When faced with an unexpected roofing emergency, you may feel panicked and not know where to turn. It is important to remain calm and approach the situation with a clear head. Water damage can quickly spread so it is crucial to take swift action. With the assistance of a qualified roof repair contractor, you can respond appropriately to your emergency roof repair and help minimize any damage to the rest of your home.
How to Identify Roof Damage
Your roof plays a vital role in protecting your home and everything inside of it. When an emergency roof repair occurs, you want to know exactly how to deal with it. Start by knowing what to look for. There are a variety of signs that could indicate the need for emergency roof repair.
Some signs are more obvious than others, such as a major leak in your attic or a tree that has fallen and made a hole in your roof. Other times, where the damage originated can be more difficult to pinpoint. However, as a general rule of thumb, any roofing problem that allows water infiltration into your home constitutes as a roofing emergency.
When it comes to the condition of your roof, you do not want to leave anything to chance. Just a minor leak can quickly become a major financial burden. Addressing emergency roof repair early on can save you substantial time, money, and stress.
When looking for signs of roof damage, there are a number of red flags you should look for, such as:
- Staining on interior walls or ceilings
- Excessive wear and tear around roof objects
- Shingles that appear wet, dark, or dirty
- Shingles that are cracked, curled, or missing
- Peeling or blistering of exterior paint
- Presence of many shingle granules in gutters
- Roof decking that appears to be sagging
How to Approach Roof Damage
If you are facing roof damage that requires emergency repair, know what steps to take to ensure that your roof is repaired by a qualified professional and without causing more damage to your home. Follow these simple steps for addressing emergency roof repair.
-
- Prevent Further Damage
If your roof has suffered enough damage to qualify for emergency roof repair, there is likely some water infiltration present. You do not want to wait around until your roof can be fixed to deal with these leaks. Instead, place buckets or other receptacles around the leaks to catch any dripping water.
-
- Identify Repair Needs
If possible, take a look in your attic to see if you can target where the damage has occurred. Depending on the extent of the damage, there may be a visible hole or leak. If you have trouble locating the hole, turn off the lights and look during the day when the sun is shining in. You may also be able to see damage by standing on the ground and looking up onto your roof. Use caution if you decide to climb onto your roof as this can be risky behavior that can result in serious injuries.
-
- Contact an Emergency Roof Repair Contractor
Whether or not you are able to locate the source of the problem, you will want to call in an experienced emergency roof repair contractor to examine the condition of your roof. A contractor will be able to tell you if there is any damage present, the extent of the damage, and what type of repairs are needed.
-
- Have Your Roof Tarped
If you are not able to have your roof repaired right away, take the time to have it tarped. When you hire an emergency tarping service, a contractor will climb onto your roof and securely fasten a tarp over the damaged area roof to prevent further damage.
-
- Make the Necessary Repairs
Finally, you will want to hire a contractor to make the necessary repairs to your roof. While a tarp can help keep water out of your home temporarily, it is not a long-term solution. Having your roof properly repaired by a professional is critical to keep damage to a minimum and maintain your home’s value and curb appeal.
What Could Happen without Roof Repair
If you fail to have a contractor make the necessary roof repairs following a roofing emergency, you could face serious consequences. Over time, your roof will succumb to more and more damage, leading to issues like wood rot, sagging, loss shingles, and interior damage. In time, your minor roof repair could result in the need for a roof replacement.
Leaks and water damage are just the short-term effects that neglecting your damaged roof can have. In the long-term, you could find a jump in your energy bills. Those same holes that allow water to leak through also allow warm air out in the winter and cool air in the summer. This can result in a significant bump in your electric and heat bills each month. The last thing you want to do is waste money by allowing conditioned or heated air to escape your home through holes in your roof.
Your home is also at risk for mold growth. Fungi thrives in moist conditions and a leaky roof is the perfect place for it to start growing and spreading. As mold starts to enter your home, you could be putting your family at risk for a host of respiratory illnesses due to poor air quality. And mold is not the only thing that can enter your home. Insects, animals, and other pests can make their way into your attic or walls through holes in the roof. It takes just a short amount of time for infestations to develop.
Learn More About Emergency Roof Repair
While no one ever expects to face a roof repair emergency, they happen every day. To learn more about emergency roof repair services in Northern Virginia or to schedule a free emergency roof repair consultation or emergency roof tarping services, contact the emergency roof repair contractors at Beyond Exteriors.