Severe storms can cause all sorts of damage, and your home's roof is bound to take the brunt of that damage. After a while, you may start to notice that your roof is leaking.
What are the dangers of a leaking roof and how can you mitigate the damages?
If you've recently noticed that your roof is leaking, it's time to act. Here are some of the dangers of waiting to fix your roof, and the steps you need to take to start fixing the damages.
Waiting to fix a roof leak can lead to larger and more costly issues down the road. Here are some of the examples of why waiting to get your leaky roof fixed isn't a good idea.
Mold thrives in warm, damp environments. If your roof is leaking, water can seep into the rest of your home, allowing mold to take root. Once mold finds a secure place to live inside of your walls, it can become deadly and difficult to get rid of.
The longer water sits around in your home, the worse your mold problems will get. It's best to inspect your roof immediately after an intense storm to look for damages. That way, you can prevent mold buildup inside of your home.
A leaking roof can allow water to seep into your home's foundation, which can lead to severe structural damage. The longer you allow water to sit in your home, the worse the structural damage will get. This puts you and your family in real danger.
Taking care of the roof leak right away can prevent additional water from getting into your home, keeping your foundation strong.
The longer you go without repairing a damaged roof, the more expensive your repairs will be. After all, if your roof has holes or other forms of damage, each storm is only going to cause further problems for your home. More water inside of your home causes additional water damage and structural instability.
You need to take care of your roof the moment you discover damage to prevent unnecessary expenses. Even a full roof replacement would be less expensive than dealing with the aftermath of a severe storm with a damaged roof.
Once you've discovered that your roof is damaged, it's time to start working on temporary fixes to protect your home. Here are the steps you need to take after realizing your roof is leaking.
If you store your personal belongings in your attic, then you should start moving them to a safer location. Anything below your leaking roof is in danger of water damage; the sooner you can get it out of the way, the better.
Fabrics and similar objects can also begin growing mold if left alone for too long. It's better to move everything away from the leak than risk severe damage.
Once you've successfully moved your personal belongings out of the way, it's time to contain as much of the leaking water as possible. Your goal is to prevent the water from coming into contact with the floor; this will protect the structural integrity of your home. Set up waste bins, buckets, bowls, anything that can be used to contain the water.
Make sure you regularly check these containers to keep them from overflowing. This will protect your floor and keep your home safer and dryer.
Have you noticed an odd bulge in the ceiling of your home after a rainstorm? This is caused by water collecting in one spot, building up water pressure that could flood your home. This bulge puts extra weight on joists in your house and can cause other issues beside water damage. While it may not seem like a good idea, your best course of action is to relieve this pressure as soon as possible. That means you'll have to pop the bulge and let the water out.
Get a bucket or other container and set it below the bulge; after that, take a screwdriver and carefully poke through the lowest point on the bulge. You may need to puncture the bulge in several spots to fully relieve the pressure.
Anything that you can do to protect your home should be treated as a temporary fix to your problem. Once you've taken a few steps to protect your home, it's time to call a local water mitigation team like Quik Stop Restoration.
We can often setup a temporary tarp on your roof to prevent further water from leaking into your home. Then we can work to remove or dry any of the damage to your home and coordinate with a professional roofer to address cracks or leaks in your roof. This will help to prevent leaks from rain or storms in the future and can often save you time and money in the long run.
Storms may cause a lot of damage on their own, but if your roof is leaking, you need to get started on repairs as soon as possible. Remember to do as much work to prevent further damage to your home; afterward, contact a professional roof repair company for assistance handling the leaking roof.
Are you dealing with severe water damage in your home that you don't know how to fix?
We're here to help. Contact us with any questions or concerns you have about our water damage restoration services and continue reading our blog for more helpful tips today!
