If you live in an area that has heavy rainfall, then you know the struggle of dealing with excess water. Preventing leaks and floods takes time, but becomes extremely important when you are living in a rainy area. Even if you live in a location that gets less precipitation, it is practical to understand how to fix a leaky roof. Continue reading for some tips that will be useful if you have a leaky roof.
How To Fix A Leaky Roof
If you have a leaky roof, you may be concerned about whether you will have to completely replace the roof. Luckily, unless the roof has issues with mold or water damage, a leaky roof can usually be fixed by simply replacing a part of the roof.
Locate the Leak
If you are wanting to fix your leaky roof, locating where the roof leak is originating from is the first step. If the leak is bad enough, it could cause flooding in your house, causing further damage. If you can locate the leak fast enough, then you can avoid damage to the plaster, wood, and other materials that the leak may be touching.
Move At Risk Items Out Of The Way
The next step once you have located the leak is to move things out of the way. Leaks can show up anywhere in your house, meaning that your furniture, clothing or electronics could be in the line of fire. Move your personal belongings so that the leak does not soil them. It may also be advisable to pull up carpet and padding if the leak is hitting the carpet.
Pulling up the carpet will also ensure that mildew does not form. If water has already leaked onto the carpet, you can use a wet vacuum to pull out the water or sprinkle baking soda onto the floor to absorb the water and then use a regular vacuum to suck up the baking soda.
Catch The Water
Once you have moved all the furniture and other items out of the way, it is advisable to contain the leak as much as possible. Use buckets to catch as much water as possible and find towels to wipe up any excess water. Catching the water will ensure that your floors do not experience any water damage. You may not need to pull up the carpet if you have buckets that will be able to keep the water off of it.
Tarp The Roof
If you have to wait some time to get the roof fixed, then it would be a good idea to tarp the roof. Be careful to not step on the damaged parts of the roof when placing the tarp. Cover the damaged area of the roof with a tarp that is a fair amount larger than the problematic spot. A large tarp will ensure that no more water can get into the roof.
Document The Leak
Take photos and videos of the leaky roof in order to have evidence of the problem. Having a visual representation of the leak will be useful when you file a claim with your insurance company. Photos make it obvious how bad the problem is. Make sure to also take pictures of any belongings that were damaged.
Contact A Restoration Company
The last step is to reach out to a roofing restoration company. Roofs need an experienced hand to be fixed properly. Restoration companies work with problems like yours every day, and therefore will be able to fix your problem quickly and efficiently.
We at Sawyer Restoration would be happy to help you get your leaky roof repaired. Our services can help your roof to stop leaking and can also help prevent the leak from escalating. Our inspections will ensure that all parts of the problem are addressed. For more information about our services or how we can help with your individual repair issue, reach out to us today.
