First, if possible find something to place in the attic under the leak to catch the water to prevent futher damge to your home. If enough water is absorbed into the insulation and drywall, then there is a high chance that the sheetrock ceiling may fall out. You then should immediately call a Local Roofing Company to help identify where the leak is coming from. Once the local roofer identifies the problem, they should be able to determine the appropriate method to mitigate the leaking roof.
What Causes A Leaky Roof?
Now that you've contacted a local roofer, there are a couple of key pieces of information needed before proceeding forward with repairs.
Was the leak caused by a weather event or just an older roof in need of a tune-up?
Given the leak was caused by a weather event (Hurricane, Hail Storm, Extreme Winds, or any other Act of God) then your Local Roofing Contractor should recommend calling your Property Insurance Company to have them come take a look. If possible, the local roofer will install an emergency tarp, to prevent further damage to your home.
Suppose the leak was caused by having an older worn out roof in need of a roof repair, then calling your Property Insurance Company may not be the best option. Since Property Insurance usually only extends coverage associated with weather events, then a leak caused by normal wear and tear would most likely not be covered. At this point, the local roofer will either recommend a roof repair or replacement. Ultimately the decision to call or not call your insurance company is yours. Since local roofing contractors are not licensed insurance agents or adjusters then these options are purely recommendations from years of experience.
Should My Roof Be Repaired or Replaced?
Many factors go into determining if a roof can be repaired or if it'll need to be replaced. The biggest indicator is repairability. If your roof is typically less than 10 years old and has an isolated leak, then your shingles should be pliable enough for a repair to be made. Unless, your roof has sustained substantial amount of damage, then that may be cause to replace the entire roof.
Now if your roof has upwards of 20 years of age, then a repair may not be possible. When shingles become old, they lose their ability to be pliable. This is crucial in the roof repair process, as shingles have to be manipulated to make room for the new shingles replacing the damaged ones. Given the shingles are too brittle then the roofer will cause more damage to the surrounding shingles when attempting the repair. Something else to note is when there is a roof leak, then decking and underlayment may need to be replaced along with the shingles in that area. Leaving these compromised components on your roof is putting a bandaid on the damage that will continue to grow.
If you're in the Houston area, then contact the professionals at Reliable Roofing & Restoration to inspect your property. Even if you're not in the Houston area, feel free to give us a call and we will try our best to point you in the right direction
