Roof leaks can be the most annoying thing you will ever experience in your life during rainy days. Roof leaks can give you that uneasy feeling when hearing dripping water falling off from your ceiling. Not only that, such issue can cause serious damages to your surrounding properties. This article will provide suggestions on how you can fix your leaking roof and gutters without professional help. But please not that these troubleshooting steps are only temporary solution to the problem. Calling a certified plumber for help is the best and only way to resolve leaking roofs for good. You can use these suggestions while waiting for the plumber to arrive.
Protection
Protection should always be paramount whenever you experience a leaky roof. Never attempt to fix your roof when the weather is still bad. If there is a ravaging storm, do not even try to investigate on the problem. It would be best to wait until the storm has ended. What you can do while the storm is still ongoing is to protect what is inside your home. Move belongings that are near the leaks as water can damage them overtime. Make sure to prioritize protecting your electronic appliances since they are the most susceptible to water damage. Grab any buckets or plastic bags in your home and use them to catch the water that is leaking from your roof. Empty the containers every time it gets full. This may mean a restless night for you but this is the safest thing you can do during these moments.
The best thing you can do to handle leaky roofs is to install water gutters around your roof. If you already have a gutter, you must make sure that it is free of debris so that the water from the roof will drain properly. Any obstructions can cause the gutter to get clogged, leaving it good as nothing during rains.
Locate the Leak
After the storm has settled, you can already try to locate the source of the leak. There are many ways of finding the leak. The easiest one is just by simply looking at the start of the dripping water from the interior of your home. The exterior of the roof from that point should be the source of the leakage. After pinpointing the leaks, try covering it bonding agents to seal the cracks or damages on the surface. There are many materials or products that you can use to seal the roof leaks.
Temporary Patches
Built-up roof, or more commonly known as BUR, is a plastic roof material that is used as temporary cover to your damaged roof. This product can be fastened with patches but can only be done once the storm is over. You will need to use a plastic roof cement to attach the temporary roof just above your shelter.
Single-Ply Membrane
You may not be able to use BUR on some types of roofs. Roofs with single-ply membranes will need sealants and roof tapes to seal off cracks. For the sealant application, you must first use an alcohol or any other cleanser. The adhesive will not stick if the surface is too dirty.