Sing
me no sad song
Helen Reddy
Leaks happen. Gravel tar roofs will wear out but if properly cared for they can last a long time. With composition shingles leaks are stealthy and can travel a distance from the leak iteslf. Peble/tar roof leaks usually happen where they happen. If they are old leaks they could leave a stain in the wood which you can spot from underneath but it's always better to locate the exact spot. Drive a nail through the spot from underneath or drill a small hole and stick a wire through and locate it exactly.
When you do locate the spot on the roof, remove the gravel by hand or with a blower. Some of the gravel will be imbedded in the tar. Remove all of it with a putty knife for an area of a foot or so and go at least a foot above. Clean the area with a brush and paint thinner or gas and scrape off all the small gravel. Try to get down to the tar soaked felt. Then take a butane torch and melt the old tar until it bubbles. Don't worry about it catching fire. It won't burn. You just want to make the old tar soft and bubbly so the patching tar will stick. Otherwise the patching will just peel off and your leak will continue. After a few days test with a water hose or if you live in the Northwest wait for the next rain. Let the tar harden for several weeks or months before replacing gravel. Don't bother replacing your sheetrock until you are convinced the fix is good.
Small leaks can be around for a long time and cause mold in the house above the ceiling or behind the walls. Try to perform frequent inspections in the attic, perhaps once a year just to make sure you do not have mold growing from an undetected slow leak. If you get a drip from the ceiling it is probably too late. The sheetrock may already be moldy. You may need to remove and replace the section of sheetrock and the insulation behind it. So keep your sheetrock, insulation and mud handy. In an open ceiling cut a hole between the rafters big enough to where you can at least get your head in there and look around. Might as well make it 16" by 16" since 18 inches is the usual distance between rafters and it's not going to be any more work to patch.