Winter is right around the corner, which means here in Colorado, heavy snowfall and storms are right around the corner too. With heavy snowfall that eventually melts and turns into water sitting on your roof, comes the added risk of getting a roof leak. There is never a convenient time to experience a leaky roof, especially in the winter when it\’s cold outside or around the holidays when you have plans for family to visit. To help you mitigate the issue should it ever arise, Red Hawk Roofing has to put together a list of what to do if your roof starts to leak:
Minimize the Water Damage
If your roof starts to leak, the first thing you should do is try to minimize the impact the water will have on your home. To do this, you should move anything that is in the path of the water – furniture, electronics, rugs, etc. If something isn\’t movable, you should consider covering it with tarp or plastic to protect it. If water reaches these items, you don\’t just have to worry about your roof damage, you’ll then have to worry about fixing or replacing the items that were damaged in the process.
Contain the Water
After moving everything that can be moved out of the way, you should find a way to contain the water that is dripping from your ceiling. The first line of defense should be to find a bucket or waterproof container that the water can drip into. You may even consider putting some sort of fabric at the bottom of the bucket to reduce the risk of water splashing out as the bucket fills. We also suggest you look for bubbling in the ceiling as this is a sign that water is being held. If you find one, put a bucket under it and pop it. This is a more controlled way of taking care of this rather than if it were to burst on it\’s own – AKA, water everywhere.
Dry Everything
Once you are confident the water is contained, you need to work on drying anything it touched. This includes carpet, flooring, furniture, etc. This step is to prevent any stains being left behind by the water and the chance of mold growing in your home. All it takes is a little bit of water that hasn\’t been cleaned up to create an environmental issue on top of the roof issue.
Call a Licensed Roofing Contractor
We hate to break it to you, but your containment of the leak and water will only last so long. We suggest you call a licensed roofing contractor, such as Red Hawk Roofing, as soon as you can to see if they can make it over quickly to assess the leak and damage. If you work with a reputable roofing contractor, they may even help you out with the insurance steps you need to take to give you some peace of mind. This is always part of Fire and Hail\’s process – we will work with you and your insurance company to determine what is covered and what isn\’t to lay out the best roofing restoration plan for you.
Fix the Leaky Roof
Calling roofing contractors for quotes is one thing, settling on a contractor and moving forward with them is another. After you have the damage assessed and have talked to a few roofing contractors, it would be wise to make your decision quickly and have the roofing company you choose start working on fixing it. To help you choose the right roofing contractor for you, here are a few pointers:
- Ensure your contractor is licensed, insured and will pull all required permits
- Make sure your roofing contractor will locate and repair ALL wood damage before starting on the re-roofing process
- Ask about the guarantee/warranty and the life expectancy of your new roof
Don\’t allow any work to begin until you are 100% comfortable with the roofing contractor you\’ve chosen and their responses to the above. Choosing the wrong contractor could turn into more money and more damage at the end of it all.
After getting the leaky roof fixed, you should also ask your roofing contractor for tips on how to avoid this issue in the future. Since they\’ve been in your ceiling and working on your roof directly, they should be able to give tips custom to your home and the repairs they made. At Red Hawk Roofing, we always give our customers a plan forward after we turn over a project. Although we are in the business of roofing and restoration, we don\’t want to see our customers have to go through the same issue twice. By doing the above right when you notice a leak and choosing the right roofing contractor, you can help ensure it performs well and lasts for many years to come after it is repaired.
Have more roofing questions? Give Red Hawk Roofing a call! Our team of roofing experts is ready to answer your questions, help with a repair or totally replace your roof. Â
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