Being a homeowner has its perks, but preventing and dealing with maintenance issues is not one of them. Even though a home is meant to protect you and your family from the outside elements, sometimes those elements find their way inside your home and wreak havoc.
Rain and melted snow can cause your roof to leak, leading to extensive water damage throughout your home. If you notice your roof leaks, it’s essential to address the issue as soon as possible. Here are six steps you can take to prevent and minimize any water damage and manage the situation until professional help arrives.
Step 1: Move Your Belongings Out of the Way
This may seem obvious, but it’s probably not the first thing on your mind in the middle of a stressful situation. Clear the affected area of clothing, furniture, or household items and put everything in another room so the water doesn’t ruin your belongings. Fabrics can trap moisture and create a mildew smell, so it’s important to move your things immediately.
Step 2: Try to Contain the Water
It is in your best interest to try to contain the water as much as possible. Depending on the amount of water, you may need to grab towels, buckets, or even garbage cans. If the leak requires more than towels, keep extra buckets or containers nearby to switch out to reduce overflow. Excess water can cause damage to your floors, and you don’t want to deal with the cost of fixing your floors while fixing your roof.
Step 3: Try to Relieve Any Water Pressure
Though it may seem like a terrible idea to poke a hole in that bulge on your ceiling, it’s recommended that you do. A bulge on your ceiling is a sign that water is pooling in that spot, and by poking it, you’ll release any water pressure and prevent more water from spreading throughout your ceiling. If you leave it, water will continue to spread, or worse, it will burst on its own, leaving you with a bigger mess to address.
You can use a screwdriver to carefully poke the bulge at its lowest point. Depending on the size, you may need to puncture it more than once. You should have a large bucket in hand or someone else holding one close by since you won’t know the amount of water waiting to drain from your ceiling. Survey the area for any other bulges and address those immediately.
Step 4: Call a Professional Roofing Company
A leaking roof is not always an easy fix, so save yourself time and call a professional roofing company. If you try to fix the leak yourself, there is a good possibility you’ll miss something and have to pay more later to have someone else repair it. By allowing a team of professionals to address the issue first, you can rest assured that more damage won’t reveal itself later. Not only will they fix the damaged area, but they will also survey your roof for any other potential problems and make necessary repairs if needed.
If you don’t already schedule routine maintenance checks on your roof, it’s essential to start doing so. Cleaning out your gutters and downspouts regularly can also help keep your roof in healthy shape. Being proactive today can spare you the headache of later dealing with a leaky roof.
Step 5: Tarp the Roof
If it’s going to take a while to get your roof fixed, it’s best to tarp it. Based on where the leak is inside, try to determine which area of the roof is damaged and causing the issue. It may be challenging to locate the leak’s source, but carefully climb onto your roof and cover the damaged area once you do.
You’ll want to use a tarp that is at least four feet across, tucking the tarp under any shingles to prevent more water from entering. This will provide you with more protection and keep the area covered until help arrives.
Step 6: Take Photos of the Damage
Once the water is contained, don’t forget to take photos of the damage. When you file your home insurance claim, the photos you take will be imperative in determining if you’re eligible for a claim. This is a crucial step that most homeowners fail to take because they’re focused on managing the situation.
Take photos of everything. Your photos will show the amount of damage your roof has sustained, as well as the damage done to your ceiling, walls, and floors inside your home. If you weren’t able to move your belongings in time, document any items that were affected, such as your television, bedding, clothing, computer, or kitchen appliances. If you’re eligible, it’s possible your insurance will pay to have your roof fixed and replace your damaged items.
Contact Us Today
Even though a home is meant to protect you and your family from the outside elements, sometimes rain and snow can find their way inside and wreak havoc in the form of water damage. You can take steps to contain the situation and minimize the damage, but it’s important to call a professional to assess the leak and fix your roof.
Legacy Restoration combines highly trained staff and handpicked products to ensure long-term value for your home improvement. Our trained roofers and remodelers deliver five-star roofing renovations, so you won’t have to worry about continual roof leaks. Call us or fill out our online form today for a free consultation and quote.