Rainy days are excellent for a day in with a good movie, a cup of tea, or your favorite book. But they can also be trouble if you have roof problems that you’ve been ignoring for a while. Roof leakage has been reported as one of the most common roof related issues that homeowners experience.
Roof water leakage can seriously damage not only your roof, but also the interior of your house. All that money and energy that you put into renovating can go down the drain in a matter of seconds. Roof leaks calls for professional help, but you do need to do something for prevention before a specialist gets to your house. While you can’t solve the problem completely, you can definitely take steps to reduce the level of damage.
Let’s jump to discussing some tips and methods that will help you to keep your roof and house in a good condition.
Locate and contain the leak
The very first thing that you want to do when you see water leakage on your ceiling is put a bucket under it to collect it and ensure it doesn’t damage your floor or carpet. After you spot the leak inside the house, you will need to locate it on the roof. If you have the ability and only if it’s safe, go up to your roof and try to locate the source of the leak.
Once you can also find the problem on the roof, depending on the complexity of the issue you can:
- Put a shingle or a piece of wood on it. Ensure that when it rains or snows, water doesn’t go in. But this isn’t a permanent fix.
- Call a roofing specialist. Show them what you’ve discovered and let them take care of the rest.
The solution for plumbing vent boots
Plumbing vent boots are a must for every roof, because they are used to waterproof pipe penetrations. Roof boots can be made of different materials. Despite that, sometimes they crack or break and consequently lead to water entering your house.
If your roof is leaking, we recommend you first check the plumbing vent boot for any damages. It tends to be one of the most common reasons for roof leaks. Check the base and the rubber boot for cracks. The most effective solution for roof boots is a replacement. You can buy a new plumbing vent boot from any home center. You will need to replace the surrounding shingles as well in the process. If you are careful enough, you can remove the shingles, then put them back again to save on money.
The solution for roof vents
Roof vents are necessary for good ventilation, and yet they can also be a source of leaks, if installed improperly.
Just like in case of plumbing vent boots, we recommend that you tackle the issue from the source and replace damaged or leaking roof vents immediately, otherwise you might face the same problem again. Also, check on the nails at the vent’s base – if there were any winds in your area, they could have easily carried away loose nails, which will eventually leads to leaks.
Other solutions
Plumbing vent boots and roof vents are the two most common issues causing roof water leakage, but they are not the only ones.
- Water leakages can also come from the walls of your home, because cracks on walls allow water to get in. If you notice water on your ceiling but it drops quickly, there is a chance it’s coming from the upper part of the wall rather than the roof. Check near the windows and where the wall connects to the roof and fill in if you see cracks or damage.
- If the issue is with shingles, then there are two solutions. If it’s missing, replace immediately. If it’s broken, cover it temporarily to stop the leakage and then replace as soon as you can.
DIY repairs can be effective but it’s always safer to consult with a professional. If you’re looking for a roofing company in Los Angeles to handle your roof leak repairs, then contact Roof Repair Specialist today for a free inspection!
