Is a Leaking Roof an Emergency?
Unfortunately, many home and business owners at one point find themselves asking: is a leaking roof an emergency?
Here’s the short answer: No matter how big or small a leaking roof might seem – it’s an emergency.
If you would like to get in contact with an expert immediately, we offer 24/7 emergency roof repair.
A small leak can soon develop into a big problem and a big leak can quickly lead to a lot of water damage in your home.
If you have a leaky roof, you may not need to replace the entire roof. Sometimes, a combination of smaller repairs and preventative maintenance can stop you from having problems in the future. Here are some things to look out for if you are experiencing a leaky roof and ways you can help prevent leaks in the future.
How Long Can You Leave a Leaking Roof?
Is a leaking ceiling an emergency? Almost always yes, but there are two different kinds of emergencies:
- Dangerous or disruptive
- Damaging but habitable
Dangerous or Disruptive
First, is a leaking roof dangerous, and how do you know? If you’re at all uncertain, it’s critical that you leave the house or building immediately and call an expert. Roof collapses and other structural issues can be deadly, so do not take any risks here.
Also, if a leak is disruptive, that’s also a critical emergency. Water pouring onto your bed or TV is an issue that needs to be quickly addressed.
Damaging but Habitable
A leaking roof can wreak havoc on all kinds of things from walls to floors to furniture. It can cause rotting, structural damage, electrical issues, and many other problems that can be extraordinarily expensive to fix.
For that reason, it’s highly recommended to get an expert to look at your leak as soon as possible. If it seems incredibly small and minimal, you might not need to get someone there in the middle of the night, but you’ll want to schedule something first thing in the morning.
Leaking Roof Checklist
When asking “is a leaking roof an emergency,” run through the following checklist to get a better idea of the severity:
- Identify the source of water leakage from roof
- Implement damage control
- Call an expert and schedule inspection
Locate Source of Water Leakage from Roof
If your roof is leaking, the first thing you should do is try to find the source of the leak inside your home or business. Look for puddles on the floor or carpet, dripping water coming from your ceilings, rustic wall stains or moisture in the wall resulting in peeling paint.
Often, if you have an attic – that is the best place to start. Check the insulation in between the floor joists to see if there are any signs of water damage, mold, or stains.
Also, head outside or to a window for a visual inspection. Look above where you can see the leak to try to get an idea of how bad it is. There may be some obvious issues such as broken and missing shingles or a substantial hole. Other times, an untrained eye may not be able to notice anything out of the ordinary. While this may seem like good news, that can make it even more urgent to get an expert out there because damage could be more widespread than you realize.
Damage Control
Soak up any standing water and use buckets or large cooking pots to collect any dripping water. Move anything in your affected room(s) that could be damaged by moisture. Put down drop cloths, garbage bags, or tarps to prevent any further moisture on your floors and carpets. If you are able to safely access your roof, a tarp is a quick and easy temporary solution to prevent further leaking until you’re able to get a professional roofer to assess your leaky roof.
Contact an Expert
Keep in mind that a leaking roof doesn’t necessarily mean you will need to replace the whole thing, so don’t be afraid of the cost when calling an expert.
Even if you believe the situation isn’t severe, you’ll want an expert to have a look as early as possible. Waiting makes things worse, and that leads to a much more expensive repair.
We offer 24/7 emergency roof service in Colorado, so don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.
Roof Leak Damage Signs
You may be asking “is a leaking roof dangerous,” but you should also be concerned with the signs of a leaking roof. After all, you may have a broken pipe in a wall or some other issue.
Look for some of these signs:
- Water dripping from the ceiling. This is an obvious and strong sign.
- Wet walls. This can be identified by discolored paint, bubbles, or simply a feeling of moisture when you touch the wall.
- If you find water puddled on the floor and can’t identify the source, it’s very likely coming from the ceiling.
- Repeats of any of these symptoms. If you find any of these around different areas of the house or building, that’s a big sign that it’s coming from the roof. It’s also a big sign that it’s urgent to fix because it’s likely causing internal damage that you’re not yet aware of.
Preventative Maintenance
The best way to not have to get online and ask “is a leaking roof an emergency” is to engage in preventative maintenance. Prevent leaky roofs in the future by regularly maintaining the area around your roof.
Trim any low-hanging tree limbs around your property. These can scrape and damage your roof’s surface and with high winds, loose branches can come off and cause damage.
Make sure your chimney is maintained – smaller roof leaks can be caused by missing or cracked chimney flashing or pipe collars.
Clean your gutters if they are clogged with leaves, dirt or debris. Your gutters act as your roof’s drainage system and they play a significant role in keeping your roof leak-free.
A roofing emergency can cause a lot of headaches, but with the help of a reliable and responsible roofing company, it doesn’t have to be a nightmare. If your roof is leaking, contact a professional roofing company to help. Don’t try to repair the roof on your own – there’s too much risk of injury and a homeowner won’t properly assess the actual damage.
At B&M Roofing, we specialize in commercial and residential roofing repair. No repair project is too large or too small and we are confident in the quality of our service work and the commitment of our craftsmen. Contact B&M Roofing today to get a free estimate.
