What to Do if Your Roof is Leaking

Avoiding Wet & Moldy Consequences

Have you ever discovered water coming through the ceiling? Millions of homeowners share the frustration of water damage caused by roof leaks. Unless you can identify the water incursion point quickly and find a roof leak repair solution, your home could be at risk during the next storm.

Today we’re going to dive into the topic of roof leaks, how to spot them, and what to do afterwards. By the end of our discussion, you should have a working game plan in case of emergencies. Let’s begin!

What Happens When a Roof Leaks?

First, it’s key to understand how leaks happen. Storm damage produces the majority of leaks for homeowners, though invasive pests have been known to find their way beneath loose shingles. By the time water makes its way into your attic, it’s already passed through multiple layers beneath your cracked or dislodged shingles.

That may make it more challenging to identify the origin of the leak from the outside, but the internal signs of a leak are usually pretty obvious.

How Do You Know if Your Roof is Leaking?

Odds are, a roof leak isn’t going to pass through all the roofing, insulation, and drywall to land squarely on your head. There are many paths water may travel before it finally settles. If it lands inside your walls, you might even mistakenly call your plumbing contractor.

Signs Your Roof is Leaking

• Moist and/or stained ceiling drywall
• Puddles on the floor (obviously)
• Drip stains on the walls
• Mold or mildew smells around the house
• Dripping noises while walking through the attic
• Moist roof supports
• Damp insulation in the attic

Is a Roof Leak an Emergency?

Depending on the severity of the leak, it may not be an immediate concern. When it comes to roof storm damage repair however, problems tend to get progressively worse until more costly work is required. That’s why homeowners need to arrange repairs as soon as they identify a leak, and certainly before the next storm!

Of course, the most severe cases of storm damage expose homeowners to horrific roof leaks. If this happens to be your home affected by this catastrophic situation, call your roofer immediately. It doesn’t matter what time it is, prompt action is essential at this point. At the very least, a quality roofing professional should be able to cover the damaged surface areas with a tarp. Meanwhile, you can work to dry out your insulation.

How Do You Stop a Leaking Roof?

You can perform a temporary fix for an active leak inside your roof. If you have any roofing tape, that will help. Otherwise, grab some roofing tar, a couple large pieces of plywood, and a putty knife. You’ll also need towels and buckets to handle the water as you make repairs.

Place the first piece of plywood carefully across the beams beneath the active leak. Once you’ve set the bucket, you can start toweling up the surrounding water. After you locate the origin point of the leak, cover the hole with roofing tar. Finally, hold the last piece of plywood over the filled in hole and coat the edges with additional tar. Hold until the tar dries in place.

Roof Leak and Repair Process

Once you talk with your local roofer about the suspected leak, they’ll need to inspect your roof thoroughly to pinpoint the damaged section. If you managed to identify the incursion point inside your attic, this will give them some idea of where to find the trauma above. You’ll definitely want a professional on hand if you need help planning your roof damage insurance claim.