Temporary Roof Leak Fixes While Waiting for Gatineau Roofing Professionals
This summer has seen greater amounts of rainfall and summer storms, putting Gatineau roofing at risk of damage and leaks. Even a small leak can become disastrous if left unattended during storms and frequent rainfalls. Leaks can cause costly water damage to your home and pose safety hazards, especially when the water spreads. So, if you notice a leak in your roof, call a Gatineau roofing company immediately for emergency repairs. Be sure to take precautions to prevent further damage to your home while waiting for the professionals to arrive:
Prevent Interior Damage
Roofing leaks are usually first noticed when water pools in the ceiling. As the water builds up, it will eventually overflow to other areas and come through light fixtures, heat registers, and other routes in the ceiling and walls. To prevent the leak from spreading and causing more damage in your home, poke a hole in the middle of the wettest part of the ceiling, or where a bulge has formed, and hold a bucket underneath to collect the water.
Determine the Leak Location
If you have an attic, you can locate the leak from there. The leak in your roof may not be in the same location as the leak in the ceiling, depending on the roof’s slope and structure. If your roof is above a layer of plywood, leaks will often travel from the roof down to the nearest joint in the plywood.
Make Temporary Repairs
To temporarily repair the leak in your roof while waiting for Gatineau roofing professionals to arrive, you can apply roofing cement or roofing tape to the leaky area on the interior side of your roof. These products can be found at home improvement stores.
If you’re willing to go on top of your roof, you can apply roofing cement or roofing tape on the outside as well, and also secure a tarp on your roof for extra protection. The tarp should cover the damaged area plus an extra four feet on each side. Use staples or nails to secure the tarp with 2 x 4 boards. Make sure the nails are not long enough to go through your roof—you don’t want to cause more leaks.
These temporary fixes will protect your home from heavy rainfalls while you’re waiting for Gatineau roofing professionals to arrive. Remember to always address a leak immediately to keep it from spreading and causing more damage throughout your home. Keep dry during Gatineau’s wet summer weather this year!