So your roof has sprung a leak? That’s a bummer. We hope you haven’t been ignoring it. You see, sometimes people see a leak in their roof and think it’s not a big deal. It only rains so often; how much damage can that leak be doing? The answer is that leak can do a lot of damage even if it’s small. Even worse, the leak may not actually be small at all. Just because you’re only seeing a few drips here and there doesn’t mean that the water isn’t going somewhere else where you can’t see it. And that’s the real issue. Once water is allowed to get into the structure of your building, bad things can and will happen; it’s only a matter of time.
So, if you’ve discovered a leak, then don’t delay in taking action to rectify the situation. It may be a small problem now, but it will only become a bigger,more serious problem later if you fail to act.
All right, You’ve Convinced Me; What Should I Do?
This is going to depend on how handy you are. But, because a roof leak is such a potentially serious problem, it’s advisable that you seek the assistance of a professional contractor. If, for example, that leak has managed to rot out part of the wooden structure of your building, you’re going to want to know. A licensed contractor is the person with the expertise that can help you in this situation.
But, I’m a DIY Person!
Well, then, prepare to strap in, because you’re going to have to do a few things to fix that leak!
- Locate the roof leak: This can be much easier said than done. With a flat roof, the site of the leak within the building should, generally speaking, closely correspond with the source of the leak on the outside. With an angled roof, however, this is much more difficult, as water might seep down the inside of the angled roof before it drips, pools, and then drips down again into a room.
- Determine what you need: A roof leak can start anywhere. It might be caused by bad flashings, it might simply be a small hole somewhere, it might even be a rotted out shingle. Depending on what’s determined to be causing the leak, you’re going to need different materials.
- Repair the roof leaks: Once you have all of the necessary materials, it’s time to make the repairs. Since you’re going to be outside, make sure that you pick a good day to make the repairs on. Also, if you’re going to be using any dangerous chemicals or flames (as you might with an asphalt-based roofing system) makes sure that you’re taking all of the necessary safety precautions.
This is, as you can tell, only meant as a general outline of what you’ll need to do. The methods employed to fix roof leaks vary widely depending on the roofing system. So, like we said, if you’re unsure; consult a contractor!