What to Do When Your Roof Is Leaking in Harrisonburg, Virginia?
My roof is leaking, what should I do? Leaks can be very intimidating and can lead you to start questioning the cost of everything, the size of the leak, and the extent of the damage. Leaks usually come by surprise and do not come with a lot of time to prepare. Thankfully the repair process is usually not too complicated!
What do I do if my roof is leaking?
Leaks in your house need to be fixed as soon as possible since small leaks can easily spread, causing a lot of damage to your home.
Right when you notice any signs of leaking in your house, you will want to contact a contractor to come to inspect the roof to see the extent of the damage.
However, contractors can not do any repairs in the middle of a storm and will wait until the rain stops to inspect it.
If you notice a drip coming from your roof or ceiling, grab a bucket or trash can and place it under the leak to prevent other damage. If the water has created a bulge in your ceiling, lay down a tarp and grab a bucket to drain the bulge. Draining the water will take some of the pressure off your ceilings.
It is essential to act quickly whenever you see any leaks inside your home, to protect anything from spreading.
What does a roof leak look like?
The first sign you usually see from a roof leak is staining on your ceilings. It is helpful to catch the leak in your attic before it causes damage to your ceiling. So make sure you are routinely checking your attic before any leaks cause more damage or mold. If your rafters are exposed in your attic, examine your rafters with a flashlight and check them for any discoloration.
If you see any wood that is darker in color and it feels wet, you have found where the leak is coming in. The size of the leak and the length of time it has been around will determine the amount of damage to your house.How do you find and repair a leak if you don’t have an attic in your house? When you don’t have an attic, the only way to see a leak from the inside is from stains on your ceiling.
This is why it is important to check your roof regularly to avoid any leaks. Once you see a stain, you will want to get an inspection done to find the source of the leak.Leaks come from anywhere the shingles or flashing have left the roof showing. Exposure to the roof can be from shingles being cracked or missing, any damage to the flashing around the chimney, or any damage to the sealing around pipes sticking out of your roof.
Leaks can also come from rotting, peeling, or broken shingles, which may be harder to notice.
Can a leaking roof be repaired?
Thankfully many issues with a leak in your roof can be easily repaired. However, it may need to be replaced depending on how long the leak has been causing damage.
The age of your roof also has a considerable effect on if a repair will be beneficial. If your roof is over 15 years old, it may be time for a replacement.
Leaks can also come from your gutters being clogged. Make sure you are routinely checking to make sure water is easily flowing through your gutters correctly so that the water isn’t coming toward your house.When you notice a leak, it is helpful to get a professional contractor to survey the damage and give you more information on your repair options. You can also find many DIY videos and roofing supplies to help you fix leaks in your roof.
If you try to fix a leak from the inside of your house with store-bought sealers, be aware that they are for temporary relief and not long-term. You will want to be careful you aren’t covering up more significant problems or internal damage that can be harder to see when examining your roof. Internal water damage can cause many structural issues to your house, so make sure you get a professional opinion first.
How much does it cost to fix a leaking roof?
The national average cost for a repair in your roof is between $377-$1662. These repairs include getting your roof patched or shingles replaced. Metal roofs are more expensive to repair, but they are made to be more durable. If they are installed correctly, metal roofs should withstand storms better and last longer.
Our Cenvar team in Harrisonburg, Virginia, offers a roof tune-up service! You should get your roof inspected every 3-5 years to catch any problems early on. This will help your roof last longer by keeping it in good shape.
Our roof tune-up team will check the caulking around the counter flashing, pipe boots, and nail pops. They will also examine your power fan if it is easily accessible, and they will clear off any debris from your roof.While it is beneficial to get your roof checked professionally, the National Roofing Contractor Association recommends personally checking your roof twice a year to proactively spot any problems.
If you would like to get your roof inspected or want more information on repair options, schedule a FREE ESTIMATE today, and we would love to come out and help you!
