Many homeowners welcome the pitter-patter of rain on their roof. However, if inclement weather arrives when your roofing system is compromised, those showers won’t be so welcome anymore! While your roof may look sound, rainy weather is often the first clue a homeowner gets that their home has roof leaks.
Unfortunately, by the time you notice that your roof has developed leaks, it is too late to do anything but repair it. You’ll need to contact an experienced, professional roofer immediately to schedule needed repairs, but until then, you need to temporarily limit any roof leaks before they cause damage to your interior.
Here are some tips to protect your home until the roofer arrives:
Minimize Interior Damage
In most homes, roof leaks will pool slowly at the ceiling until finding a route to escape–typically at a heat register, vent, or light fixture. After a few hours, leaks will begin finding multiple escape routes, which can make them look bigger than they are. When you discover a roof leak, look for a bulge or try to find the wettest spot and poke a small hole in it so the water can drain. Place a bucket under the drain to collect the water. By giving the water an outlet, it can minimize damage to your ceiling.
Locate The Entry Point
It may be difficult to locate the source of a roof leak while it’s raining, but finding the entry point of the rain is key. Begin by looking in the attic. Remember that if your roof has been laid over plywood, the leak and the source may not align. Depending on how your roof slopes, water will typically travel from a leak in the exterior of the roof to the nearest joint in the plywood sheathing.
Maintain A Temporary Fix Until Help Arrives
After you have located the roof leak’s point of entry from the interior, a temporary repair can be made utilizing roofing tape, roofing cement, or a tarp. Your local home improvement store carries these items.
Apply the tape or cement to the interior and exterior as needed. If you have access to your roof’s exterior, cover the compromised area and the surrounding few feet with a tarp and secure it with bricks, 2 x 4 boards, or staples, taking care not to damage the roof further.
By following these steps you can prevent further damage to your home’s interior until a professional roofing contractor arrives to address the issue permanently.
Orlando Leak Detection is Here For You
If you suspect water leaks in your roof, contact the expert leak detection team at Orlando Leak Detection today! We’re available 24/7 to take your call and offer immediate response times for any emergency situation.
