Water coming through the ceiling is alarming, but a few quick steps can limit the damage while you wait for a roofer. Here’s what to do, in order.
1. Make it safe
Water and electricity are a dangerous mix. If water is dripping near a ceiling light, light switch or socket, or through a light fitting, turn off the power to that circuit at your fuse box (consumer unit), or the whole supply if you’re not sure which circuit it is. Don’t touch wet electrical fittings.
If the ceiling is sagging or bulging, keep people and pets out from under it. A plasterboard or lath and plaster ceiling holding water is heavy and can come down without warning. A small bubble in the paint can be pierced over a bucket to let the water out in a controlled way, but if the ceiling itself is dropping, stay clear and call for help.
Whatever the weather, don’t climb onto the roof yourself. Wet tiles and slates are extremely slippery, and in wind it’s even more dangerous.
2. Protect your belongings
Move furniture, electronics, rugs and anything valuable away from the leak. If something is too big to move, cover it with a plastic sheet or bin bags. Lift things off the floor if water is spreading.
Carpets, soft furnishings and bedding soak up water and can quickly turn damp and mouldy, so the sooner they’re out of the way, the better.
3. Catch and contain the water
Put a bucket, bin or bowl under each drip, with a towel underneath to stop splashes. Lay towels around the edges to soak up any water that spreads. Empty the containers before they overflow, especially overnight.
If you can safely get into the loft, look for where the water is coming in. It often runs along the rafters before it drips, so the leak may be some distance from the stain on the ceiling. Put a container under it, and only walk on the joists, never on the plasterboard between them.
4. Record the damage
Take photos and videos of the water coming in, the damage to ceilings, walls and floors, and any damaged belongings. If you can see damage to the roof from the ground, such as missing tiles or a fallen chimney pot, photograph that too. Make a note of the date, time and weather.
Your insurer will want this if you make a claim, and it helps the roofer understand what’s happened. Our guide to leaking roof insurance claims explains what’s usually covered.
5. Call a roofer
The sooner a roofer can see the roof, the less damage the water does. For an active leak, the first job is usually a temporary repair to make the roof watertight, such as refitting slipped tiles or covering the damaged area. The permanent repair can follow once the cause is clear and the weather allows.
When you call, it helps to say:
- Where the water is coming in, and how fast
- Whether you can see any damage from outside
- Whether it started after a storm or heavy rain
- The type of roof, if you know it (tiled, slate or flat)
What causes a roof to leak?
The most common causes we see in Leeds are:
- Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates
- Cracked or missing mortar on the ridge or verges
- Worn or lifted lead flashing around chimneys, walls and roof windows
- Failed valleys, where two roof slopes meet
- Blocked gutters, which push water back under the roof edge
- Splits, blisters or worn joints on flat roofs
Our guide on how to find a leak in your roof explains how to narrow it down, and how to repair a broken or slipped roof tile explains one of the most common repairs.
What a roof leak repair costs
Small roof repairs start from around £150 with DPR, depending on the damage and how easy the roof is to reach. Most of our roof repairs include a 1-year workmanship guarantee, and new parts can be guaranteed for up to 5 years. If the roof has reached the end of its life, we’ll tell you, and our guide to replacement roof costs gives typical prices.
Roof leaking now?
We provide 24/7 emergency roof repairs across Leeds, and roof repairs for homes and commercial buildings across West Yorkshire.
Call us on 0113 335 0043 or send us your details.