The monsoons are the worst time for a leaky roof to emerge in your list of house-related problems. In the rainy or colder months it can be harder to tackle roof-related problems compared with the spring or summer seasons. If you find you have a damaged and leaky roof before the monsoon season, here are a few ways you can fix it.
1. Use Temporary Covers
If your roof is leaking during a monsoon, it is a recipe for disaster because more and more water will now enter your room, putting your health and your belongings at risk. Use temporary covers like a plastic, weatherproof and waterproof tarp over the roof or the damaged area. The tarp will block the water and the resultant moisture from worsening the scale of the damage.
You can also use this temporary cover to inspect where there is an issue such as cracked, broken, or missing shingles. You can then report this issue to a contractor over the phone so they can offer urgent roof repair services rather than wasting time examining the roof themselves.
2. Preemptive Weatherproofing
While this advice may not work for urgent and unforeseen roof repair incidents, it is good advice to follow before the monsoon season hits. If your roof is very old consider having it professionally evaluated in the spring season even if you have no reason to believe there is damage or a leak happening. For a full-scale roof replacement, you definitely do not want to leave matters until the colder months so always try to finish that project with your contractor well before monsoon season.
Having preemptive weatherproofing done on your roof can also save you a headache or two when the rainier months come. Weatherproof coating is available in different varieties and is chosen according to the style of house and the dominant roofing material used.
These weatherproof coatings can increase your house’s protection against moisture and repetitive rain which otherwise may cause corrosion (to metal shingles) or rot (in wooden shingles). If you are DIY-ing this project make sure you apply multiple coats thinly for the best effect and evenly over the entire surface.
3. Pay Attention To Drainage
Before the monsoon season hits, make a point of checking your drainage systems and downspouts. During the warmer months, a lot of foliage such as dead leaves and branches can get stuck in the downspouts causing moisture to keep accumulating on the roof. Hire a professional roof cleaner or take out a free day to do the job yourself. Always use safe cleaning products and avoid erosive bleach products. Unclog any drainage pipe or gutter that is not draining water properly in anticipation of the monsoon months when rainwater will be in excess.
4. A Roofing Material Option To Withstand Rain
If you have undertaken roof replacement Gaithersburg before the onslaught of the monsoons, be particular about choosing a roofing material option that withstands excessive rain well. Wood shingles may seem like the fashionable, contemporary option but they can rot and have a shorter lifespan when compared with shale or ceramic which last very well. Metal can rust over time if it hasn’t been treated with anti-rust treatment so consider the quality of the metal shingles you are thinking about buying.
Ceramic and shale are the best in terms of longevity and durability and they can be painted in any color to match the exterior of the rest of your house. Not to mention if a shale shingle were to crack, it can be easily replaced without a professional’s help. If you are not opting for shingles, then a galvanized metal sheet can prove extraordinarily durable and provide excellent protection from the elements.
5. Beware Of Covert Cracks
Cracks in the roof or in drainage pipes can cause leaks to appear in different areas of the house. As a homeowner, you might be well into the first month of monsoon rain before you notice water damage in areas like the attic or the basement which are affected first by a damaged roof. As the problem goes ignored into the colder months, all that moisture will begin to damage wood, furniture, other belongings and also make the interior environment of the house unpleasant.
In the summer months observe if there is light leakage or covert cracks which are only just developing. Fixing them beforehand with home improvement products will reduce the need of hiring an expensive roofing company or a contractor later on.