What to Do If Your Roof Starts Leaking

A leaking roof is a nightmare for any homeowner and, depending on the severity of the leak, things can go south very quickly, so it is important to take swift action. Here’s what to do if your roof starts leaking.

1. Move everything away from the leak

If your roof starts leaking, the first thing you should do is to move anything out of the loft or room underneath that could become damaged by the water. Any possessions or furniture could easily become ruined by water damage, so it is important to move them out of harm’s way as soon as possible.

Even if it is not possible to remove these items from the room, you should still try to move them as far away from the leak as possible.

2. Try to contain the water

You probably won’t be able to fix a roof leak yourself, but there are things you can do to minimise the damage before professional help arrives. Once you have moved everything away from the leak, you need to try and contain the water coming into the property to prevent it from damaging the floors and walls.

You may be able to do this by putting out containers or buckets underneath the leak, or by laying down towels to absorb as much water as possible.

3. If the ceiling is bulging or sagging, puncture it to relieve pressure

If the ceiling is bulging or sagging at all because of water build-up, it can be a good idea to puncture this to relieve the pressure and let the water out. While this might seem counterintuitive as you are trying to prevent water from entering the property, a bulge such as this could mean the water spreads further across the roof, causing more damage, and the bulge will probably burst on its own anyway.

Puncture the lowest part of the bulge with a tool such as a screwdriver and have a bucket or container ready to catch the water that comes out.

4. If it is safe to access the roof, cover the leak from the outside

If you can determine where the leak is coming from, and you can safely access the roof, you may want to consider covering the leak with a tarp or other waterproof covering. It is worth noting, however, that a roofing professional may be able to get out to you quickly and this step may be an unnecessary risk.

However, if you can’t get immediate assistance, then be sure to cover a wider area than just where you think the leak is coming from and tuck the edges of the tarp under the shingles or tiles to secure it.

5. Call the professionals as soon as possible

The most important thing to do when your roof starts leaking is to call a roofing professional. Any repairs and preventative measures you take will only be temporary, but a professional roofer will be able to provide a permanent solution and stop any existing damage from spreading any further.

A roofer will also be able to identify the cause of the leak, and whether any further repairs or renovation work is necessary to prevent the problem from recurring.

If your roof starts leaking, you need to try and prevent the damage from spreading until professional help can arrive. If you have multiple people in your house when a leak occurs, one of you can call for an emergency roofer, while the other works on the above steps to mitigate the damage.

If your roof has started to leak, please call us on 01392 243000 and one of our professionals will be able to advise you.


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