Leaky Roofs in Atlanta during Storm Season

Leaky roofs in Atlanta are an especially high-occurring issue in the area. Spring and summer not only bring more rain but high winds, tornadoes, and severe thunderstorms. Not only do you have to plan your outdoor activities around the weather, but also your home maintenance needs. No matter if you have an aging roof, a roof you haven’t properly maintained, or a roof that’s received great attention and care, hail, heavy rain, fallen limbs, and high winds cause damage.

When there’s damage to your roof, no matter how small, water finds a way in. When you notice signs of water in your home, it’s time to spring into action. Below are a few tips from KTM Roofing Company to help keep water damage to a minimum until we arrive for your leaky roof in Atlanta.

Move Things Out of the Way

You know you have a leak and where it is; now it’s time to move things to a safer location until you can locate the water’s entry point. You don’t want your belongings damaged by water, as they may be irreplaceable or expensive to replace. Some fabrics trap water within them, producing a mildew odor that’s hard to eradicate.

Contain the Water

The last thing you want to do while you’re waiting for someone to fix your roof is failing to contain the water. You need to find anything you can that will help contain the water, whether that thing is a garbage can, bucket, storage tote, or large plastic jars. You want to reduce the potential damage and impact that water will have on your floor.

Alleviate Water Pressure

You may notice that you have a ceiling bulge that indicates water is collecting in that location. While you’re wary about making a bigger mess, the water may spread and damage the ceiling even more and could break open on its own, and you have a bigger mess anyway. To relieve water pressure, carefully puncture the lowest point of the bulge with something like a screwdriver and make sure you have a bucket or some other container to catch the water.

Locate the Water Entry Point

You know where you have a leak, but that’s often not where the water enters your home. Like rivers and streams in nature, water follows the easiest path. In this case, water travels until it finds a seam with plywood under it.

Document Damages for Insurance

Unless it’s still raining, storming, or the general conditions outside are unsafe, you may want to leave your roof uncovered until you can document whatever damages you have if you file a claim with your home insurance. Photos are essential as it shows the extent of the damage inside and the damage to the roof.

Call a Professional Roofing Company

Before you make a temporary fix until help comes, make a quick phone call to your local roofer in Atlanta, GA, to help repair the damaged areas and assess other parts of your roof that may need repairs too. KTM Roofing offers a free roofing estimate for all roof repairs and roof replacements, and our knowledgeable and meticulous roofers will have your roof repaired as soon as possible.

Make Temporary Repairs

When it’s safe to do so, make a temporary repair to the roof with a tarp to help prevent further damage until roofers arrive. Secure the tarp with roofing nails. Make sure the tarp extends over the peak of the roof by about 4 inches so water can’t get underneath.

Dangers of a Leaky Roof

Many dangers come with having a leaky roof. Water that finds its way into the walls of your home will damage insulation by weighing it down. Once this happens, you may notice increased energy bills as your home becomes less energy-efficient and harder to keep cool during the summer and warmer during those spring nights.

Structural damage isn’t your only worry when it comes to leaks. There’s also an electrocution and fire hazard if the water gets into your home’s wiring and causes a spark or short circuit. If you happen to step in some water that’s touching your home’s wiring, it’s a very easy way to experience an electric shock.

Mold is another issue from water damage as it damages your home and causes health problems. Mold ruins walls, wood framing, flooring, and ceiling tiles. Extra moisture allows mold and mildew to thrive, and the presence of mold decreases the value of your home. Symptoms of mold exposure include sneezing, coughing, irritated eyes, nose, throat, dry skin, shortness of breath, and even worsen asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Once you notice a leaky roof, it’s important to take immediate action. You want a roofing company you can trust when it comes to repairing your roof. We use industry-grade materials for all roofing projects and meticulous workmanship that’s earned us our excellent reputation. Contact KTM Roofing today for all your residential and commercial roofing needs.