WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU IGNORE A ROOF LEAK AND WHAT TO DO – FAMILY ROOFING

Posted on by David Reid

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What Happens if you Ignore a Roof Leak?

Ensuring your roof is maintained and in good condition can help you avoid costly damages.  You ensure this by regularly inspecting your roof for any damages.

Here are some things that happen when you ignore a leaky roof.

Mold Growth

Ignoring your leaking roof can cause mold to grow around your house.  From ceilings, walls, and furniture to clothing.  If you hesitate to deal with a roof leak, black mold will likely grow, which is very costly to remove.

Structural Damage

A severely leaking roof can lead to your house damage.  Has your roof been repaired to save your house and things from expensive damage?  For example, anything in the attic is susceptible to damage.

Electrical Problems

If you have the electrical wiring on your walls or ceiling, leaky roofs can influence fire risks from shorted wires.  Pros advise you to turn off the electricity in the parts affected by leaks.  Have the issue looked at by your contractor or electrician.

Increased Utility Costs

Leaking roofs can saturate insulation that are very expensive to dry.  Water penetration affects insulation, which causes your house to lose warm or conditioned air, which causes your heating or cooling bills to increase.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE A ROOF LEAK

Contain the roof leak

The first step to take care of your roof leak is to contain the water to prevent widespread damage.  This is usually done with putting a bucket or a pot in your attic to catch the water as it comes down through your roof.  If you don’t contain the water, the cost to repair the water damage inside your home will greatly outweigh the cost of your roof repair.  Be aware, the cause of your leak isn’t always going to be where you see the water come through your roof.  To track the source and cause of your roof leak, you’ll need to call a roofing contractor for a roof inspection.

Call a local roofing company

The most crucial step of getting your roof leak taken care of is calling a reputable local roofing contractor.  One reason to call a quality local roofing company is that they know what needs to be done that’s specific to the area where you live. They’ll know what installation codes to follow, the paperwork required, and everything else they’ll need to ensure your roof is correctly installed and in compliance with your state’s requirements.

This is especially true if your roof is leaking after a big storm.  Some out of state companies come in after a big storm, undercut local roofing company prices, get the money, and move on to the next storm-hit town.  These companies don’t care about local codes or if they properly install your roof.

Receive an inspection from a local roofing contractor

A roof inspection is when a roofing contractor checks the condition of your entire roof.  Once your local roofing contractor comes out to your home, the first thing they’ll do is inspect your roof and track down your leak.  They’ll check your roof penetrations, your attic’s ventilation, and other crucial areas of your roof and determine if your roof leak is isolated or if it’s from roof failure.  After making an assessment of your roof, they’ll determine if you need a repair or a full roof replacement.  If your leak isn’t caused by premature roof failure, your roofing contractor can do repairs to get more life out of your roof.  However, if your roof leak is caused by roof failure or extensive storm damage, you’ll need a full roof replacement.

Get an estimate for the scope of work to repair or replace your roof

After your roofing contractor determines if you need repairs or a full replacement, you’ll receive an estimate/quote for the scope of work that has to be done.  Your estimate should be as specific as possible with a line item list of everything that is going to be done.  For example, if you need a roof replacement, your estimate will have how many roof layers will be torn off, how the contractor is going to protect your property, installation method, the materials included and more.

Go over the estimate with your roofing contractor

After receiving your roof estimate, your contractor should set up a time to sit down with you and go over it.  They should go over each and every line item in your quote so you understand exactly what you’re paying for.  You should read the fine print in your estimate.  The fine print tells you if a contractor will pay for damaged property and what’s excluded from your repair or roof replacement.  This is also your opportunity to air your concerns and ask any questions you have. If a roofing contractor won’t go over your estimate with, don’t think about hiring them.

Get a second opinion on your roof leak

Before signing on the dotted line, you should call another roofing contractor to give you an estimate as well.  I would recommend getting at least 2 and a maximum of 3 quotes for your roof leak.  But why?  When you get multiple roof estimates, you can compare prices, determine if the work required is correct, and helps you find the right contractor.  If you only call one contractor, you have to take their word on what your roof needs. If one contractor says you need a replacement, but two others say you only need repairs, then it’s a safe bet that you don’t need a new roof.

Find a great roofing company for your roof leak

Once you go through these steps, you’ll be ready to sign on the dotted line to get your roof leak taken care of.  After signing your estimate, you’ll get your roof repaired or go through the replacement process.

Remember, hiring a reputable local roofing contractor is the crucial first step to this entire process.  You have to hire one who has a strong installation history and is known to do things the right way.