What to do first when water comes in
Catch the water in a bucket and move furniture and electronics away. If the ceiling is bulging, a small hole at the lowest point lets the water drain into the bucket instead of spreading. Keep away from light fittings that are wet.
Then call. A roofer can often make a leak safe with a temporary cover and come back for the permanent repair once the roof is dry enough to work on.
Where roofs leak most
- Flashing around chimneys, vents and skylights
- Valleys, where two roof slopes meet
- Cracked or slipped tiles and the underlayment beneath them
- Seams, drains and ponding areas on flat roofs
- Missing shingles after strong wind
- Clogged gutters that push water back under the roof edge
What a leak visit covers
- The entry point traced, on the roof and in the attic where it can be reached
- A temporary cover where a permanent repair has to wait for dry weather
- A written estimate for the repair
- Photos of what was found