How to Check for Roof Leaks or Damage After a Severe Storm

Homeowners should look for roof and rain gutter damage after severe storms in Connecticut.  Check for signs of water damage in your attic and around your chimney.

How to Check for Damage or Leaks after a Summer Storm in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, summers storms can be sudden and unexpected.  They can also be violent in nature and cause severe damage to homes. Connecticut residents have become somewhat accustomed to summer storms.  A recent round of tornadoes caught a lot of people off guard.  There were 5 confirmed tornadoes, a rare event in Connecticut. It was also early in the summer storm season. It’s not officially Summer here in Connecticut yet and these storms happened a month ago.

These tornadoes and the storms that came with them caused a lot of damage to homes. Homes all over Connecticut suffered extensive damage.  Some of the damage experienced included:

• Roof damage
• Rain Gutters Ripped from Homes
• Trees Crashed Through Homes and Property
• Windows Damaged or Shattered

Connecticut homeowners are no stranger to summer storm damage to their homes. What is often overlooked is the hidden damage.  After a severe storm, homeowners might look around for obvious damage (down drain spouts, missing roof shingles, broken windows). Homeowners in Connecticut might miss the not so obvious damage, or damage out of eye site.

How to reduce the risk of property damages in summer storms?

There isn’t a lot that you can do when facing an intense summer storm. You can take several precautions to reduce the number of leaks and damage to your property. You can start by cleaning up or filling up puddles (if any) to make sure that the rainwater doesn’t puddle around any area of your property. This would decrease the chances of permanent rotting and damage to the property. It would also decrease the possibility of mold which can be very dangerous to your family. You may also dig a ditch or a water channel that would help direct the water straight away from your property and into the sewers. Repair any damaged roof shingles/tiles and rain gutters as soon as possible. Prolonged exposure to water can be very damaging to a home.  A minor damage can become a major problem after another storm.

How to look for roof leaks and damaged rain gutters?

There are plenty of signs that you have a leak. Yargueta Construction put together a list of what to look for, and possibly repair, after a severe summer storm.

• Look for signs of a leak on the ceiling. Water stains or marks might indicate a leak exists.  Check the attic to confirm.  If you see water in the attic, then you have a leak.  This will only get worse over time.  It will need to be addressed immediately to avoid more costly damage and health issues.
• In the attic look for wet insulate, water marks in the rafters, or damp/wet framing.
• The water marks, wet insulation or any other wet area should point you in the direction of the roof leak
• Ensure the leak is not coming from plumbing that might run through your attic (then you need a plumber, not a roofer)
• If you have a chimney, make sure to check around the chimney. Leaks often occur from damage or aging of the flashing around the chimney.
• Water may also get trapped on your roof around the chimney because of debris from the chimney. This will cause ponding and will damage your roof and cause a leak.
• If you discover a leak or damage to the roof then take pictures and speak to a professional roofer.
• Check the rain gutters to make sure there is no damage, clogs or missing sections.
• Look for signs of puddles near the frame of the house. This could indicate that a part of your rain gutter is missing.  Over time the water will erode the frame of your house and get into your home.
• Check for cracks or damage to windows and doors, including the frames.

It’s important to fix any damage you find to your roof or rain gutters as quickly as possible.  The longer you wait the higher the chance that more damage will occur.  It’s also advisable that you speak to a professional roofing contractor.  A roofer knows how to efficiently and correctly fix roof damage to prevent further problems.