My Roof is Leaking – What Should I Do and the Dangers of Waiting

Roof leaks are a common problem for homes and can be difficult to find. If you're lucky, the leak is found quickly before there's any major damage. However, if left untreated roof leaks can lead to water seeping into your home and causing more expensive problems like mould or structural issues. In this article, we'll discuss what causes roof leaks in the first place, how long they typically last for and what you should do about them when they happen!
 
What are the most common causes of roof leaks? 
Some of the most common factors that lead to roof leaks include moisture build-up, age and poor design. When it rains too much or when water is left on a roof for an extended period this can cause moisture build-up in your home.
 
Older roofs often have weak spots where leaking starts (due to wear and tear over time). And poorly designed roofs that lack proper insulation will also be more likely to leak due to high pressure from rainstorms.
 
Other common causes of roof leaks are improper roof maintenance, ice dams and unbalanced roofs.
 
How can you temporarily stop a roof leak? 
There's no way to permanently fix a roof leak without replacing at least some portion of your roofing material but there are ways you can get by until then. 
 
You may need to get up on the roof and use a bucket or tarp to divert the water away from your home. Or you can drill some holes in an old umbrella for a makeshift gutter above the leak and toss down buckets of sand (or other heavy material) if insulation isn't available.
 
Other ways of temporarily stopping a roof leak can include using a hose to direct the water away from your home and compressing an air mattress over the roof leak (you'll need someone on the inside for this).
 
If your roof is leaking for the short term because of recent rainfall or heavy snowfall events some steps can help to alleviate water damage in your home:

• Keep an eye on it. Check the area around where you think rainwater may be entering and see if there's any visible evidence of this happening (bubbling paintwork, dark stains).
• Put something under the leak. This will act as a temporary solution until you get things fixed properly. Many different types of materials could work well here but plastic sheeting or tarps would probably be among the best choices.

 
How long can you leave a roof leaking? 
If you only have one small area of leakage, it's probably safe to let that part of the roof dry out before continuing. But if your entire roof is wet or there are signs of extensive mould growth, then you may want to take care of things sooner rather than later. In general, more time will lead to greater damage so make sure not to wait too long before dealing with leaks!
 
What do I do if my roof is leaking? 
If there are only a few leaks and you have insulation available, use it as protection between the roofing surface and water. Otherwise, try catching drips from overhead with buckets or tarps until you can schedule an appointment for repairs.
 
If that's not possible, ask around for an experienced local roofer in your area to handle your roof leak problems.
 
Fixing any type of leak as soon as possible should be high on your to-do list, but if you're not sure what the source is or how to fix it yourself, call a roofer. They can provide an assessment of the situation and get things taken care of in no time!
 
How long can you leave a roof leaking? 
It's best not to wait too long before repairing roof leaks, as they will only worsen over time - but it varies depending on how busy contractors are at any given point during the year. 
 
In most cases though, leaving less than three months without repairs is risky because there could be mould growth as well as mildew which would lead to health issues like allergies or asthma.
 
How much does it cost to fix a roof leak? 
The costs for fixing leaks will depend on factors such as where the leak is located (upstairs versus downstairs), whether there are other issues at home that may be contributing to leaks like shingles curling up from age or trees growing too close. 
 
We recommend contacting one of our professionals for an estimate before getting started.
 
The average price of fixing a roof leak these days ranges anywhere from £500-£1000 depending on how big the hole is and other factors like where it's located (outside vs inside) and the type of roofing material.
 
Can a roof leak be fixed from inside the house or property? 
No, there's no way to fix it yourself unless you have access to some pretty high-powered equipment and know exactly what you're doing - which isn't likely for most homeowners.
 
If your roof is leaking, call in professionals who can carry out necessary repairs quickly so that water doesn't damage the ceiling or other surfaces below. 
 
What is the best product for roof leaks?
There are many types of products available to stop a rooftop leak including tarps, rubberized sealant, silicone caulk, aluminium foil tape and more. 
 
It depends on how much work has already been done and if anything else needs fixing at the same time as well.
 
In addition, specialists can find and repair leaks quickly so they don't cause more damage.
 
Tarps will protect surfaces below as long as there isn't too much water coming through at once; silicone caulk will seal small holes; aluminium foil tape works well when applied over whole seams of damaged shingles.
 
Do roofers fix ceilings? 
No, not all roofing companies are equipped to work on a leak in the ceiling. However, if you have any other renovations or repairs that need doing around your house, it's worth checking with them first before hiring someone else for this one task.
 
Are leaking roofs covered by homeowners building insurance?
No, roof leaks that happen outside of the building are not typically covered by homeowners building insurance.  
 
If your roof is leaking, it may be time to get a qualified roofing company out for an inspection.