Why does a roof leak after a storm keep getting worse overnight?
Rain that enters through an opening keeps running for as long as the rain continues, and the water it carries soaks into the materials below. Insulation holds water after the rain has stopped, and it releases it slowly. The damage can therefore grow for hours or days after the storm passes.
A leak that looked small in the evening can be much larger by the next morning, because the insulation above the ceiling has been soaking up water all night. A drip that stops can start again when the insulation releases what it has held. The crew treats the building as wet until the readings show otherwise.
Standing water in a ceiling can also collect in a sag and then release all at once when the drywall gives way. The crew checks for sagging areas on arrival and deals with them before anything else, because that is the most sudden hazard in the room.
Why is a tarp not enough on its own?
A tarp stops new rain from entering, but it does nothing for the water already inside. Wet insulation, soaked decking and a damp ceiling keep the moisture and promote damage if they are left in place. Drying has to follow the tarp, and it needs readings to show when the structure is dry.
A tarp can also trap moisture in the roof space if it is laid over wet materials without any ventilation or drying. The crew checks the attic for moisture before it leaves the tarp in place, and it decides whether the attic needs air movement as well.
The tarp must be secured against wind, or it can tear away and open the roof again. The crew checks the fixings and explains how long the tarp is expected to hold, although it does not promise a date for the roof repair.
Which parts of the house must be dried after a roof leak?
The crew dries the attic framing, the decking, the insulation, the ceiling drywall and the room below. Walls that the water reached are read as well, because water runs down inside wall cavities. The drying covers every surface the readings show to be wet, not only the stain on the ceiling.
The decking and rafters are read from the attic side. A wet decking board can hold water for a long time, and it can swell and warp as it dries. The readings show whether the wood is recovering, and whether any framing needs to be assessed before the roof is repaired.
The ceiling drywall is read at each point of the stain and at its edges. Where the readings stay high, the drywall is removed to the height the water reached. Walls below the ceiling line are read at the top plate, where water can run down inside the wall.
What affects the cost of a roof leak tarp and dry-out?
The size of the opening, the area of ceiling and insulation affected, how many rooms are wet and how hard it is to reach the attic all change the work. The tarp, the drying equipment and the removal of wet materials are part of the cost. Each job is priced after the walkthrough, and no price is quoted over the phone.
A small leak in one room is a different job from a roof torn open over several rooms. The first needs a small tarp, a limited removal and drying in one area. The second needs a larger covering, more equipment and drying across the building.
Access also matters. An attic with little headroom takes longer to work in, and a steep or damaged roof needs more care. The crew explains these factors on site and confirms the cost in writing before the equipment is set.
Who repairs the roof itself after the tarp is on?
The homeowner arranges the roof repair with a roofer of their choice. The crew does not repair the roof itself, and it does not promise a date for the repair. It shares the readings and the location of the opening, so the roofer can start from the same evidence.
A roof repair is a separate job with its own scope, and it should be quoted and carried out by the roofer the homeowner hires. The insurer may ask for the roof repair to be done before the interior is closed up, so it is worth asking the insurer about the order of work.
The crew can mark the opening and the damage on a sketch for the roofer, and it keeps copies of the readings for the homeowner's file. Those records are useful to the roofer and to any insurer that asks how the water reached the house.
