You hear the faint drip, drip, drip of a leaky roof while you’re trying to sleep. The noise alone is enough to make you go insane. However, the fact that a leaky roof might cause water damage to your home might make you go even more insane. Don’t worry, we bring you glad tidings! You can fix a leaky roof all by yourself in a lot of cases. Save some money by taking things into your own hands when you are able to. If the damage is too great to fix yourself, don’t hesitate to call a professional to get the job done quickly. Here’s what to do if you have a leaky roof.
What to Do If You Have a Leaky Roof
Prevent Damage
Move Valuable Items
Look at where the water is dripping and make sure that it isn’t dripping on anything valuable. Water can cause a lot of damage to many things. Move electronics, furniture, or carpets. Make sure you move anything of value far enough away so that splashes can’t get on them either. Moving things around will save you a lot of money because you won’t have to replace what the water got on. It might also be a good idea to put plastic covers on furniture to add extra protection. Make sure your leaky roof doesn’t destroy all your possessions if you can help it.
Get a Handle on the Water Situation
Don’t let the water pool up on your floors. Put buckets or pots and pans anywhere that water is leaking. This way you won’t have damage to your floors. A small leak that slowly drips will probably be able to be fixed relatively easily, without the help of a professional. However, a large leak from a big crack in the ceiling might be out of your hands. A downpour of water in the living room isn’t the time to look up YouTube videos to see how to fix a leaky roof. You need a professional right away! Place towels around and under buckets so that splashes don’t damage flooring.
Dry the Moisture
Yes, a leaky roof can cause a lot of damage. It causes stains, warping, chipping, peeling, and bubbling. However, the moisture left behind from water can also cause a lot of damage. Leftover moisture from water damage can cause mold or mildew to start to grow. It’s very important that you dry everything thoroughly to prevent this from happening. It will definitely be irritating and frustrating but it’ll be better, in the long run, to get rid of all the moisture. Pull up carpets and padding so that the underside can dry out. Grab a big box fan and point it straight at the carpet to help it get dry. Use towels or old T-shirts to dry up any water on hardwood floors. It’s all hands on deck to get that moisture out of there!
Image Source: XLR8roofing
Getting Started on Fixing the Leak
Check Your Insurance
Your insurance might cover the cost of getting a leaky roof fixed. Look up your insurance plan or call an insurance agent to check. You might have to pay for the repairs or damage out of pocket, but it doesn’t hurt to double check. It’s possible that you could be pleasantly surprised! Or you could be let down. Some of the many joys of being a homeowner.
Do I Need a Professional?
You’ll first need to determine if the leak is something you can fix or if you will require a professional. A leak that needs a professional is usually because of a crack in your ceiling. Be honest with yourself and assess the leaky roof situation. An abundance of water coming into your house isn’t the right time to try your hand at repairs. If you have done roof work before and are confident in your ability to fix it, then, by all means, give it a try!
How to Pick a Professional
There are many roofing professionals out there. So how do you pick one that’s best for you? Well, start by calling several different companies to get different quotes. You might be surprised at the price differences. Then make sure you understand what is included with the price that the company has given you. Are there any guarantees or warranties that are included? Do the professionals have the appropriate licenses? Will there be a final inspection to make sure it was done properly? These are all things to consider when you’re looking for a professional to fix your leaky roof.
Fixing Your Roof Yourself
Sometimes small leaks happen because there is a little gap between roof and nail. The little gap allows water to drip down into your home. This is something that you could fix with some great roof sealant. Simply use a ladder to get onto the roof and use sealant around the suspected nail that is causing your leaky roof. Hopefully, that does the trick! There might also be a small crack in your roof that is allowing water to get inside your home. Again, roof sealant can do wonders. YouTube can be especially helpful in figuring out how to properly fix your roof by yourself.
Image Source: Home Advisor
Prevent Leaks From Happening Again
Keep Gutters Clean
A clogged rain gutter doesn’t allow water to run down and causes pooling. Too much pooling in your gutters can cause a leaky roof. Make sure that you regularly clean your gutters so that rainwater has somewhere to go besides through your roof.
Trim Trees
Big heavy branches from trees could fall and damage your roof. The next time it rains you might be starting to notice how much damage that falling branch caused. Trim and cut large trees around your house so that they don’t fall on top of it. Even if there are small branches touching your roof it could still cause damage by scraping your roof constantly. The constant scraping can weaken your roof’s structure over time.
Summing Up
Don’t let a leaky roof ruin your home! Follow these guidelines to quickly get water damage under control and to get your leaky roof fixed. Move everything valuable out of reach of water, contain all the water that falls if you can, and make sure that all the leftover moisture has dried. Then decide whether you can fix the leak yourself or if you’ll need a professional’s help. You’ll have that pesky leak fixed before you know it!
Related Article: Best Roof Sealant to Fit Your Needs
Image Source: Garvin Construction
