Springtime storms can bring a lot of rain, which can reveal
roof leaks. What should you do when an April shower finds
its way into your living room?
First, control the
interior damage as quickly as possible.
Move any items that have not yet become soaked. If furniture
or other items cannot be moved, cover them with plastic
sheets to protect them from the water. Collect dripping
water in a leak proof container and make sure the container
is on a solid surface.
Remove the water.
Begin to dry up water that has soaked into carpet and
furniture. For carpeting that has become wet, you may need
to pull the carpet away from the padding. Expose the backing
to air and allow it to dry. This will also give the padding
underneath a chance to dry, and reduce the chance that mold
will grow. Circulate as much fresh air as possible around
the affected areas.
Call your insurance agent.
If your living space has sustained a considerable amount of
damage, call your insurance agent. Your policy may or may
not cover damage to the interior from a roof leak. Do not
wait to call the agent. They can usually inspect the damage
within hours of your call and help you get started on the
process of cleaning up or replacing your damaged contents.
Inspect the roof, inside and out.
As soon as possible, check the roof for obvious sources of
standing or pooling water. Make sure the valleys, gutters
and downspouts are clear of debris and allow the water to
move freely off the roof and away from the house. Inspect
the roofing materials. Make sure all parts of the underlying
roof are covered with shingles, and that the water barrier
is not exposed in any way. Keep in mind that the water's
point of entry into the living space may not be directly
below the roof leak. Roof leaks can "travel" so inspect the
entire region of the leak carefully. You may also find it
useful to inspect the roof from the attic space above the
living quarters. That may provide a better indication of how
the water is entering the structure.
Clear the gutters and downspouts.
Remove any obvious blockages and clear the downspouts if
they are clogged. You can often do this with a garden hose.
If the downspout is clogged, and it cannot be cleared with a
hose, you may have to remove the downspout from the gutter
and clear it by inverting the downspout or using a broom
handle or other long object to push the debris out of the
pipe. When it is clear, reattach it to the gutter and direct
the water away from the foundation.
Inspect the flashing.
Some roof leaks are not the result of clogged gutters or
downspouts. Instead, leaks occur where the roofing material
is worn or damaged. In other cases, the flashing around
chimneys, vents, or roof projections is damaged and allows
water into the structure below. Inspect the flashing, where
chimneys, dormers, vents and other attachments abut the
roof. If the flashing is in poor condition, it may need to
be replaced. If the sealing around the flashing is damaged,
a generous application of roof tar may plug the leak.
Look for hidden damage.
Roof leaks often develop over time, so water may collect
unnoticed for some time before it enters the living space.
When you inspect the attic, check for any hidden damage that
the leak may have caused. Look for wet spots on the roof
planks or panels, discolored wood, damaged OSB panels,
strange odors and dirt on the insulation. Check the interior
for bulges in the ceilings and walls, peeling paint, and
badly cracked plaster or wallboard. All of these are signs
that something may not be right in your attic or walls.
Check for pests.
Ants and other water-loving pests will find wet wood a very
attractive place to build a nest. If you experience a sudden
invasion of ants, powder post beetles, pill bugs, sow bugs,
earwigs or other water-loving pests, immediately look for
wet wood. An exterminator can rid your house of these pests,
but the only way to make sure they stay away is to remove
the wet wood and remediate the problem.
Call a licensed roofing contractor.
If your inspection reveals a lot of water damage, or an old
roof that simply needs replacement, and if you aren't up to
replacing it yourself, call a licensed
Colorado Springs
roofing contractor to repair or replace your roof.
Simply re-shingling the roof will not repair most roof
leaks. If the roof is leaking, the most likely cause is a
breakdown of the waterproofing layer underneath the
shingles. In that case, all old shingles should be torn off,
and the water proofing layer, along with the shingles,
should be replaced.
Re-roofing can be expensive, so be sure to get several
estimates from different contractors before selecting
someone to do the work. Verify that the contractor you
choose is licensed, has insurance and will apply for the
proper municipal permits to do the work. Do not allow the
contractor to begin work on the house if permits have not
been issued and make sure the contractor replaces all of the
damaged wood prior to re-roofing the house. After the roof
work is complete, ask the contractor to go over proper roof
maintenance with you, and be sure to get a final inspection
from your municipal housing authority.
Eileen is a veteran in branding and public
relations. Currently she is working with
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sorts of service providers.
