Leaking roofs can quickly become a serious problem for any homeowner. It might not always be easy to tell exactly where your roof is leaking from or even if it’s a roof leak at all. Roof leaks aren’t always going to be dripping from the ceiling and sometimes it’s a really slow leak that may never appear on the inside of the home. That’s one reason why it’s so important to get a roofer in Brownstown Michigan to inspect your roof regularly. Here are some tips to help determine if you have a leaking roof.
How to Spot a Leaking Roof in Brownstown Michigan
Somethings to look for when inspecting for leaks is water stains. If you notice discoloration in your roof or peeling paint on the ceiling, you most likely have a leak. A drip coming from your ceiling is a sure fire sign that you have a leak in your roof. Even if you notice a drip goes away, you should never ignore it. You should also look for stains on your exterior walls. The first spot you want to look for staining is right at the roof line. If you notice the stains, they could often result in a problem with the flashing.
Another indication could be moss or mold on your exterior walls. If you notice moss or mold on your outside walls, it could indicate a roof leak. This type of damage is often caused by damage to gutters and downspouts. Missing shingles could be another sign that you potentially have a leak in your roof. When there are shingles missing in your roof this exposes the wood under the shingles to mother nature. When you’re missing shingles it could also clog up your gutters from the debris.
Should a Leak Be Considered a Roofing Emergency?
Most of the time a leaking roof shouldn’t be considered an emergency. Even though they are not considered an emergency, they should never be ignored. When you notice a leak you should have it checked out as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more damage it can cause. This is especially crucial if you have a bad storm coming up. If you have drywall in your home, a leak could quickly destroy. Even if you have different walls in your home, leaks could still destroy them if you ignore it long enough.
What Should you Do When you Discover A Leak
You can take steps to prevent your home from more damage before a professional gets there. You may not notice a leak right away, but it could be causing a lot of damage. The water could be pooling up in your attic or ceiling. Eventually it will find a place to burst and result into a lot more damage.
If you notice a discoloration, you can poke a hole in the center of it to release water. This may seem crazy causing more damage to your home, but it could cause a lead-way for the water so that it doesn’t cause more damage throughout your whole roof. You’re going to want to make sure you put down some sort of container before this process. This will help ensure that you want to get water all over your floor. After all you don’t have any idea how much water is up there.
Don’t forget to remove any items that you don’t want wet out of the way. Once you have found where the leak is you can then begin searching for the source of the leak. Normally their best place to look for the source is in the attic. Normally you can trace the source down the rafters and on the roof deck.
What Damage Could You Receive From A Leaking Roof?
Leaking roofs can cause all sorts of damage to your home. Normally the attic and ceiling are the most affected areas from a leak. Insulation can also receive water damage. If this happens then your roof can quickly develop mold and mildew. Mold can put your health at risk and spread throughout your entire home. This will make your entire home a lot weaker.
If you develop a serious leak during a severe storm you could always put a tarp over it to temporarily fix it. While this won’t fix it forever, it will hold up until you can get a professional out there to check it out. Make sure the tarp is large enough to cover more than just the affected area. After you have the tarp placed, you could then put 2x4s around the edges and screw them down to help ensure it wont blow off. If you choose to use screws instead, make sure they’re not so long that they penetrate the roof.
It’s always best to contact a professional roofing contractor for any type of roof leak or roof inspection that is needed. Call the experts at Downriver Roofers today if you suspect your home has a roof leak. They offer free quotes and can inspect your roof for problems quickly. Call today at 734-548-9919.
