Water Damage Due To Roof Leak

Some roof leaks are tough to locate.

Water damage due to roof leak.

Worse mold can be deadly so it s important to prevent it from growing from the start. At the first sign of a leak. Claims due to water damage impacts 1 in 50 homeowners each year. Accordingly in most cases when water damage is sustained as a result of a flood windstorm roof or window failure or even a leak emanating from an upstairs unit the roof or an exterior wall.

The initial dangers of a roof leak are damage to the attic area and items stored there. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. Ceilings exposed to water damage are more at risk due to gravity. If there signs of water damage or dripping water coming from the ceiling that is directly below an attic space or directly below the roof surface itself there is almost no question that the true cause is a hole or other type of damage in the shingles or other roofing material that make up the roof system.

Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. Identifying roofing system leaks. Moisture leads to mold and mold spreads. You don t want them sagging or collapsing.

According to the insurance information institute homeowners insurance may help pay for repairs if for instance your drywall is drenched after your water heater ruptures or an upstairs pipe bursts and water saturates the ceiling below. If there is no attic or the size of the leak is really big it will damage the interior ceiling. Even if the roof leak is caused by a windstorm or a tree. Water damage is one of the most common causes of home insurance claims according to the insurance services office iso water damage claims are the second largest frequent insurance claim following wind and hail damage.

The leaking water also will damage paint and plaster on nearby walls. Water damage from a roof leak doesn t just create ugly spots on the ceiling and walls. Contact your condo association to let them know of any water damage that originated outside your unit whether it was due to a leaky roof or a neighbor s overflowing washing machine. So remove affected ceiling panels or boards first.

Roof leak repairs must be make immediately. Unlike a drippy faucet a dripping ceiling cannot wait. A standard homeowners insurance policy will cover water damage and roof leaks unless they re the result of gross negligence on your part.