Your roof is leaking. It’s an awkward confession, and you’d like to avoid making it, but you must get on with the cleanup. You and your roof have some repair work to do, and you need to get to the source of the problem. After all, preventing future damage is better than mopping up the mess again and again. 

Make Sure That You’ve Managed the Mess 

You’ve cleaned up the floor or the attic, and the roof leak is fixed for now. Before you begin to look at long term solutions, make sure that the damage has truly been fixed. Work with a restoration company to ensure that you don’t have any long term damage such as: 

• Rot in the walls, floor, or ceiling 
• Paint that will peel off over time 
• Mold or mildew that could cause smells and health concerns 
• Pockets of moisture inside the structures of your home 

A restoration company can ensure that your home is actually dry and can inspect for problem areas that you need to address to avoid long term health impacts and building damage.

Understand the Source of the Problem 

Often, the source of a leak is not what it initially appeared to be. If you have a leak in your roof, or walls, some of the immediate causes could be: 

• Damaged flashing 
• Poorly sealed roof valleys 
• Damaged chimney – according to Freshome, “Mortar is essentially just a thick mixture of water, sand, and cement. It erodes easily in harsh weather conditions.”
• Improperly installed skylights
• Foundation cracks 
• Old caulking around windows 
• Degraded roofing

However, there are other sources of the problem as well, and to really deal with your home leaks, you must also address those. These are some of the reasons why water is pooling or leaking into these areas in the first place. 

• An improperly sloped or rotting roof that encourages water to pool in specific locations. 
• Clogged gutters that overflow, causing water to pool near the foundation. This water could also make the soil shift around your home, leading to shifting foundations that crack and leak. 
• Ice dams in your gutters that send ice up into your roof, damaging roofing tiles. 
• Poor overhangs or damaged gutters over your walls and windows that send water down your siding.

Addressing the Leak 

When you have a leak in your home, you must take steps to address it. After you’ve cleaned up and ensured that your home is safe from rot and mold, make sure that you understand the initial source of the problem. Address that source as well as any other problems that have arisen from it. Dealing with the root of the problem will help you avoid making the same repairs next year and the year after that. 

For example, if you discover that multiple roofing tiles are loose or damaged in the areas close to your gutter, you could have ice dams that have moved those roofing tiles during the winter. Add gutter heat to address the problem. You could also live in an area where you have many deciduous trees, and their leaves clog your gutters in the fall, causing them to overflow and damaging your roof, siding, and foundation. Adding a gutter cover to your gutters helps keep them clean and stops the cycle of damage.

Are you ready to take your home renovations seriously? Talk with Harry Helmet. We’re here to make your home renovations easier. We specialize in roofing, gutters, and awnings. Whether you’re considering adding a gutter cover to your home or you’d like to increase your summer shade with an awning, talk with us about your home repair needs. Schedule a free estimate today.

Written by Del Thebaud