There are many nightmare scenarios you could be faced with in your home, but a leaking roof has to be near the top of the list. Water is a destructive force, even if it’s limited to a trickle, over time it will cause more long term damage to your home if you don’t act quickly.
There are many dangers that a leaking roof can produce. Some of these include:
- Electrical fire hazards
- Slipping or falling
- Damp and mould
- Rotting the integrity of the building
- Ceiling collapse
- Damage to possessions
To help you in the prevention of, spotting of and fixing of leaks in your roof, we have compiled the following guide.
How to spot a leak
Often you might not know about a leak until you start to see the stains and the water damage on your ceilings. If you do manage to catch it early then you can trace the water back to its point of entry into your home. This will help you to take better action to prevent the leak and any other potential leaks in the same area.
If your loft or attic isn’t in regular use, then check the wooden frames and the exposed insulation for signs of mould or rotting. This is a good indication that water has found its way into your home.
Minor fixes
If you’ve found the leak then congratulations, now comes the more difficult part – actually fixing the leak. Never underestimate a leak; even if it looks minor the damage it can do is huge if you don’t act swiftly. Cracks around windows, vents and in guttering can all be easily fixed with some DIY or replacement parts, but if you aren’t sure of what you’re doing then don’t make a bodge job – tape and glue are not the answer to everything. Feel out of your depth? Call in the professionals to get the job done right first time – if you take the job on without any experience you could end up doing more damage than good.
Big fixes
By the time you realise you need more major work, it could already be too late. You will no doubt have extensive damage to your roof and the inside of your house. As mentioned above, you need to call in professionals if the job requires some industry expertise and materials. Perhaps your entire roof needs retiling, or maybe you’re guttering has deteriorated beyond repair. Whatever the reason for the damage, it’s unlikely that you’ll fix it unaided. The longer you leave a leak the more dangers it poses.
Is the leak not from the roof?
What happens if you can’t find the source of the leak in the attic? That means you don’t have a leaking roof, but the problem isn’t solved; you still need to work out where it is coming from. Common sources of water leaks inside the home include plumbing, air conditioning units and central heating systems.
If you’re unsure about the leak in your home or you have found the source but can’t fix it then don’t hesitate to contact us at Morgan Asphalte – we have over 44 years of experience in the roofing industry, and provide the highest standard of service every time.