Water Damage From A Leaking Roof
Roof leaks are a problem in any weather, but any leak can quickly turn into a major emergency. The sole purpose of your roof is to seal your Madison home from the elements. Any intrusion or that barrier will create problems, whether the water enters your living space or not. We at White Knight Carpet Rescue Inc. want to go over some potential causes roof leaks.
Leaks From Rain
Water leaking through the roof system while it is raining could be due to damaged or deteriorated shingles, improper installation of the shingles, or poor/failed flashing details at penetrations and walls. It may even be due to damaged window sills, improper siding installations or severe wind driven rain.
Most of the time, a roof leak will form a small puddle in the attic until it finds an escape route: a light fixture, heating register, ceiling joists or other low point. If the ceiling is holding water or you might see a bulge in the drywall, you will need to deal with both the roof problem and the resulting damage to your home.
Damage From Ice Dams or Condensation
Repeated freezing and thawing of rooftop snow can cause enough damage to the roof to cause a leak. To prevent ice dams, eliminate or reduce the amount of warm air that is escaping into the attic. After an ice dam, you need to repair damage to insulation, joists and sheetrock.
Madison homes also might experience a winter-time “leak” caused by condensation or frost buildup in the attic. This is not workmanship related or an actual roof leak. To prevent frost condensation from developing in your attic you, again, must eliminate or reduce the amount of air leakage into the attic. Improving insulation and ventilation allows moist air to escape the roof.
Design Flaws
Many roofs are filled with places that will leak only when water is not allowed to properly flow. This is very common on pitched roofs at inside corners or flat roofs. Any blockage can cause a leak, especially those in gutters or a downspout. Clearing leaves and debris might solve the problem; you might need to change the pathway of excess flowing water.
Water Damage Cleanup in Madison
Roofers fix and replace damaged roofs, White Knight Carpet Rescue repairs your home. For example, chronic roof leaks lead to wood deterioration. Weakened, rotten roof framing causes serious structural problems. You can also face expensive wood framing repairs if water leaks down into ceiling joists and walls.
When dealing with water damage, a prompt response is essential for mitigating damage, reducing your losses, protecting your health and restoring your property as quickly as possible. The longer water damage goes unchecked, the more the water will spread, the more damage is done, and the greater the potential for mold growth. According to EPA.gov it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. If your problem is too large to handle quickly on your own, enlist qualified water damage experts.
Based in Madison, Wisconsin, White Knight Carpet Rescue serves residential customers with a one hour or less response time. The company offers a wide selection of services to protect your home including intense cleaning, refinishing and emergency flood response. White Knight Carpet Rescue will rescue you 24/7 from water emergencies.
