Don’t Do These 3 Things If You Have A Leaky Roof
Leaky roofs are prevalent, typically occurring in two types of houses. More often than not, you find leaks in the roofs of ancient homes and brand-new ones. The old ones have leaks because the roof is aged and has started to wear down, leaving gaps for rain to sneak through. New ones leak because many new-build properties are rushed or built with terrible materials, meaning issues can occur in the roof.
In either case, if you have spotted a leak in your roof, there are certain things you need to do to take action. At the same time, there are things you absolutely shouldn’t do. With that in mind, here’s what you don’t do when you have a leaky roof:
Don’t ignore the leak
Whatever you do, don’t ignore the leak in your roof. Clearly, this will only make the problem ten times worse. What starts as a little bit of drippage can soon turn into a massive shower of water within a few weeks or months.
Plus, even if it stays as a slow drip, the damage it does will very quickly add up. You’ll go from a slight bit of damp on your floorboards to a huge puddle that seeps through into the upstairs ceiling. You need to head up to your roof to check for leaks quite regularly, and if you spot one, you need to take action immediately.
Don’t rely on a temporary fix
It’s far too common for people to find a leak in their roof and opt for a temporary fix to an ongoing problem. This might involve DIY fixing the leak, like covering it with gaffer tape. Or, you do the classic thing of sticking a bucket under it, preventing water damage.
Realistically, you need to fix the roof properly, not temporarily. The bucket under the leak is a good idea to stop water damage, but it’s something you should do while you wait for the roof to be fixed by some experts.
Don’t fix the roof yourself
Speaking of which, fixing the roof yourself is a bad idea unless you’re a professional roofer. What may seem like a little leak could be something more serious. Therefore, you need professional roof repair & replacement experts to examine your roof. It may turn out that you need a completely new roof as this leak is a sign of significant structural damage that costs too much to repair, and you’ll save money by replacing the roof.
Aside from ensuring the leak is taken care of correctly, professionals will reduce the safety risks of fixing a leaky roof. If you were to attempt it yourself, it would likely involve going up onto your roof on a ladder, which is extremely dangerous and simply not worth the risk.
So, don’t do these three things if you spot a leak in your roof. Instead, flip everything on its head and follow these simple steps.
- Step 1: place a bucket under the leak to stop it from damaging your property.
- Step 2: call a roofing company straight away.
- Step 3: sit back and let the experts fix your roof!