For us Floridians, storms are a part of the metaphorical welcome package when you choose to live here. They happen frequently and are usually nothing to concern ourselves with. However, nothing puts the fear of God into a homeowner faster than discovering a leak during or after one of these rainstorms. Whether the leak is drip, drip, dripping, or gushing into your home, it's safe to say that most people want to know what they should do other than put a bucket and grandma's spaghetti Tupperware under the offending water source or sources.
RoofCrafters has been repairing roof leaks for nearly 30 years, and we know all too well that by the time the homeowner discovers a leak, it has probably been percolating into their home for weeks or months. What’s even more distressing is when a homeowner knows they have a leaky roof but can’t locate the source, which can and will cause more than cosmetic damage to their home.
These pesky leaks can cause everything from water damage and mold to electrical short circuits and fires. If you're ready to get ahead of the roof leak curve and know just what to do if you discover one, it's a good thing you're here. In this article, you'll learn what you need to know about roof leaks, and how you can alleviate your pressing problem quickly. Let's get started!
Why Is My Roof Leaking?
If you visually inspect your roof only to see missing or bent shingles, it isn’t all that difficult to determine where the leak originated. Although, in most cases, determining the source of a roof leak isn’t all that easy. Even in this case, it isn’t necessarily coming from your shingles either. The water could be emanating from the flashing, a leaky skylight, or a corroded vent.
In short, unless you see an obvious source for the leak, sometimes it’s better to start beneath the roof to get a better insight into the origin, which means crawling around in your attic. If you're not up for the job, don't worry; you're local roofing contractor will be happy to oblige. While it won’t necessarily tell them precisely where the leak is, it can definitely help to eliminate where it isn’t. Once they're able to determine the general vicinity of the leak, it will be much easier to track it back to its source from above.
What if I Can't Find the Leak?
Since water always runs downhill, it’s entirely possible that you still may be unable to pinpoint the cause of the leak. If that’s the case, the best thing you can do is to tarp the area where the leak was discovered and call in a professional. Not only will a licensed roofer be able to spot the problem, but he or she will also be able to plug the leak before it does any more damage to your home.
What Could Be Causing the Leak?
When you or your family first detect a leak, most people are only concerned with stopping the immediate source of the problem. This could be a big mistake. Depending on how long the leak went undetected, water could have done serious damage to your home, which could come to haunt the homeowner later. We're talking about some serious paranormal leak-tivity.
What Else Can a Leaky Roof Damage?
Once a leak gets started, it can cause timber to rot or mold to grow between the walls of your home. Left untreated, either of these problems could grow to gargantuan proportions in a few months or years. That’s why every homeowner should take the time to trace a leak from cradle to grave if they don’t want to wind up with a much larger problem down the line. It’s cheaper to fix water damage earlier than later.
What Can I Do to Prevent Leaks?
As Ben Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That goes double when it comes to roof leaks. Instead of waiting for a leak to occur, by performing a little annual maintenance on your roof you can stop leaks from starting. Make sure you clear out your gutters and blow leaf litter off your roof. Climb a ladder every now and then to give your roof the once over. If you don’t want to do it yourself, you can call a local roofer to inspect your roof for free.
