5 min read
What to do when your roof starts leaking
A leak during heavy rain is stressful, but the first hour matters more for limiting damage than for fixing the roof. Nothing here requires you to go outside or up a ladder.
Protect the inside first
- Move furniture, electronics and anything fabric out of the area
- Put down a bucket and towels; a large plastic sheet under the bucket saves the floor
- If a ceiling is bulging with trapped water, keep everyone clear of it
Treat water and electricity as a serious risk
If water is near a light fitting, ceiling fan, downlight or switchboard, turn off the affected circuit at the switchboard if you can do so safely, and keep the room clear. Do not touch fittings that are wet. If you are unsure, treat it as unsafe and get a licensed electrician involved.
Do not climb onto a wet roof
Wet tiles and wet metal are extremely slippery, and a roof that has been leaking may have soft battens underneath. Every year people are seriously injured trying to place a tarp during a storm. It is not worth it.
Document what is happening
- Photograph the ceiling stain and any dripping while it is occurring
- Note the time, how heavy the rain was and the wind direction if you can tell
- Photograph any damaged contents before you move or dry them
- Keep these for your insurer and for the roofer
Then get it looked at properly
Once the weather clears, the roof needs to be inspected so the actual entry point can be found. Water often travels a long way inside a roof before it appears on a ceiling, so the wet spot below is rarely directly under the fault.
Want someone to actually look at it?
We'll get on the roof, photograph what we find and explain the options.