No one wants to deal with the headache of a leaking roof. Beyond the inconvenience, roof leaks can lead to mold and mildew, ruin floors, damage the ceiling and attic, raise energy bills, and are a fire and electrocution hazard.
What Causes a Roof Leak?
Roof leaks occur as your shingles age. Weather like snow, rain, and hail weaken shingle over time. As your roof ages, it may be missing shingles, need new flashing, or some areas may need repairs with roof sealant, caulk, or tar.
Steps to Take with a Roof Leak
Contact Roof Repair Services
As soon as you notice a leak, contact a roof leak repair service. A repair service is the best way to prevent further damage to your roof and home. Additionally, it saves you from having to take some of these steps.
Identify the Location of the Leak
The first step with a leaky roof is to identify the location of the leak. To prevent a ceiling from leaking, you need to know what is letting the water in. If you have access to your attic or crawlspace, go investigate with a flashlight to identify the leak.
Contain the Leak
With roof leaks, it is critical to contain it as much as possible. Use buckets, garbage cans, or any other containers necessary to hold the water. Leaks can damage floors as well, so be sure to lay down tarps and regularly empty the water containers to prevent overflowing.
Move/Cover Items to Keep Dry
If there is furniture or other items beneath the leak, move or cover them with tarps. No one wants to lose precious belongings to water damage or mildew.
Relieve Water Pressure if Needed
If your ceiling is bulging, that means there is water gathering in that location. Poke a small hole in the spot to relieve it. While this seems counterintuitive, if left, water could spread and cause more extensive damage. If the bulge breaks on its own, it could create an even bigger mess.
Tarp the Leak
If the leak can’t be repaired quickly, be sure to tarp the leak to prevent more extensive damage from occurring. When tarping, use fasteners to secure the tarp down.
Document for Insurance Claim
Document, document, document. It is crucial to take photos and document everything to file your home insurance claim. Insurance could possibly fix your roof as well as replace any damaged items, so this step is critical.
What if I Ignore the Leak?
While small leaks might be tempting to ignore, there are many risks associated with leaving the leak unrepaired. Here are some of the things that could happen:
- Mold: Mold is dangerous to the health of your home and its inhabitants, and if ignored, can cause allergic reactions and illness in people and pets. Additionally, ignoring a roof leak can cause an expensive mold removal process.
- More Costly Repairs: As a roof continues to leak, the damage continues to spread, leading to more widespread, costly repairs.
- Shorter Roof Lifespan: A roof that leaks and is left unrepaired leads to a roof that deteriorates faster. This means more frequent roof replacements, a cost no one wants to take on.
Some leaks can be mitigated over the short-term, however, the best way to manage roof leaks is through the help of a roof leak repair service. Capital Exteriors and Renovations offers roof repairs and reroofing services. Get in touch with us today for your free quote and fix that leak now rather than later.