The roof of your home protects the inside of your home from many damaging elements. Rain, plants, and animals are all things that may come into your home in the absence of a roof. Your roof is meant to last many years. Most last around 30 years when they are taken care of properly. One major complication can be a roof leak. Water from a rainstorm can make its way into your home when parts of your roof are worn down. This may be due to natural aging or from a damaging event. You can prevent issues by having your roof inspected on a regular basis. Repairs can often be done before a leak ever happens. When water is coming into your home, however, there are a few steps to take.
Call a Professional
When you notice a leak in your roof, there is not much you can do to stop it yourself. If rain is continuously coming down, you may end up with some interior damage. There are different degrees of leaks, however. You may simply notice a wet spot on your ceiling, or there may be water dripping or pouring into the home. Call a professional to come out immediately. Most roofing companies have a protocol for emergency calls. They may be able to stabilise the situation to help you avoid further damage to the home.
Protect the Area
When water begins coming into your home, you should try to protect your belongings. It is best to remove as many items as possible from the room. Moisture can have a terrible effect on furniture, photos, and other items. Put down a bucket to catch the water. You may need several containers if the roof is leaking in more than one place. You can also put some tarp on the floor and some towels down to absorb the water that splashes out of the buckets.
The sheetrock and flooring are often the items that take on the most damage. If water has made it through your interior ceiling, it may have been pooling in the attic for quite some time. When you catch the leak early, you can often save part of your home.
The Repair
Once the area is assessed by a professional, steps are made to stabilise the area. A tarp or other protective material may be placed over the damaged part of the roof. This keeps water out until the repair can be planned. Leaking roof repairs may not be able to be completed immediately. If it is still raining or the roof is too wet, the repair may need to wait. The first thing that happens after water damage is a drying out of the space. Sheetrock or flooring may be torn out while the drying fans are in place. You may have several professionals in your home at once, trying to assess and repair the damage. Most roofs can be repaired successful and may last several more years with no problems.
Your roof is a strong part of your home. There are some things, however, that can initiate damage. Strong storms can tear parts of your roof. Extreme heat or cold can also add to the aging process. Sometimes, a tree may fall on the roof or animals run around on it and chew. It is important to pay attention to the details of your home, so you can catch damage early. This makes leak repair much more successful.
