Your roof is leaking? Check out these steps.
A leaky roof can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. While some issues can be mitigated fairly easily, others can be time-consuming and costly. The first step you need to take is to minimize damage to your home’s interior surfaces and furnishings. For most leaks you will want to contact a roofing professional to help determine the cause of the leak, to help protect your belongings and to ultimately fix the problem.
Here are some steps fo follow if you have the drip, drip, drip of a pesky leak.
FIRST THINGS FIRST
The first thing you’ll want to do is minimize damage to your home’s interior and furnishings.
Unless the problem is small and you know the source, you will want to reach out to a roofing contractor immediately as step one. Then look at what might be damaged by water intrusion. Rearranging the furniture, removing valuable items from the area, and covering floors and walls with waterproof materials. Soak up any standing water from the floor before covering the area with your waterproof surface to avoid trapping moisture. If water from the leaking roof is dripping down an interior wall, you can apply a plastic barrier to the wall, as well.
If you have a drip in specific locations, place buckets on top of your protective plastic to catch the water flow. Keep an eye on how full they become – even large buckets can fill up unexpectedly fast.
DRIPPING FROM A BULGE IN YOUR CEILING?
It’s likely that water is pooling on the other side of that area. Grab a bucket, trash can, or some other container and place it under the site of the suspected leak. Prop up a board inside the container so the drips hit the board to help with splashing in the accumulated water.
Next, take a screwdriver or other pointy tool and puncture the bulge right in the middle. Though it might seem counterintuitive to punch a hole in your ceiling to stop a leak, the hole will allow the water to drain smoothly. It is important to relieve pressure on the rest of your ceiling because if too much water accumulates, the entire ceiling could potentially collapse.
SEARCH FOR THE WATER SOURCE
Where is the water coming from? If you have access to an attic or crawl space, grab a flashlight and CAREFULLY inspect. You can track the leak within your attic or crawl space based on where the water is entering your home. It is important to keep in mind that the route water travels from a leaking roof can be deceptive. It is not always a stright line! Water usually finds a weak spot in the drywall or an opening for a vent or a light fixture. If you can locate the source of the problem, it gives you an opportunity to create another barrier.
To create a barrier in your attic or crawl space, lay a piece of wood across the joists, then place a bucket on top to catch the dripping water. Never put a bucket directly on the drywall — remember that bucket could become quite heavy as it fills and could potentially break right through. Remember to check the water level regularly!
NOW TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE
Once you’ve been able to protect your home’s interior, it’s time to take a look at the roof from outside of your home.
While tracing the source of a leak can be difficult, examining the roof itself may be helpful in connecting the dots. You may want to try using binoculars to “zoom in” on your roof.
If you are confident you know where the leak is coming from, and can safely get to the source, cover the exterior surface with a large waterproof tarp. Whether you find a damaged shingle or a tree limb, you may be able to repair the area temporarily until help can arrive. If you can’t reach it, or feel unsafe doing so, it’s best to wait for the roofing professional’s help, especially if you have a high or steeply-sloped roof. When placing a tarp over your roof, make sure to do so gently and without putting too much pressure on any one spot on your roof. Do not nail or staple the tarp directly to the roof materials, as this can create further leaks. Check the tarp periodically to make sure water isn’t pooling.
In the best of worlds, your roofing experts will arrive quickly! A professional roofing contractor will check your roof both from the exterior and the inside of your home — inspecting the underside of the roof sheeting can also show signs of damage.
Signs of a leak? Don’t wait!
It is important to act quickly when it comes to a roof leak. Leaky roofs never fix themselves or get better on their own. Often homeowners notice a stain on their ceiling or some slight bubbling and assume it is not serious. Ignoring a leak and hoping it will magically disappear is the worst thing a homeowner can do. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends inspecting your roof twice a year, in the fall and spring and clearly if there are signs of trouble, find a roofing contractor that can provide a professional solution.
On the inside look for:
- Dark spots
- Spots where outside light shines through
- Sagging
On the outside look for:
- Missing, warped, rotting, peeling, broken, blistering, or buckling shingles
- Clogged or slow-draining gutters/downspouts
- Loose material or wear around chimneys or vents
Roof leaks are often signs of a larger problem. Both danger and the probability of structural erosion increase if the telltale signs of water damage are ignored. Regular inspections are your best defense against a leaky roof.