One of the basic needs of an individual is to have shelter. This is regarded as one of the most basic needs of life, as it provides basic protection and safeguards the individual from the elements and a few other dangers.
A lack of adequate shelter can result in a lot of other problems that are not limited to health or emotional problems. As a result of this, every individual strives to be able to afford a “roof” over their heads no matter how small.
One paramount thing that every individual, therefore, puts at the back of their minds while looking for a house is comfort. This can however not be achieved with a leaking roof.
What is a Roof?
This is the top part of a building or house. It consists of all materials and components necessary to support it on the walls of the building.
Though its purpose is primarily to provide a covering over the building, it is also important to note that, dependent on the purpose the building serves, it may also have other purposes. You can read up more information on this page.
Why Is It Important?
Now, of what use is a good house with a roof that’s not serving its full purpose? What exactly are these purposes? Let’s look at a few below.
- It provides protection from sunlight, rainfall as well as snow.
- It serves as a covering from extreme temperatures and winds.
- and It can be used to provide solar energy. In recent times, they are designed to supply electrical power to the house. These types of roofs are specially designed with solar panels inside them.
What Causes Roof Leaks?
Firstly, the leak in the roof comes mostly through cracks or irregular openings in the ceiling of a house. This may be caused by heavy winds, storms or even an error that took place during construction.
At other times, they could also be the result of the inferior quality of the materials used or wrong choices made as a result of not knowing the right materials needed for the project. You can find out more about to choose the right materials for these kinds of projects here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/skylight-roofing-choice-right-material-technology-sinha
What is Mold?
They are tiny fungi seeds that form or grow around areas that have been exposed to moisture (wetness) for a long time, without proper access to ventilation to help dry them up. These organisms thrive in areas where there is excessive dampness or saturation of water from water leakage.
What Are the Signs?
When there’s an accumulation of moisture or if there is a leak in the roof, you are most likely to have molds in your house. To be sure of this, look out for the following:
- Brown or gray ceiling discoloration
- Visible mold growth (usually dark green, brown, or black)
- A musty odor near the area of the roof leak
Aside from the above visible signs, it can also trigger some obvious health effects that can make you begin to suspect the presence of mold in your home. Some of these include:
- Asthma attacks
- Trouble breathing
- Fever
- Sore throat
- Depression
- Headaches and migraines
- Rashes or hives
- Chronic fatigue
If you or anyone in your home is experiencing one or more of the above signs, and you know you’ve recently experienced water damage to your ceiling, then it’s time to take action. You can either try to remove the mold yourself or you can call in a professional. Just make sure to address its growth sooner rather than later. Of course, if your roof is showing serious signs of wear and tear, is leaking badly, or is over 15 years old, it may be time to call in the Boise Roof Replacement experts, or roofing professionals in your area, and consider a full roof replacement.
What you can do about it?
Let’s quickly look at a few ways through which you can address the presence of mold in your home.
1. Remove it Yourself
The first thing you can try to do, at least as a first step, is to remove it yourself. These precautionary steps should be taken before embarking on this operation:
- Find the source of the leak.
- Determine the extent of its spread and how quickly it might continue to spread.
- Dry the area since they do not thrive in dry and well-ventilated locations.
- Clean and disinfect the moldy area.
- Discard contaminated materials.
2. Call a Professional
Sealing a leaking roof could be quite a challenge as can be mold removal. It is therefore recommended that you call a professional to handle these issues. The reason is simply that they are better equipped to handle the challenge more than you probably can. These specialists will remove your current mold caused by a roof leak, replace any infected drywall, and ensure that it doesn’t come back at all.
Conclusion
The roof of your home is one important aspect of the structure that you cannot afford to allow to just deteriorate. Taking proper care of it prevents the occurrence of other problems like the issue of mold that we looked at.
Once you notice any little leak or problem, you must address them promptly no matter how little they may seem. This is important because failure to do this can lead to catastrophic outcomes that can lead to the structural integrity of the building being compromised.
Take proper control of your home today by calling up professionals to come to take a look at that leaking roof.
