Tips for Cleaning a Leaking Roof

10/20/2020 (Permalink)

A roof leak can be a catastrophic problem for your property. Not only are leaking roofs often damaged and unsightly, but the leaks they cause can prove a danger to yourself, your employees, your customers, and your inventory. Leaks lead to slip and fall situations, damage electronics, and encourage mold growth. So how can you clean up after a leaking roof?

Keep Everything High and Dry.

The biggest part of cleaning up after a roof leak is to make sure everything stays dry. You should take these steps:

• Remove anything wet that can be salvaged and take it outside to dry out.
• Tear out any porous materials that may be waterlogged and incubating mold.
• Immediately find the source of the leak and implement a temporary patch if possible.
• Clean, dry, and disinfect the affected area.
• Ward off the area until the issue can be addressed.

If the roof leak is a crisis situation with substantial amounts of water flooding the building or making the roof itself unstable, you may need to evacuate the building immediately and call for help. Be very careful when tracing the source of a leak, and never try to climb onto the roof yourself unless you have appropriate safety precautions in place and the proper equipment and assistance. This is especially true in the middle of emergencies such as storms, hurricanes, and other natural disasters that may be the cause of the roof leak. Remember to first protect yourself and your employees; your inventory can be replaced.