Have you been seeing water stains on your ceiling or walls? Or have you been hearing dripping water coming from your attic? Those are indications that you likely have a leaky roof.
Now if you think your roof leaking is not a big deal, you’re only half-right. It may not be a problem right now, but it’s definitely going to get worse in the future if you don’t take care of it immediately. You should try to find the source now so you can avoid costly repairs and numerous challenges in staying in a home with a leaky roof.
In this article, we will discuss the important things you should know about leaky roofs, such as what to do about them and what will happen if you ignore this issue.
What To Do If You Find A Leak?
If you’re one of those homeowners with new houses, meaning new roofs, you might think you won’t run into this problem for a while. However, rain and snow don’t care how new your roofs are–they can slowly creep into your roof and your house. You might wake up one day and see ceiling damage–or worse!
The first thing you need to do is find the source of the leak. Remember that it will only worsen if you don’t do something about it. Once you find it, here are some steps you should take.
Save Your Valuables
Consider immediately where you’ll find the leak. Is it a spot near your bed, clothes, electronics, and other important things in the house? If yes, make sure to relocate them as soon as possible to stop them from getting ruined.
If you can’t move some of them, like your bed frame or a carpet tacked to the floor, cover them with a tarp to reduce water damage. You can also try catching the dripping water with a bucket.
Take note that if your electronics, like your laptop or television, do get wet, don’t turn them on or use them right away! Make sure to contact an electrician for safety purposes.
Contain The Leak
The next thing you should do is contain the source of the leak as much as possible. As mentioned earlier, grab a bucket or anything that will catch the water and put it under the drip. If the dripping sound annoys you, put a board inside the container to minimize the sound.
Make sure you have plenty of containers to catch the water fully. Monitor them from time to time if any are getting filled up. If they are, dump the water to avoid overflowing and wetting your floors.
Pop Sagging Bubbles
If you see bubbles in your ceiling, that means there’s water pooling in those areas. You need to pop them to relieve the pressure. If you don’t do this, the water could spread inside your ceiling and cause more damage.
If you also don’t pop them, they might eventually erupt themselves, and you’ll end up with a larger mess–the entire ceiling could come down on you thanks to water accumulation!
To burst these bubbles, use a screwdriver or any tool that you can poke the bubbles with. Pop all the bubbles you can see, and make sure to place a bucket under the areas to catch the water.
Tarp Over The Area Outside
If you think you know the area affected by the leak, but can’t have it repaired immediately, cover the outside area with a tarp. Make sure to do this only when it’s safe to climb your roof. If it’s raining, best to wait until it stops or weakens.
Use roofing nails or place the tarp under roof shingles to keep it in place and stop water from going beneath it. Putting the tarp will help minimize water damage.
Photograph Everything
Take photographs so you have proof when you file for a home insurance claim. You’ll be able to show how severe the roof damage is as well as what items were affected. If the leak destroyed your laptop, your bed, and other items in the house, you might get them replaced if they’re included in the claim, which will depend on your insurance provider.
Contact The Professionals
The best way to repair a leaky roof is to get the services of professional roofers in your area. As much as you’d like to save money by doing repairs yourself, a leaking roof is a lot of work. It’s best to leave it to roofers with the experience and the equipment for high-quality work. They can also spot other roof parts that must be repaired or replaced.
Maintain The Roof
Regular and proper maintenance of your roofing material is crucial in keeping your roof quality high. You can contact professionals to do the maintenance for you, but you can also do it yourself. Looking for trees growing too close, clogged gutters, cracks, and damaged shingles.
Make sure to conduct inspections after severe weather especially. Be proactive so that you can avoid the stress and headaches that come along with a leaky roof.
Issues Caused By A Leaky Roof
Still not convinced that you should act quickly when it comes to a leaky roof? Well, keep in mind that even if it’s a small leak, it’s a problem that will get bigger. Avoiding it will not make things any better.
Here are some major issues that can happen if a leaky roof is left alone.
Damage To Ceiling And Attic
The water from the leaky roof will go straight into your ceiling. And if you have an attic, the water will go there, too! If you leave the water leaking for too long, expect a stained, darkened, and damaged ceiling. You’ll also have wet and possibly beyond-repair items in your attic.
Mold
Damp areas lead to mold. And mold can lead to serious health issues for people, especially those who have allergies, are asthmatic, or have weak immune systems. The presence of mold can also give off foul odors, making it unpleasant to be in your home.
Insulation Issues
When water seeps into your home through the roof, it can saturate the insulation, making it ineffective. Wet insulation not only loses its insulating properties but also becomes a breeding ground for the aforementioned mold and mildew. And with wet insulation, you can be sure your energy bills will increase as your HVAC system works harder to keep your house warm or cool.
Fire And Slip Hazards
Believe it or not, a leaky roof opens you and your family to fire and slip hazards. If water gets in your wiring without you knowing, a fire might suddenly start. As for slipping, a leaky roof will practically guarantee one will happen since water is going down and might cause puddles to appear.
Both don’t seem appealing, agree?
Structural Damage
Even if you have the best home built, it’s still susceptible to water damage. All the leaking water from your roof can leak down and start destroying the wooden frames, beams, and trusses holding up your roof and walls. If you leave it alone for a long time, the leak and the water can even turn your house into something hazardous and unlivable with sagging ceilings and bulging walls.
Drywall Sag
A drywall is used to divide spaces with homes during construction. And if it gets wet, thanks to the leak, it can start to warp, sag, and crack. You’ll have compromised structural integrity, as well as decreased property value, which is a problem if you sell the house in the future.
Key Takeaways
Leaky roofs are a common problem that homeowners face, and addressing them immediately is essential to maintain the integrity of your property. The longer you wait or ignore a leaky roof, the worse the damage will be when you finally fix it. To recap some of what we discussed here:
- Locate the source of the leak and make sure to contain it as soon as possible.
- Save your valuables that may be affected by the leak, and make sure to take photographs of any ruined property for your insurance claim.
- Do not ignore a leaky roof, as the damage caused can escalate into bigger issues, such as mold, various hazards, and structural damage.
- The best way to fix your roof is to get the services of professional roofers. They’re more expensive than DIY jobs, but investing in a quality roof repair or replacement job can prevent more costly damage in the long run.
Can’t decide if your roof is good for repair or if you need an entirely new one? It’s best to get the expert opinion of seasoned roofers. Contact us today at Fahey Roofing for free advice on replacing or repairing your roof.