Save it for a rainy day

The rainy season is just around the corner and its best you prepare for it before the first storm clouds form above your home. Here are a few things to look into this month.

Water can turn a simple maintenance job into a disaster. It is therefore important to find roof leaks before they show you where they are.

There are many resources on how to find a roof leak but, most of the time homeowners can locate the problem themselves within minutes.

A leaking roof should be repaired immediately before further damaged is caused to the structure of the roof, itself, or to the home. If a leak is left untreated, the structure will likely be damaged along with some belongings inside your home.

Find a roof leak
If you wonder how to find a roof leak, it's not as difficult as you may imagine. You should first look inside the home for signs of water.

The first, and most obvious, would be water spots, standing water or mould. If you have a wet spot on your floor, look directly above to the ceiling for any signs of leakage.

Such signs may include water spots, a soft or sagging ceiling and damp areas anywhere on the ceiling or wall. A water spot on the ceiling would generally start out small, but grow larger with a brown ring defining its shape.

If a leak is not immediately visible from the interior of your home, consider that the problem area may be more obvious from an outside inspection.

Using a ladder and binoculars, look for visual signs of roof damage or other structural problems. If it is raining, or if the roof is still wet from a previous rain, do not walk on the roof under any circumstances.

Walking on a wet roof can be especially dangerous for an individual, but also for the structure of the roof itself. During your visual search, look for any debris that may be causing problems by blocking rain from flowing from the roof‘s slope.

Bad flashings are usually the cause for a roof leaks too. If possible, examine flashings and the chimney area for any signs of a problem.

In addition, inspect any points at which an antenna or satellite dish connects inside the home. Possibly the most obvious damage sign, during the outside inspection, would be missing or damaged roof tiles.

If you have warped or cracked tiles or shakes, replace them immediately. If they are damaged beyond repair, they will need to be replaced completely. If you need to replace one, or several tiles, this does not necessarily mean that the entire roof will need to be replaced.

If you have experienced a storm with heavy winds, look for any signs that debris may have damaged the structure of your roof. The debris may no longer be located on your roof, but the damage that it caused will be.

If you are still uncertain about how to find a roof leak, or are uncomfortable with heights or inspecting your roof in general, call a contractor for a professional evaluation. In addition, a contractor can show you exactly how to find a roof leak in the future. When inspecting your roof, take special care when climbing ladders or repairing any problems.

Read the full article on page 12 of the August 2012 issue.