So, it has finally happened: You spotted a leak in your roof. Maybe you have spotted some water damage in your house, or maybe you picked this up during a regular roof inspection. This can be a stressful situation, but don’t panic. The following steps will help you mitigate the damage, assess the scale of the problem, and decide how you are going to solve this.

Locate the Leak

Some leaks are pretty obvious to spot, but others can be a little tricky to find. If this is the case, you may need to do some investigative work.

To locate a hidden roof leak, go up to your attic and examine the roof decking and rafters above the wet patch in the ceiling, then follow any stains to their highest point. You can then measure the distance between the leak and both the roof peak and gables. Go on the roof, transfer these measurements, and you should be able to find the leak.

Going on the roof to inspect for repairs is dangerous, so brush up on your roofing safety. A few specific points to remember include:

● Don’t go on the roof while it is still wet.

● Work with soft-soled boots with good traction.

● Set up your ladder properly, resting on even ground, secured at the top, and with a heavy object to weigh it down at the bottom.

Minimize Further Damage

Next, you will want to mitigate any further damage to your property. Contain the water by placing buckets or towels where it is falling, and remove belongings that could be damaged by water. If there is water building up in the ceiling, drill a hole to let it out (patching a hole is easier than repairing an entire collapsed ceiling).

Clean the Area

Once you have the water under control, it’s time to clean the area to prevent damp and mold from settling in. Open windows, fans, and dehumidifiers can all help remove moisture from the air and from specific materials, such as wood and drywall. You can try to rescue fabrics with a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. If you didn’t discover the leak right away and some of your property is beyond saving, you’ll want to get rid of it as soon as possible to prevent mold from settling in.

If you have a lot of bigger items that you need to get rid of, then consider calling in junk removal specialists (the cost usually ranges from $100 to $800). These pros can help with a lot of larger belongings, including appliances, mattresses, and furniture. Additionally, they will determine what needs to be recycled and what needs to be trashed, and then take those things to the appropriate facilities.

Call Your Insurer

According to Value Penguin, most home insurance covers roof leaks, but this will depend on the cause. If the leak happened due to a lack of maintenance, you will probably not be covered. You should also check what the deductible is for roof repair, as it could be much higher than the cost of just hiring a local contractor to fix a small leak. The easiest way to know exactly where you stand is to call your insurer and discuss the matter with them.

Do a Temporary Fix

Next, it’s time for a quick temporary fix that will hold the water while you find and hire a roofing expert. There are two methods you can use to achieve this: either patch the leak from the inside using roofing tar or cover it from the outside using a plastic tarp. Again, if you do decide to go on the roof, make sure it is dry and be safe.

Call a Roofing Expert

Roofing is a delicate and dangerous job, so you should take care to hire someone reliable. It’s recommended that you ask for proof of worker’s compensation and liability insurance, look for reputed local contractors, get the details in writing, and hire contractors who communicate well. Don’t base your decision on price alone, but do go in knowing how much you expect to pay: for reference, most people spend between $351 and $1,366 on roof repairs.

Every homeowner dreads a roof leak, but the truth is they are relatively common. As long as you react quickly and stay calm, everything will work out just fine. Remember to keep an emergency fund for big repairs like this, and to check your roof regularly to pick up on any potential issues before they get bigger.

This article is courtesy of Julian Lane

See more of his work here: http://thefixitchamp.com/blog/