Roof is Leaking What to Do?
Jun 04, 2021Roof is Leaking What to Do?
If you’ve started to spot water stains spreading across your home ceiling or even running down your walls, there is probably one main culprit to this issue – a leaking roof. It might seem to be an obvious find when someone says that their roof is leaking but, often times, roof leaks can actually be quite difficult to spot. Sure, there is the roof leak that just starts dripping on the top of your head. Those ones are definitely obvious. However, sometimes your leaking roof may not be penetrating your ceiling just yet. And when the water starts to collect on the top of your ceiling, that is when you start to spot those little brown spots which we call water stains.
When you start to see actual water dripping down your ceiling, this is a sure sign that the problem has been affecting your roof for quite a while now. A leaking roof is not a minor issue – it is usually a sign that there is some underlying damage that needs to be addressed. It could be something like a hole in your roof that needs patching up, faulty plumbing that needs to be fixed, or it could also be a number of other reasons.
No matter what the reason, the first thing to do when you notice a leaky roof is to catch the dripping water. There isn’t much discussion needed for this step since most people do this right away. You might not enjoy putting those buckets around your home when your roof starts to leak, and it is even more bothersome to empty those out when the leak starts filling the bucket up. But, this is something that needs to be done for these main reasons.
First of all, it prevents anyone in your home from slipping. Dripping water on your floor will make it a hazard and if you have any kids or seniors around the home, they might slip if you don’t take this precautionary measure. The second thing is that it prevents damage to your floor. Whether you have hardwood flooring, carpets, or laminated floors, it will not fare well with water flooding it. Cover up that area and put a pail or bucket to catch the water from your roof. The last reason is to help you identify where the leaks are coming from. Most of the time, a leaking roof becomes obvious when there is rainfall. But, when the rain stops, the leak might stop as well. This doesn’t mean you no longer have a problem in need of fixing.
Don’t put away those leak buckets just yet. You can use those as markers to let your roofer know exactly where the leaks are happening. If you don’t want to walk around the house with a bunch of buckets around, you can also get a small tape and mark those areas on your ceiling or your floor. The important thing is that you are able to leave a guide so that your roofers will know exactly where the main issue is.
If the roof is leaking directly above large furniture, we suggest moving the furniture out of the way. If this is not possible, place a large protective cover over your furniture. It’s the same thing with your floors, you wouldn’t want to damage your furniture, would you?
After this, the next thing to do is to call your local roofer. Fixing a leaking roof may seem as simple as patching up that part of the ceiling but doing this is only a temporary fix. After a while, you’re likely to notice water dripping from that spot again. If you really want to fix a leaking roof, the best thing to do is to call in the experts and have them assess your property.
The first thing they will do is identify the main cause of the roof leak and provide you with possible solutions to choose from. Depending on the type of leak and the extent of damage, it could be a simple roof repair or some work that needs to be done on your plumbing. You’ll know after they thoroughly inspect and identify the source of your roof leak.
If you’re not keen on the extra costs that come with repairing a leaking roof, be sure to take pictures of the damage for your insurance claim.
If you’re looking for peace of mind, Waddle Exteriors is the best option with years of experience as roofing contractors.
Cari S. 