What Should I Do If My Roof is Leaking?

Roof leaks require professional repair as soon as possible. The sooner you get your roof’s leak fixed the more likely you are to avoid permanent or extensive damage to your home.

Roof leaks can lead to expensive repairs due to the resulting water damage. Looking at the statistics, 37% of homeowners have suffered from water damage which resulted in monetary loss. These losses averaged in at just under $7,000 per claim. This means roof leaks, which can result in extensive water damage, aren’t a problem to patch up and ignore.

If your roof repair company is unable to immediately assist you, be prepared to patch the leak if possible or place a bucket beneath the crack to collect dripping water.

Signs of a Roof Leak

Water staining and dripping water from your ceiling are obvious signs of a roof leak. But there are other important signs to watch for that are often less obvious. These include both internal and external signs of a roof leak you’ll want to look out for.

• Water staining
• Mold on walls or ceilings
• Moisture on walls or ceilings
• Consistent or irregular water dripping

• Missing shingles
• Broken or cracked shingles
• Debris on downspouts and gutters
• Plant growth on exterior walls
• Water spots developed under the roofline

Causes of Roof Leaks

There are a number of reasons why your roof may have started to leak. If the leak isn’t caused by an aging roof, it may have sustained other damage. This damage includes:

• Cracking in the shingles
• Broken or missing shingles
• Damage to the flashing
• An aging roof
• Soffit and fascia damage
• Water entering your chimney
• Consistent ice build-up on your roof
• Improperly installed or maintained skylights
• Excess moisture built up in the attic
• Clogged or damaged gutters

Factors that Contribute to Damage

The specific causes of roof leaks have a deeper root problem. Often, the damage that leads to leaks is caused by high winds and heavy rains. Another common factor leading to leaks is poor installation.

While you can’t prevent serious storms from passing over your home, you can hire only qualified and reliable roofing professionals for all installation and repair work. This will help avoid installation-related problems that lead to roof leaks.

Working with a reliable roofing company for yearly maintenance check-ups will also ensure your roof is still in good working order.

How to Stop a Roof Leak

Rarely will you be able to stop a roof leak entirely. But, you can prevent the leak from spreading on damaging your property while awaiting a repair from a roofing company.

To stop a roof leak you can put a temporary patch on the leak or use a bucket or trash can to watch the leak and avoid damage to your flooring or possessions.

Cost of Leak Repair

The cost of leak repair will depend on the extent of damage caused by the leak and the size of the leak itself. The repair cost could be as low as $100 or as high as $3,000 or more.

You’ll want to have a professional assess this damage to determine the necessary repair work needed.

Does Insurance Cover Leak Repair?

Now that you know the average cost of leak repair, it’s on to the important question: will your insurance take care of this cost?

The answer: it depends.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover damage to your roof but you’ll want to double-check your policy. There are generally restrictions placed on this. For instance, most policies don’t cover damage due to a lack of maintenance. Gradual wear and tear expected in an aging roof are also unlikely to be covered by your policy.

Is Filing a Claim Worth It?

You’ll want to determine the estimated cost of repair and the size of your deductible before filing a claim with your insurance company.

If the cost of repair is lower than your deductible then it doesn’t make sense to file a claim. You’ll definitely want to file a claim, however, if your deductible is lower than the total cost of repair.

Roof Leak Prevention

The best way to prevent a roof leak before it happens is to keep your roof well-maintained and have it regularly inspected for warning signs. Prevention is always cheaper than repair work and much less of a hassle.

A roofing company will be able to perform inspections and provide cleaning services design to keep your roof in good condition.

Whether you’re trying to prevent roof damage or you’re trying to recover from existing damage to your roof, we can help. Contact us to get started with a quote.