The roof on your property is one of the more essential features of the home. It protects the house from the elements and helps to create a comfortable atmosphere within the building. With this exposure to the environment, roofs are generally subjected to changes that can be extreme. This causing accelerated wear and tear on all components that make up the structure of the roof, making maintenance a crucial aspect of roof care. One of the main concerns that have to do with roofs and roof maintenance is the formation of leaks. Roof leaks can have far-reaching and devastating effects if left unattended. They can bring with them all sorts of problems, including damage and pests.
Roof leaks most commonly occur in the areas of the roof where space has to be made for other components. Examples of this occurrence include the area where the chimney or pipes connecting to the plumbing will penetrate the roof. Reasons for this added vulnerability is the propensity for the product that is used to create a seal around the shingles to disintegrate and wear away faster the longer it is exposed. The rest of the roof is not as prone to this degradation as it generally consists of one continuous and uninterrupted barrier.
What to do once a leak has been discovered
Now that you have found a leak in your roof, you may be asking yourself how best to deal with it. Here are a few suggestions for actions that may be undertaken to mitigate the effects of the leak. Make sure that you:
- Clear the area underneath and around the leak to help contain any further damage.
- Attempt to identify the source of the leak. If you are unable to do so, take note of any suspicions that you might have and bring them up to a professional.
- Ensure that repairs are done. These repairs should be undertaken meticulously to certify that they would last a long time.
- Get rid of all water that has collected because of the leak. This means that you should do your best to dry all areas that were affected by the water.
- Once dry, go back to the areas that were most affected by the leak and inspect them. Look for damage and degradation, especially on wooden parts, as well as any rust on nails.
- Undertake or commission any repair work that may be required.
Once you are done dealing with the leak, take the time to double-check that all the repairs have been done to satisfactory levels and that all steps have been taken to make certain that there will be no further leaks in the roof.
The condition of the roof plays a large part in the protection of your family and their comfort in the home. Now that your leaky roof is behind you, you may take steps to prevent any further mishaps by reinforcing your routine roof maintenance tasks.
Call a professional roof inspector occasionally to take a look at all sections of the roof. Keep the inspections spaced out in relatively reasonable time frames so that nothing is missed in the time in between reviews. This can also help to catch any developing areas of concern early enough to undertake needed roof repairs before the problem devolves too far.