What to Do About a Leaky Roof Until You Can Afford a Repair

Leaky roofs are common in Oregon, and many people know right away if a leak formed. As the rainfall in the state is quite high, you’ll typically notice a small amount of water coming through the roof that spills onto the floor. Before you see that leak, you may notice that the ceiling looks bowed as the water builds up inside. Water leaks can also cause cracks in the ceiling and the upper walls too. When a leak forms, there are things you can do until you can afford to pay for a repair.

Collect the Water

Collecting the water that falls from the roof is one of the easiest things that you can do. Though some people use pots or pans, it’s helpful to use a larger plastic bucket like those found on construction sites. This collects all the water that falls and is large enough that the water shouldn’t spill over the sides. You can leave the bucket out all day while at work without finding spills when you get home. Smaller buckets work better when you’re at home and are easier to carry and empty.

Block Off the Room

Depending on how severe the leak is, you may need to block off access to the room. Falling debris like part of the ceiling that falls down can do significant damage to your home and injure any person or animal walking through the room at the time. Blocking off access to the room ensures that your family and pets stay safe. You can simply close the door and lock it, or you can add a temporary deadbolt or another lock to that door. Using hazard tape lets others know they shouldn’t enter too.

Remove the Drywall

One issue with a roof leak that many do not think about is the drywall around that leak. As the water runs over the ceiling, it causes the drywall to soften. Once it dries again, large chunks can actually come off. You can use a simple saw to cut out the wet area around the leak and hire someone to redo the drywall for you later. Any of these methods serve as temporary solutions to your roof leak. You’ll want to contact a roof repair Beaverton Oregon company to inspect your roof and repair that leak for you as soon as possible.