When it comes to building protection measures, the roofing system plays a critical role in protecting a building’s interior. With its upward location and exposure, the roofing system often encounters unpredictable situations that can cause a roofing emergency. The major cause of roofing emergencies is adverse weather conditions.
Storms that include hurricanes, heavy downpours, tornadoes, and thunderstorms cause huge cracks on the shingles. Heavy winds could blow away sections of the shingles, exposing the building’s interior to severe damage. The storms can also have ripple effects including a tree falling or electrical fires on roofs among others. On rare occasions, you may get pest attacks like termite and rats feeding on the roof structure, and these too can be very significant.
Signs of a damaged roof
During a storm, if you notice water dripping from the ceiling, this is a common sign of damaged roof. You need to make note of the rate and the strength of the drip. Small drips could be because of small cracks on the shingles. A drip that grows into a huge downward flow is an indicator of massive damage to the whole roofing system. You should consider inspecting the ceiling for signs of collected pools. This is easy through the presence of discoloration (brown/gray color) of the ceiling in areas with collected water.
Presence of shingles scattered on the yard after a heavy storm is an indicator of a damaged roof. You can make a closer investigation of the roof yourself by climbing a ladder. When on top of the roof, you can look for the specific cracked or displaced shingles and note where they are. The presence of storm debris like tree branches and other objects occur as part of the storm’s ripple effects and indicate potentially damaged sections of the roof.
Conducting a roofing damage inspection is important but might be a risky affair. You should avoid conducting roof inspection in the midst of a storm. Heavy downpours could cause slippery roof surface and slippery ladder steps which increases your risk of falling. Heavy winds can also push you off the ladder or cause you to fall on the roof which will only create additional damage.
Response to mild roofing emergencies
Mild roofing emergencies are usually evident through small roof drips. Through identification of the specific section in the roof causing the leak, you can follow these simple but crucial steps to handle the situation.
Step#1 Manage the water puddles
Roof leakage leads to the collection of water puddles on either the ceiling or the building’s floor, or both. Such puddles can cause further damage, such as a malfunction in electrical appliances and possible electrocution. Discoloration of the ceiling is common when the roof is damaged. Huge puddle collection could lead to the collapse of the ceiling/roof which will damage the wall paintings and other interior decoration. You should consider sweeping away the water or creating an outlet to steer it away from potential high-risk items. You can also use buckets to collect the dripping water from the ceiling thus preventing continual spread.
Step#2 Locate specific roof leaking sections
Presence of a puddle or a drip will not necessarily indicate the specific leaking shingle or section of the roof. You can follow the waterway which leads to the drip or investigate the attic of the building, which is much closer to the roof so more ideal for locating the actual source of the leak.
Step#3 Fix it
Small cracks in the shingles are fixable through simple creativity, using tools such as duct tape and sealants among others. You want to fix from within the building roof or on top of the building roof and this will only be a temporary fix. An effective and durable fix is accomplished through ensuring the immediate area around the cracked shingle is cleared off any dirt and all wetness is reduced through wiping/drying. Temporary fixing buys you some time as you wait for services from a credible roof repair company.
Response to severe roofing emergencies
If the signs of the damaged roof are intense, you should consider securing any valuable items in the building, then contact an expert roofing company. Acquiring services from Alta Roofing ensure professional roofing inspection through a highly skilled workforce as well as application of effective technology. We can identify and fix areas that your personal assessments could not identify, eliminate any doubts, and ensure you a guaranteed durable roofing system.
