There’s one common problem that haunts many houses in the UK; a leaky roof. Yes, nearly all of us will experience a leaky roof once in our lifetime, it’s just the way it is. Maybe it has something to do with all the rain over here? Maybe it’s just down to your house’s poor build quality?
Whatever the reason, having a leaky roof can be a gigantic pain. It’s not just the fact that leaks can lead to water damage, you’ve also got to deal with the annoying dripping sound above your head every time it rains! Luckily, you don’t have to deal with a leaky roof for the rest of your life; there are steps you can take to counter the problem:
Identify The Source Of The Leak
The first step in dealing with a leaky roof is finding out exactly where the leak is coming from. Carry out your own little home inspection to see where the damage was done. Head on up to your attic and root around to try and find a crack or hole in your roof. You could find that it’s just a tiny crack so you can easily cover it up, or it might be a massive hole that requires extra work. Sometimes leaks are caused by mould and rotting wooden structures in your roof, so make sure you check those too for any telltale signs of damage.
Places Buckets Under The Leak
This won’t solve your leakage, but it will at least keep it under control. Place buckets under the leak so all the water falls into them and not onto the floor. If it’s falling on your attic floor, then over time it could start to soak through and leak through into your upstairs rooms. Buckets can contain the leak and minimize any water damage until you’ve fixed the problem. Another handy tip is to attach a piece of string to the place of the leak, so the water drips down the string and into the bucket. It’s not difficult, and it stops the water from running and spraying everywhere.
Replace Your Roofing
If you have a serious problem with your roof, it might be time to replace it completely. Not everyone lives in a brand new house; there’s a huge possibility your home was built decades ago. Time ages everything, including structures, so the roof tiling you have now could be old and decaying. Look for something new that’s stronger and harder to crack, which means less chance of leaks in the future. Zinc roofing is extremely popular these days, and you can learn more about it over at www.elcroofing.co.uk. There are of course other options you can choose; it’s entirely up to you. Just make sure you get roofing that you know can last the test of time and survive all of the elements. You don’t want to end up having to buy new roofing every five or so years.
It’s easy for a house to fall victim to a leaky roof! Sometimes it just happens, but you have to know how to deal with it when it does. Get control of the leak, then look at finding ways to fix it and prevent your roof from leaking again.