Young Woman Collecting Water In Bucket From Ceiling. Ceiling pan
Blog

Storm Season Is Here – Leaking Roof Repair Tips For Sydney

Summer is often ‘storm season’ in Australia, but this summer is said to be bringing particularly wild weather to the east coast. It’s important to heed the warnings and ensure your home is ‘storm ready’ before the seasonal change. One of the most frustrating problems during a storm is a leaking roof, which can not only cause problems in the moment, but can lead to long term water damage to your house. Here are some tips on ways to help protect your home, and who to talk to about leaking roof repairs in Sydney if you do have an inundation.

What causes roof leaks?

If you ever notice wet or mouldy patches on your ceiling, it’s highly likely you have a roof leak. Whether it’s during a storm, or just in day to day living, it’s important that you organise a plumber to find the cause and seal it as soon as possible. There are many causes for a roof leak, including:

  • damaged roof tiles
  • rusting roof sheets
  • blocked gutters and stormwater drains that cause a backup of rain water into the roof cavity
  • cracked flashings around vents
  • broken or damaged skylights
  • penetrations from solar panels or antennas.

When a roof leak is identified, don’t leave it too long for a plumber to inspect and fix. If water is left sitting in your roof cavity, it can cause damage to your ceiling and timber trusses. This can attract termites (they love moisture) and lead to mould in the plasterboard and insulation.

leaking roof repairs Sydney

How can you protect your roof from leaks?

If you want to protect your roof from leaks, it’s important to carry out a regular, yearly inspection. Additionally, if you’ve had a hail storm, a pest infestation, or building activity on the roof (i.e. had solar panels installed), it’s beneficial to have a plumber inspect your roof to ensure everything is still fully sealed.

Gutters also should be cleared after each season to prevent a build-up of leaf matter than can block your gutters and storm water drains.

When it rains, check where it pours

It’s good practice to check the ceilings throughout your house during a heavy downpour. Even inspecting the ceiling a day or so after a heavy downpour can identify any potential leaks. It can take time for the water to travel from the roof to the ceiling.

If a heavy wet patch has formed on your ceiling, and you have a bucket to catch the water drips, there is a way to prevent further damage to your ceiling. Use a hacksaw blade to cut the wet plasterboard, so the drip can run freely into the bucket. This prevents the water seeping further into the plaster surrounds.

leaking roof repairs Sydney

If you find yourself with water inundation around the roof, call a residential plumbing expert! For all your leaking roof repairs in Sydney, the team at Gladesville Plumbing can help. We are happy to organise an inspection at any time, and fix leaks before they cause further damage to your property.

Need further advice about leaking roof repairs to your Sydney home? Contact the team at Gladesville Plumbing today!