What to Do if Your Roof Suddenly Starts Leaking During a Storm

Alabama can get some dramatic storms—and when your roof isn’t up to the challenge, you might notice water damage. Leaky roofs aren’t just an inconvenience. Water damage can impact your home’s structural integrity. If you’re wondering what to do when your roof starts leaking, read on.

Spotting a leak

Usually, it’s pretty easy to spot the fallout from a leaky roof. You might see dark stains spreading across the ceiling or down the walls. Maybe you notice water dripping from the ceiling. In extreme cases, the water might create a large “bubble” in the paint, which is holding back the water leak.

When you notice a leak, set a bucket under it right away. This will prevent damage to your carpeting or other floors. Move any furniture or objects around the leak, and unplug electronics. This will prevent electrical fires.

Drain pooling water

If a large bubble is appearing under the paint, that’s pooling water. Poke a small hole in the paint to allow the water to drain in a controlled manner. Otherwise, you risk the ceiling collapsing under the weight of the pooling water. All you need is a ladder, screwdriver and bucket to catch the water.

Look for the source

If you have an accessible attic, go up and look for the source of the leak. You might see visible gaps, holes or other damage. Try to find where the water is coming in.

Keep in mind that if your roof is sloped, the hole could be on the outside. The water may be entering your home as it flows downward. If that’s the case, your roofing repair contractor will be able to help locate the original source.

If you can find the source of the leak, use roofing tape or caulk to plug it temporarily. Do this from the inside of your home. You should not climb on your roof during a storm—doing so risks serious injury or even death.

Roofing tape and caulk are available at most home improvement stores. Ask a staff member if you can’t locate what you need.

Call a roofing repair contractor

Unfortunately, roofing tape and caulk won’t stop the problem forever. These are just temporary measures to get you through the storm. When the weather dries up, you’ll need to call a roofing repair contractor to fix the roof.

In many cases, replacing shingles and other roofing materials will be enough to stop the leak—a relatively quick and easy type of repair. If your roof and home have suffered serious structural damage, however, you might need more intensive repairs.

Depending on how old your roof is and whether you’re having any other trouble with it, it may be time to replace your entire roof. Your contractor will help you weigh the pros and cons of repair or replacement.

When your roof starts leaking suddenly during a storm, now you know what to do: make these stopgap fixes and call the team at Metro Contractors Inc. We’ll come out to assess the damage and take the necessary steps to get your roof fixed up for the long haul.

Categorised in: Roofing Contractors

This post was written by Writer