Water damage is one of the most devastating roofing issues any homeowner can encounter. It can leave your sheathing and rafters in poor, softened condition. Fortunately, determining whether you have water damage is easy – just follow the steps below
Ceiling Discoloration
Soaked ceiling plywoods and boards will change into a rust or brown-colored splotch on your roof. Water directly hit these areas in the ceiling. You can assume that your sheathing and rafters are soaked if your ceiling has started to discolor.
Drip Trails on Walls
Rainwater will drip on your walls from the ceiling. You can see this as a dried trail from the ceiling and against the wall. If the drip trails happen much more frequently, it means you have roof leaks that need repairs immediately.
Soaked and Tattered Insulation
Insulation will absorb water leak and weaken its structure. As it loses integrity, it would become torn and tattered. If you see any signs of torn and tattered insulation on your roof, assume that you have water damage and need to have it repaired.
What do you after you diagnose that your roof has water damage? Here are a few more things to do according to Jenkins Restorations. Read more below.
1. Call Your Insurance Company
Your homeowners’ insurance will vary depending on what policies you have. The insurance company will send an adjuster to look at and assess the damage and determine if it is a covered loss.
Document the values of each and every item you can think of and take as many photos as possible before, during, and after cleanup. This will help the adjuster when he or she is able to come assess the damage.
Note: Not all home insurance policies cover flood damage.
2. Protecting Yourself, Appliances, and Valuables
The most important step in any major home disaster like flooding and water damage, is to make sure yourself and your family are safe. There are several things you can do to stay safe in your home.
Turn off the power
Water and electricity obviously do not mix. But, if turning off the power requires you to enter or stand in wet areas it is best to leave it alone and call an electrician. Do not reenter a flood damaged home before turning the electricity off.
Wear Protective Gear
Be sure to wear protective clothing–such as rubber boots and gloves–when you re-enter your home. This will protect you from injuries that can get bacteria filled water in them.
Protect Your Valuables
You can lift wood furniture off the wet carpet areas and insert tin foil under the feet to prevent staining of the carpet. Likewise, remove any rugs that may be on wet flooring.
You may be forced to leave your home if the flooding is bad enough. Make sure it is also safe when you return to your home to begin dealing with the aftermath. Don’t drive through any flooded areas!
3. Start Water Damage Repair Immediately
Before starting the process of water damage removal in a flooded home, be sure to document all of the damage first. This will help with any future insurance claims you make.
If possible, water damage restoration should start 24-48 hours after you’ve been cleared to re-enter your home. In many situations, the damage is too extensive for one person or family. Get help from a restoration service to stay safe and ensure the water damage removal process is done correctly.
Be aware that you may need to remove flooring, drywall, and insulation to prevent mold and mildew from spreading in your home. Furniture may also need to be dried out, cleaned or thrown away depending on the level of water damage. Water and moisture can damage hardware floors quickly, so this process should be started as soon as possible. (Continue reading here to learn more)
With Slavin Home Improvements, you have a roofer who has delivered outstanding roofing repairs for residential and commercial properties. Call us today to learn more about our services.
