With all the rain we get here in the Pacific Northwest, you might experience a roof leak in your home. A roof leak is not something anyone wants to deal with. However, how quickly you respond to the leak will help mitigate further damage to your roof and your home. Here are five things you need to do when you spot a leak.
1. Protect your Interior
The first thing you want to do is make sure you protect your home’s interior. That means you need to move your furniture, rugs, or clothing far from the leak.
2. Contain the Water
Next, you’ll want to contain the leak. Grab buckets, garbage cans, towels, and anything else you can find to capture the water to reduce the impact and damage that water can cause – especially to your flooring.
3. Take Photos for Insurance Documentation
Regardless as to whether or not you want to submit an insurance claim, it’s a good idea to document the damage.
This includes pictures of interior damage, along with pictures of the roof. But only take pictures of the roof when you can safely access it.
4. Tarp the Roof
Once it’s safe to access your roof, we recommend you place a tarp over the leak. This is a temporary fix until you can get a contractor out to help assess the damage.
You should use a tarp that’s at least six millimeters thick and that is long enough to extend at least four feet across the problem area and up to the peak of your roof. If the peak is too difficult to access, tuck it under shingles to prevent water from going underneath the tarp.
If you have a metal roof, it might be more difficult to find the leak. Read this blog post that discusses how to find a leak in a metal roof.
5. Call a Professional Roofing Company
A leaking roof is a big undertaking, so it’s best to call in the professionals as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse the problem could get. There’s only so much you can do to manage the situation, and it needs to be addressed by a professional.
At Rainy Day Exteriors, we want to keep the weather outside. If you have a leak, we can help you determine the best next steps. We provide complimentary inspections and estimates that are done by our owner or his son, Jim or Joe.
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