There are many unforeseen issues that can happen when you’re a homeowner, and one of them is finding out that your roof is leaking. Whether it’s a persistent dripping or a relentless downpour, there are several steps you’ll need to take in order to deal with a leak properly.
Contain the Leaking Water
The minute you discover a leak, you’ll need to protect the areas inside your home that are most susceptible to water damage. This will include covering equipment, furniture, and wood flooring. When exposed to water, the electrical equipment can be ruined and cause a fire hazard. While it’s possible to protect your wood floors preemptively by using sealant consistently, water from a leaking roof may still cause damage. Unlike some furniture, this article from Mr. Floor Companies states that your wood floors may not show damage immediately. Instead, you may notice the formation of a hump or dark stain in the flooring over time. In that case, you’ll have to contact a professional to refinish or replace your flooring, so it’s best to make sure the floor doesn’t get wet in the first place.
Contact Your Insurance Agent
Having protected the important items from water damage, it’s important to contact your insurance agent. In fact, this article from Think Tank Home encourages homeowners to get in touch with their agent before they even start cleaning up. This, of course, should be adhered to within reason as you don’t want to encourage further water damage by ignoring soaked furniture or carpeting. Water-logged items may be permanently damaged or start to grow mold. When speaking with your agent, make sure to be thorough when describing the source of the leak so they can guide you on what may or may not be covered by your insurance policy.
Get the Roof Assessed
Roofs may leak for a variety of reasons, and it’s important to proceed carefully in order to ensure the leak is properly taken care of and won’t cause further problems in the home. If a leak isn’t fixed properly, the steady inflow of water can cause structural damage and promote the growth of mold that can adversely affect your health. Still, if your roof was already old or your house was showing little signs of water damage, you may already know that it’s time to replace your roof. Either way, it’s important to get your roof professionally assessed so that the issue is properly taken care of. The experienced pros at Cameron Roofing can solve your roofing problems, whether you’re looking to get it repaired or replaced.
Benefits of Replacing the Roof
If you decide to replace your roof, there are quite a few benefits of taking this step. These include addressing any safety concerns that the roof could leak again in the future or suffer from unseen damage that the previous assessment didn’t catch. You’ll also have the opportunity to install a more modern and energy-efficient roof which could significantly decrease your heating and cooling costs. Finally, if you plan to sell your home in the future, a new roof will increase the value of your property. A new roof will not only make the home look more appealing, but you’ll also be able to give the new owners an assurance on the life of the new roof.
A leaking roof is more than an annoyance, it can be detrimental to your home, flooring, furniture, and even your health. While it’s good to know what to do in the event of a leak, it’s even better to prevent them by practicing scheduled roof maintenance activities such as inspections and roof repairs as needed.
Cameron Roofing can address all your roofing needs, and we provide windows, doors, and siding services as well. Give us a call today at (585) 248-3000.