How To Isolate And Repair A Roof Leak

If you spot a small wet spot in your ceiling after heavy rainfall, ask a roofer to isolate and repair the leak in your roof now. No matter how large or small a roof leak is now, it can wreak havoc on your home and wallet later. Follow the steps below to isolate and repair your roof leak soon.

Clear the Leaky Room 

Before a roofer arrives at your home, you can do a few things yourself to keep your belongings safe from rainwater. First, take time to remove your furniture, curtains, and everything else that contains fabric from the room that contains the leaky ceiling. If you don't clear out the room now, mold will attack and damage everything in it later.

The water on your ceiling will eventually evaporate into the air. Moist air attracts mold and other types of fungi. Mold won't just grow on everything in the room with the leaky ceiling, it can also grow in other rooms in the home. 

Now, call a roofer and request an inspection of your ceiling and roof. 

Isolate the Leak

A roofer must rule out other sources of the leak in your ceiling before they examine your roof. Broken water pipes, moist air ducts, and even leaking appliances can cause moisture to form on ceilings. In order to isolate the cause of your ceiling leak properly, a roofer will use a moisture meter to look for unseen water in your home. If the meter doesn't locate a leak in your home, a roofer will check the roof next.

One of the problems a roofer will look for on your roof is damaged shingles. Damaged shingles will appear:

• faded or dulled in color
• curled or raised around the edges
• flaked, cracked, or blistered on the surface

Some of the shingles may be completely missing from the surface of the roof. If the roof does contain missing shingles, its surface will appear dark and damp from moisture.

A roofer will also look for rusted, peeled, or corroded flashing on the roof. Flashing prevents leaks in chimneys, roof boot vents, satellite dishes, skylights, and other freestanding structures on the roof. Leaks can occur around, beneath, or even on the flashings that support the structures. 

After a roofer successfully isolates the cause of your ceiling or roof leak, they'll repair your roof. If the isolated area is small, a roofer will only need to repair it. If the area is large or threatens to compromise the rest of your roof in the future, a roofer will most likely recommend you install a new roof on your house. 

Learn more about residential roof leak repairs by consulting a roofing contractor today.