If you’re like most people, you don’t think too much about your roof until something goes wrong. And while proper roof maintenance can help head off problems before they start, sometimes leaks are inevitable.
If your roof is leaking, it’s an emergency – even if the leak is small.
5 Reasons You Can’t Wait to Have a Roof Leak Repaired
Water does serious damage to buildings. These are five reasons you can’t put off roof leak repair:
- Water will cause further damage to your roof. It’s not about “if,” but “when.”
- Water can cause attic and ceiling damage.
- Leaks can lead to mold and mildew, which can cause serious health concerns.
- Damage from a leak can lead to higher utility bills.
- Significant leaks can compromise your home’s structure.
Roof Damage
Roof leak repair is essential to prevent further damage to your roof – and even a small leak can spiral into big trouble quickly. In many cases, the water itself can widen the gap in your roofing materials and make room for more water. Remember, too, that if water can get in, so can pests and debris.
Related: Should you hire a roofing company or fix your roof yourself?
Attic and Ceiling Damage
The items in your attic are susceptible to serious water damage when you have a roof leak. If you don’t have an attic, or if you have an empty attic with nothing to spread out the flow of water, you could end up facing serious interior ceiling damage. Your ceiling plaster can bubble and expand, paint can discolor or trap water in to create bulges, and the water can damage paint and plaster on nearby walls, too. If you have ceiling-mounted lights and ceiling fans, you can even expect damage to their electronic components.
Mold and Mildew
Mold doesn’t grow overnight, but it does thrive in low-light, damp conditions like those under your roof and in your attic. If you have a roof leak, repair is essential to stop the spread of water. Mold can quickly spread throughout your home’s structure; once the spores begin to spread, which often happens when they work their way into an HVAC system, you’ll have to hire a mold remediation expert. Mold remediation is expensive, especially if the spores have permeated your walls, carpet, and the wood that provides your home’s structure.
Higher Utility Bills
If insulation becomes saturated with water, which can happen after a small rain shower if the leak is big enough, it takes a long time to dry – and while it’s wet, it doesn’t work as well. Chronic roof leaks can cause even bigger problems, and as the water deteriorates your insulation, you’ll see higher heating and cooling bills.
Danger to Your Home’s Structure
Water and untreated wood don’t mix well. Over time, your rafters, ceiling joists and wall frames can begin to degrade. The wood can weaken and rot, which compromises your home’s structural integrity. The bottom line is that if you don’t invest in roof leak repair as soon as you discover the leak, structural damage is inevitable.
Related: 5 signs you need a roof repair
Do You Need Roof Leak Repair?
The sooner you have a roof leak repaired, the better off you’ll be – it’s just not worth waiting. Roof leaks never fix themselves, but we can fix them for you. Call us right now at 469-222-4506 to schedule your free roof inspection. We’ll send a professional out to diagnose the problem and explain our plan to prevent further damage.
