There’s nothing quite as comforting as staying inside on a rainy day. The soft gray light peeking through your window, the cozy feeling of being wrapped up in a blanket, and the gentle sound of rainfall hitting your roof. Living in the Pacific Northwest, we’re lucky enough to have more than our fair share of rainy mornings. If you have a leak in your roof, though, a rainy day will quickly go from calming to catastrophic. Should you find yourself bailing out water from a leaky roof in Vancouver, don’t panic. We have the advice and expertise to help you handle the problem. Here’s what you can do about a leaky roof in Vancouver.
Stop Any Further Water Damage
By the time you find a leak in your home, it’s likely to have already done some damage. Nearly anything you have out, such as books, electronics, or furniture, is in danger of water damage so be sure to get plastic coverings over anything that’s exposed. People have lost plenty of their valuables to a leaky roof, so act quickly and make sure your things are protected.
Contain and Remove the Water
Once you have your belongings covered, you’ll need to do what you can to contain the water as it drips in. A bucket or any other kind of waterproof container will do the trick until you can get professional help. If the water tends to splash out of the bucket and onto the floor, propping up a board in the bucket or putting an old rag in the bottom will help stop the spray. It will also help minimize the repetitive dripping noise, which, while not important for the integrity of your roof, is certainly important for your sanity.
After you have your containment set up, you’ll need to keep a careful eye on the leak. If the paint around it starts to bubble or swell, water is starting to pool inside the ceiling itself. Should that happen, you’ll need to drain it with a screwdriver or other sharp implement. No homeowner is crazy about punching a hole in their ceiling, but having the water trapped and seeping through the ceiling will only do more long-term damage.
Once you feel confident the leak is contained, you can set to work drying everything out. Carpeting, wood, and furniture are all in danger of getting water stained, so get the air circulating. If you have carpeting that’s soaked through, you’re going to need to pull it up. In order for it to dry, you’ll need to expose both sides of the carpet and the padding to the air. More important than fighting stains, drying out your home is vitally important in preventing mold from growing. Stained furniture is one thing, but mold growing in your home can be seriously detrimental to your health.
Seek Out the Source
With the leak contained (for now) and your house drying out, you’ll want to seek out the source of the leak. If you have access to your attic, that will be the first place to start. Head up there during the day and turn out the lights, and you may be able to find the source of the leak just by looking for any daylight shining through what should be a solid roof.
If you can’t find it that way, you can try testing with more water. Using a long hose, shower sections of your roof until water drips down into your house again. Obviously, this can be challenging if you have a leaky roof in Vancouver, where the rainstorm may not let up and give you the opportunity to isolate different parts of your roof. If you can, though, it will be well worth it.
Once you’ve determined what section of the roof is leaking, you can use additional tarps and plastic sheeting to create a quick DIY seal. Not ideal for the long-term but certainly preferable to bailing out a bucket every few hours.
Get Expert Help to Fix the Leak—Quickly!
A leaky roof won’t improve with time. The longer you leave the problem alone, the more damage it will do to your home. After you’ve done what you can to contain the water and minimize the damage, you’ll need to get the help of a professional as soon as you can. A skilled contractor will be able to assess the leak in your roof, determine the cause of the problem, and come up with the best solution. Once the roofers put together a plan of action, they’ll also be able to advise you on how to care for your roof and avoid any additional leaks.
Take Preventative Measures for the Future
Due to the nature of a leaky roof in Vancouver, it’s easy to miss the problem until it’s too late. Even if you don’t have a full-blown leak and it doesn’t seem like that serious of a problem, maybe just a few dark spots or a small bubble forming on the ceiling, the situation will only get worse. By establishing a basic routine of roof maintenance, you’ll be able to nip any other potential leaks in the bud.
First of all, be sure to clean out your gutters and downspouts frequently. Falling leaves and other detritus can build up in them and cause clogs, creating areas for water to accumulate and slowly seep down into your house. Ensuring the flow remains clear will keep water flowing off the roof and not into it.
Secondly, keep an eye on any tree branches over your home that might cause damage to your roof. Falling branches are an obvious source, but even a low-hanging limb scraping across the same section can wear away at its integrity. Keep branches trimmed, and you can avoid any arboreal damage.
Finally, arrange for regular inspections of your roof by a trained professional. With a trained eye, you’ll be able to find and identify any potential leaks before you even need a bucket.
At Interstate Roofing, we’ve been fixing leaky roofs in Vancouver for over 30 years. If you have a leak that needs immediate attention, or if you have questions about how to avoid an indoor deluge, give us a call. We’re here to help.