First steps indoors
When you first notice water, do these things before anything else:
- Put a bucket or bowl under the drip, with a towel inside to stop splashing
- Move furniture, electronics and anything precious out of the way, or cover them
- If water is near a ceiling light or fitting, keep clear of it and do not touch the switch; if in doubt, turn off that circuit at the consumer unit
- If a patch of ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out of the room
- Take photos of the stain and any damage for your records
- Never climb onto the roof yourself, especially in wet or windy weather
Why some roofs only leak in heavy rain
A roof that stays dry in a drizzle but leaks in a downpour is telling you something. In ordinary rain, tiles and flashings shed water fine. Heavy or wind-driven rain pushes water sideways and upwards under laps, through gaps in mortar and over the top of tired lead. Gutters and valleys that cope with light rain can overflow when the volume rises, sending water back under the edge of the roof.
The usual culprits
In our experience, most leaks come from one of a short list of places:
- Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates
- Cracked or missing mortar on the ridge and hips
- Lead flashing that has lifted or split where the roof meets a wall
- Flashing around a chimney stack, where water runs down behind the lead
- Valleys blocked with moss or with a worn lining
- Joints, edges and upstands on a flat roof; see our page on a leaking flat roof
- Blocked gutters overflowing back into the eaves
Why the stain is often in the wrong place
Water rarely drops straight down. It gets in at one spot, runs along the underside of the felt or down a rafter, and only drips once it reaches a low point or a nail. The mark on your bedroom ceiling can be well away from the actual gap in the roof. That is why a quick blob of sealant above the stain so often fails.
How Lee traces a leak
Lee Draper starts by asking when the leak appears: every shower, or only in storms from one direction? That narrows it down. He then looks over the roof from outside, checking slopes, ridge, valleys, gutters and every flashing. Where it is safe, he goes into the loft with a torch to follow the water trail along felt and timbers back to its entry point.
Once the cause is clear, he explains it plainly and gives you a written price for the fix. Our roof repairs page covers the work we carry out, and the guide to roof repair costs explains what decides the price.
Getting someone out
Call 07947 758052, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Active leaks are prioritised, and we aim to get someone out as quickly as possible during those working hours. It helps if you can tell us where the water is showing, whether the roof is tiled or flat, and whether it only happens in heavy rain.
If the roof is leaking because it is worn out everywhere, Lee will say so and explain the options. Our guide to how long a roof lasts covers the warning signs. You can also send us your details online.
After the leak is fixed
Once the roof is watertight again, give the inside time to dry. Leave the loft hatch open for a while if it is safe to, and keep the room ventilated. Wet loft insulation may need lifting or replacing, as it loses much of its effect when soaked. A stained ceiling usually needs a stain-blocking primer before repainting, otherwise the mark comes back through.
If the ceiling plaster is soft, cracked or sagging, it may need repairing by a plasterer. Keep photos of the damage and the repair in case you need them for an insurance claim later. It is also worth keeping an eye on the spot after the next heavy rain to be sure the cause has been found.