When you have a leaking roof, it’s normal to feel panicked or unsure of what to do next. But taking just a few simple steps can help protect your property and ensure the safety of your structure.
We’re PITCH Roofing, and we’re here to let you know what you should do when you have a leaking roof. Whether water is pouring from your ceiling or you’ve got ceiling water stains, we’ve got tips to make sure you can handle your roof leak while minimizing damage to your home!
5 Things to Do When You Have a Leaking Roof
With a roof leak, time is everything. Over time, water can eat away at your decking, lead to mold growth, or even become an electrical hazard. By acting quickly, though, you can greatly reduce the damage.
With that in mind, let’s talk about the first steps you should take after you notice that your roof is leaking!
1. Move or Cover Items Near the Leak
When your leaking roof is dripping water into your home, the first thing you should do is secure your belongings. This means placing a water-resistant tarp over heavy objects and furniture. For items that can more easily be moved, you’ll want to relocate them to a dryer part of your home.
Keep an eye on your leak in the coming days as you get ready for a roof repair. In rare cases with severe damage, a roof leak can expand. You’ll want to watch out for this so that you can move more of your belongings if new parts of your ceiling start to leak.
2. Try to Catch the Water
A leaking roof will damage more than just your ceiling. If the water isn’t caught and disposed of, it can do a real number on your floors. In some cases, fixing water-damaged floors could cost even more than fixing your leaking roof! That’s why you’ll want to set up whatever you can under the leak — trash cans, buckets, towels, whatever you have on hand.
When you’re already dealing with a leaking roof, the last thing you need is another type of damage to repair. By being proactive and catching the leaking water, you can save yourself a lot of time and headaches!
3. Call Professional Roofers
Once the inside of your home is dry and secure, it’s time to call in the professionals. It can be tempting to DIY your roof leak repair, but tracking down and addressing the cause of a leak isn’t always easy. So if you want to be sure that your leaking roof is fixed and won’t cause problems again, going with experienced contractors is your best option.
Sometimes roofers can come out and fix your leaking roof right away. But just as often, schedules fill up and you may have to wait a few days to a couple of weeks. That’s why it’s important to call your preferred roofers ASAP, so you can get on their schedule and get your leak fixed right away.
4. Tarp Any Roof Damage
If you’re going to have to wait a few days to get your leaking roof fixed, then the next best thing is tarping your roof. Specifically, you just need to tarp the area that’s letting in water. In Florida, this usually means tarping over a section that’s missing shingles or has visibly curled or cracked shingles.
Once you find the damage, place a tarp over it. The tarp should be thick enough to keep water out — at least six millimeters. You’ll want the tarp to cover any damage and several feet around it to make sure that water can’t continue seeping into your roof. This way, you can prevent long-term damage while waiting for repairs!
5. Take Photos for Insurance
We get it — roof leak repairs probably weren’t in your monthly budget. Thankfully, if your leak was caused by a severe weather event like a storm or hurricane, then there’s a good chance your insurance will cover your leak repair costs. But you’ll need photos of the damage for your claim.
Start by taking photos of the leak from the inside (if visible) and any damage that you can see on your roof. Additionally, include photos of anything ruined by the leak, such as a television or other device that was unlucky enough to be caught under the leak. By showing the extent of the damage, you greatly increase your odds of being compensated.
If your leak was caused by a passing storm, it can also be helpful to include news articles about the weather event. These become harder to find over time, so the sooner you save them, the easier it’ll be to get your insurance claim approved!
Call PITCH to Fix Your Leaking Roof
Once you’ve secured your belongings, it’s time to call in professional help. At PITCH, we pride ourselves on being your local roofing partners. As veteran Florida roofers, we know our local community and how to help. We’ll fix your leaking roof quickly and at the source so that you don’t have to worry about the leak popping back up after the next storm.
You don’t have to take our word for it, though. See the quality of our workmanship and our friendly customer service for yourself when you sign up for a free roofing estimate. We’ll send someone to your home to take a look at your leak. They’ll then prepare you a customized estimate based on the state of your roof so that you know exactly what your options are and how much each solution will cost. This eliminates the guesswork and clearly lays out all of your options!
See how detailed and thorough our estimates are by calling us at 727-677-4824. Alternatively, you can schedule your estimate online. At PITCH, we understand that fixing your leaking roof is a time-sensitive issue. You can count on us to do everything in our power to fix your roof ASAP and prevent any further damage to your home.
Dealing with a leaking roof can be a big headache. But it doesn’t have to be. Reach out to PITCH today to see how easy roof repairs can be when you have experienced, local professionals in your corner!
Heather Ware is an In-House Roofing Specialist at PITCH Roofing. Working daily alongside our internal roofing teams, she translates complex Florida building codes and roofing techniques into clear, actionable advice for homeowners. With 4 years of experience in the Florida roofing industry, her goal is to ensure property owners have the exact facts they need to protect their investments.
