Things to Do When Your New Roof Leaks

It’s heartbreaking to pay thousands of dollars to install a new roof only to find out that it leaks. I know you are trying to imagine it, but it’s a nightmare no homeowner wants to experience. But the question is, “what will you discover that your new roof leaks”? Well, in this article, you will learn about the things to do when your new roof leaks.
 
Sometimes, you may think the worst thing has happened to you when your new roof leaks. But you can quickly repair most leaks on a new roof.
 
From experience, most roofing contractors are reputable people who will fix any leaks from a new roof quickly. However, ensure you handle the issue most appropriately to enable the roofer to get it fixed immediately.
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So, here are some of the things to do when your new roof leaks;
 
#1. Don’t Panic
 
It may sound funny, but the first thing you should do when your new roof leaks is to stay calm. Let me tell you the truth; it can be very annoying when you see a new roof you spend your hard-earned dollars on starts leaking. But staying calm will enable you to do the right thing.
 
Remember that getting worked up, yelling at the roofer, or tearing your hair out can’t fix it faster. So, stay calm and assess the situation before putting a call across to the roofer.
 
By assessment, I mean know the exact location of the leak, you don’t need to climb the roof to get this information. You can always spot a leak from the underside of the roof deck or inside your attic. Again, you can carry out a quick scan on the roof from the ground.
 
Generally, most new roof leaks around protrusions in the roof. Protrusions in this context refer to skylights, chimneys, stack lines, and valleys, and these are the areas you should be checking for leaks in your new roof.
 
Furthermore, try to jot down anything you see about the leak. It could be the time it started raining, how hard it was raining, and how long it has been raining before you began to notice the leaks. Also, it’s a combination of rain and driving winds that can show a leak or crack that is not too obvious.
 
You see, your roofer will find this information helpful as it will enable him to fix your leaking roof quickly. And when delivering the information to your roofer, try to be as calm as possible. You can even encourage him to honor his words and fix the issue immediately.
 
#2. Don’t Make Threats
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Like I mentioned earlier, a reputable contractor will always make good on his work. And once you notify him of a leak, he will surely respond to it almost immediately.
 
 However, making threats on roofers, yelling at them, or making unnecessary demands will only delay things.
 
What you should know is that every responsible roofer will always honor the terms of his agreement. And once there’s a leak on a new roof he just installed, he will go extra miles to make things right with you.
 
So, if you want the contractor to fix the leak as soon as possible, be calm in your approach rather than throwing threats. Don’t forget that threatening a contractor will only delay the process unnecessarily. And I’m sure that’s not what you want.
 
#3. Don’t Blow Your Top
 
I know it’s frustrating when your new roof leaks after spending a fortune to install it. But blowing your top won’t fix it. Instead, try to figure out a way to get your contractor to fix the leak immediately.
 
Let the advice you; calling your roofer and accusing him of being a crook, con man, a sorry excuse for a human being, blah blah blah will only delay the process. Instead of being confrontational, speak with your roofer calmly, and he will want to please you.
 
#4. Don’t Over Exaggerate
 
I don’t know how you are going to feel about this, but a roof leak isn’t a tragedy. So, don’t try to exaggerate how the leak is affecting your life. Instead, try to calmly explain that you woke up to a drip at midnight; things like this will make the roofer wants to fast-track the repairs.
 
#5. Don’t Be Too Personal About the Leak
 
I know you probably have spent a lot of money installing the roof in the first place. But the leak was probably a mistake during installation, which could happen to anybody. And you can discuss the things on how to fix the leak with your contractor with little or no fuss.
 
#6. Ensure You Are Discussing the Leak With the right Roofing Employee
 
It’s a bit easier to initiate your new roof leak conversation with the person you have been dealing with. Such a person will do everything to sustain the relationship.
 
Don’t forget he may not be the owner of the roofing company, so that he won’t want his boss to get wind of what’s happening. For this reason, he will quickly fix the leak without wasting time. After all, no employee wants to be in his boss’s bad book.
 
#7. Be Factual About the Leak
 
The first thing you should do when you call the contractor is to give an unbiased description of the leak. If possible, try to do this without tantrums. It makes the conversation a whole lot easier.
 
#8. Set a Realistic Time frame for the Contractor to Fix The Roof
 
It’s normal to be eager to get your roof fixed. But set a realistic time frame for your contractor to correct the problem. You can call your contractor and ask him to get the roof fix in two days. It’s almost impossible because he may have other commitments.
 
But when you set a realistic time frame like a week or two, your contractor will not have any reasonable excuse for delaying the roof further.
 
How To Get a Contractor Fix the Roof without Delaying It
 
I have mentioned this countless times; it’s not a good experience when your new roof leaks. But you can turn everything around by approaching the problem in a calm, confident manner. Trust me; displaying melodramatic mayhem will not repair faster. Instead, it will make things more complicated.
 
Always have it in mind that you don’t need to threaten a roofing contractor for him to fix a roof leak. A calm and objective approach will make the process easier and faster.
 
Once you discover leaks on a new roof, the first thing you should do is to get a serious commitment from your contractor. Let him know you aren’t blaming him, but he should help you fix the problem. If you can approach it from this perspective, your contractor will fix the leak and redeemed it in your eyes.