June 22

Is a Leaking Roof an Emergency?

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Home with severe water damage

Yes, a leaking roof is an emergency and, at the very least, is always a problem. A small leak can make a big problem—a more significant leak can and has destroyed homes! A leak is messy, dangerous, and sometimes downright expensive.

Water from a leaking roof will spread anywhere it can, the degree of which depends on the construction of your house, but it is always far more than we would like! An unseen and long undetected leak can cause significant rot and water damage to accumulate throughout your home.

Beyond simple water damage and going further into overall health concerns is mold development. Several different species of mold exist that sprout up around leaks (Acremonium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Mucor, etc.) that vary in severity and toxicity. Generally, these fall into three categories: Allergenic for those molds that cause and aggravate allergic reactions; pathogenic for those that aggravate illnesses; and toxigenic, from which the infamous and occasionally deadly “black mold” hails.

First, if the leak is evident (i.e., dripping from the ceiling or noticeable pooling), do your best to restrict any further water spread. Use buckets, mops, and towels to sop up the moisture. Whatever you have must get the job done!

Second, try to locate the actual source of the leak if you can. Remember that where signs may come up (like a spot on the wall) may not precisely correlate to the actual source of the leak. Depending on the specifics of your home, water can travel for quite a while before resulting in a sign you can detect.

Even if you aren’t currently dealing with a leak yourself, try to make it a point to do regular maintenance and check your roof. Trim any tree branches that may scrape at your roof, check the quality of your shingles (especially after a long winter) and clean your gutters; they are there for a reason! Preventative measures work the best, after all, and are usually the cheapest!

If the scope of a leak is beyond you, don’t hesitate to contact professional help! A more expensive job well done is better than a hack job that will fail and cause further water damage down the line!

 

Turn to the Pros at Shelter Construction

 

At Shelter, we perform free inspections and consultations. We will perform minor repairs during the inspection to small damage that we find. Call us at 612-284-6985 or schedule an inspection today on our website!

 


Tags

Home Maintenance, Roofing


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