should be standard can throw you. For example, those modern 2x4s that aren't 2" x 4"? They weren't 75 years ago either, but they were a different, larger, not 2" x 4". Originally they were a genuine rough-sawn 2" x 4". I've heard of 1-3/4" x 3-3/4", but most I've measured in 75+ year old houses have been 1-5/8" x 3-5/8", sometimes 3-3/4".

Now you're lucky if they're the supposedly standard 1-1/2" x 3-1/2". And how many are actually straight?

Don't get me started about 1/4" plywood that isn't.

Kind of like those supermarket tuna cans that used to be 8 ounces, and have shrunk over the years until they're now 5 ounces or so. (That's why old tuna recipes don't work right any more.)

Sorry for the off-topic, get-off-my-lawn codger rant. :\

A quick update on my end: haven't been able to find a reputable home inspector that does in depths inspections so far all the ones I've contacted only do visual. I need someone that'll get into walls, in the ceiling, etc. Is there some sort of specific title I should be looking for besides home inspector ?

Ps: The house was built in 2001 actually so not even 20 years old!! I'm definitely suspecting subpar quality of build. Sigh...

Just one thing to keep in mind, while a home inspector can be a great help, please remember that they usually will only do a visual inspection. I would suggest contacting a roofing and window contractor if needed. Or perhaps a trustworthy general contractor to give you the big picture of the work needed.

I vote you will need a GC, and you will need to be upfront that you expect to pay him, otherwise you will only get a visual inspection. They may need to cut open drywall, pop off siding, etc. Or they may walk in and recognize the problem immediately.

Roofing and gutters specialists

Check the gutters and pipes draining the gutters. We have been having leaks in the last one year. Showed it many roof specialists who did minor fixes and told us that the roof is fine. We finally found that the pipes draining the gutters were clogged and water was accumulating in the gutters and seeping into the ceiling. All our leaks are on the ceiling closer to the exterior walls.

The roofers couldn't figure out because the roof is fine and the gutters were clean.

Leaks are such a pain. Good luck!

We had a ceiling leak where the A/C pipe needed new insulation and condensation was dripping.

"We had a ceiling leak where the A/C pipe needed new insulation and condensation was dripping."

The op's issue is a hell of a lot more than condensation drips....................

Maybe a mold remediation company can cut the walls and see what's going on. I'm thinking window flashing too if it lines up.

infrared camera would show temp differences where it is wet.

start looking for inspector with ir experience.

track down those leaks.

funny to think that windows would cause stains on ceilings.

A home inspector can point you in areas of concern, but keep in mind they won’t do more specialized inspections or destructive testing. For example, home inspector may indicate that signs of moisture and cracking in ceiling indicate need for roofing contractor to come do more detailed inspection. So the home inspection is just a starting point.

Ongoing maintenance in a home is always important, whatever the home’s age, but it is also possible you started off with more problematic bones and so now you are going to have to put in some significant work and money for either livability or resale. Or sell as is.

Hi Deborah! i know this is late. I’d even recommend getting a mold inspection on your home. Mold is very toxic and can cause serious health concerns. Were you able to get your house fixed?

@Barry Taylor with what?

Deborah, are any of your neighbours experiencing the same issues in their homes? If yes, could be a builder issue. If not then these problems are isolated to your house. If it’s a builder issue, you might want to think carefully about your next step. Your neighbourhood will have the stigma of being poorly built which will affect property values. Even if you make expensive repairs, your property will have a limit to it’s value because it was originally poorly built. Hopefully this isn’t the case.