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Roof Leak Do's and Don'ts
Breianna Dahl • Jan 14, 2021
Let’s face it, when an issue arises that doesn’t seem to be causing any problems initially, we tend to ignore the issue altogether. You know what I mean. The first signs of a cavity, or the sound your car just started making. From where you stand, so far there isn’t a huge problem with the cavity or sound. Your car is still working perfectly fine, and your teeth don’t hurt; so you wait. But, then you put off going to the dentist or bringing your car in, and one day that small issue causes bigger – more expensive – problems. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again; roofs are no different. Today, I would like to spend some time listing my top two do, and don’ts when you notice that you have a roof leak.
Don’t Ignore the Leak
I get it, you see that water stain on the ceiling and think to yourself “well, it’s not actively leaking” so you put off getting it looked at. Then you watch as a slowly grows, which could take a few months, or maybe a few years.
But eventually, you will need to get the leak looked at. Now let me ask you this, would you prefer to get a small leak looked at right away, or wait and get it looked at after the leak has had time to not only ruin some office equipment but also lead to mold and other structural damage? Or even worse, give it time to flood your building?
You might think that I’m exaggerating, but while I was in college I worked in a factory during the summers.
One summer we had a horrible storm come through, and I walked into work to find that the part of the factory I worked in had flooded due to a leak in the roof. We subsequently spent half of my shift cleaning up the water and making sure that it hadn’t hurt any of the equipment. I will never forget how upset my supervisor was that we had wasted half a workday, hindering our numbers for the day.
Long story short, don’t ignore a leak.
Do Pay Attention to Leak Details
Paying attention to where a leak is located allows you to note what part of the roof should be looked at. This is particularly important when you have a big building. Documenting what the leak looks like, if it has grown with a recent storm, and anything else that you notice can help a professional quickly locate and fix the problem area. While you may expect that a leak is caused by a tear in your roofing membrane, it is possible that a leak is caused by a gap in a wall or trapped moisture that needs a vent to escape from. Any information that you can gather and note allows for a professional to properly assess the problem and come up with the proper solution. If you notice signs of a leak after a big storm, but can’t remember if those signs were there beforehand, document the current signs and wait until another storm if you would like. Or, save yourself the trouble and just call a professional you trust to check the situation out. Annual, or bi-annual maintenance inspections can save you the headache of needing to document yourself.
Don’t DIY the Repair
When it comes to some projects I know it can be tempting to look up a YouTube video and “teach” yourself how to fix the problem. Believe me, from someone who went through the broke college student phase in my life, the idea of saving money can be alluring, but let me tell you, the roof of your building shouldn’t be a DIY project. First, as a principle pertaining to the idea that time is money, your (or your employees') time and talents are better used where they can further your company to success. Second, sometimes DIY repairs void your roof's warranty. If you don’t know if your roof still has a warranty, it’s a good thing to check before starting on any DIY roof projects. Third, you can end up causing more damage to your roof. As someone who hasn’t been professionally trained, you have no idea what you are looking for, or what products to use. Don’t believe everything you find on the internet, even that YouTube video of someone claiming that their repair is foolproof.
DIY-ing your roof can be a death sentence.
Do Call in a Professional
The best thing you can do for your wallet, building, and health of the roof, is call in a professional. Bringing in a professional not only guarantees that your roof will be safe but also means that the problem will be addressed properly.
I’m not going to say that roofing is rocket science, but sometimes a roof problem will look like one issue when in reality it is something completely different. Having a trained roofer take a look at your roof means that the guesswork is taken out. Not to mention that having a professional fix the roof means that the warranty can stay intact. The best place to start is to create a relationship with a roofing company that you can trust. Your relationship doesn’t have to start when a problem arises and instead can happen on your terms. Reach out to roofing companies in the area and decide now who you will call for all your roofing needs.
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About the Author:
Breianna Dahl is a recent college graduate and the Marketing Manager for Roof Medics. She has been around the roofing industry her whole life as her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all roofers. Besides writing a blog Breianna handles all of Roof Medics social media accounts, and recently became a licensed drone operator. Breianna lives in Wisconsin with her husband.
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