A few weeks ago on an in home visit, I encountered a home that had roof damage which originated in the December 2007 storm.
The roof had by now leaked through the ceiling tiles throughout the home. Many spots needed buckets strategically located under them to catch the rain water as it dripped during rain storms. The damage to the ceiling and insulation was extensive.
Delaying repair to the roof had amplified the problem which tripled repair costs and complicated repair activities. This could potentially move the homeowners out of their home completely until the ceiling repairs are finished.
The most discouraging information to surface during this visit was that several friends and neighbors had seen the damage spreading increasingly throughout the home yet did not spend enough time with the homeowner to discuss what could or should be done.
When damage occurs to your roof sufficient to allow rain water to seep through into your insulation and ceiling, at that moment you need to stop the leakage. The best step is to call a roofing contactor and have a tarp attached to your roof. This is not costly when you consider the alternative. Most Roofing Contractors will do this for between $100.00 and $200.00 depending on the total area being covered. In fact if you have Homeowners Insurance most carriers will “gladly” pay for the tarping as part of the roof repair claim. This person had Homeowners Insurance. After contacting the insurer, they conducted an inspection and approved funding for the entire repair.
Timely action over a year ago would have allowed the homeowner to enjoy their home rather than worry about the consequences of the next storm.
