Roof leak in tenants apartment. What can be done right now?
We are away on vacation and will be back this Sunday. Tenants are on the third floor. Roof did not give us any problems so far and we own this house since 2004. Leak is in the room that have a skylight but leak is in the middle of the room 3-4 feet from the…
We are away on vacation and will be back this Sunday.
Tenants are on the third floor. Roof did not give us any problems so far and we own this house since 2004.
Leak is in the room that have a skylight but leak is in the middle of the room 3-4 feet from the skylight edge.
Ceiling is a sheetrock, not plaster. There is a crawl space about 3 feet above, that was insulated 1 year ago by professional insulator recommended from this site.
Water is dripping since 6am today. Obviously the source is melted snow. I assume it is dangerous to go up to the roof because it is slippery.
And ceiling has almost no chance of collapsing because it is not plaster.
But from the other side – it is not fun to have water dripping, and it is close to the light fixture.
If it would be plumbing or electrical problem we would just call out plumber or electrician even if we are not in Brooklyn.
But what we could do in this situation:
1. Right now? (to make out tenants comfortable.
2. Whom to call when we will come back? roofer? If snow is piling high on the roof what can be done?
Hello , call this number 908-510-6235. He can help you to solve this problem very quickly and properly. thanks.
I concur that you should get somebody to cut a hole in the sheetrock. That CAN fall, trust me. The question is HOW MUCH if you don’t allow it to drip until you can get to the roof and have someone look at the roof.
If you are afraid to go up to the roof of a flat-roof building, you should reconsider home ownership.
I had roof insulated by contractor and it leaked next year though the crack at the base of the went “mushroom” these contractors installed.
You definitely want to open up the ceiling regardless of whether it is sheetrock or tin because the insulation is probably sopping wet and will continue to spread the moisture and 1/become very heavy, and 2/set up a mold growth situation.
It’s a pain in the ass but you need to open it up to the extent that the leak is dripping right into a bucket rather than traveling across and down.
My guess is that there’s snow covering the peak vent, which melting due to rising heat from the house.
If the tenant has access to the roof and it’s a flat roof it’s not super-dangerous up there, especially as skylights tend to be towards the center of the roof. If it were me, I’d go up with a shovel and clear the snow away from the skylight. But I’m an idiot.
Not much can be done immediately on the roof to remedy the situation with all the snow there, but maybe in a few days. If it’s sheetrock, I’d cut out a square between the rafters, put a bucket below the leak and wait for the roofer.
I uesed Nick at Leakmasters as well.
You probably have a melting ice dam that had frozen in an unusual spot on the skylight & is now melting. Water finds its way to unpredicable places. I had that once a few years ago on a new roof & never again. I’d tell the tenant to leave buckets to catch the drips & it’ll probably go away fairly quickly w/ bright sun & dry conditions today.
Sheetrock CAN collapse. The insulation is probably wet and weighing down the ceiling. Not trying to make you nervous or anything, but you should get it seen to immediately. If you can’t get a roofer, at least take down the wet ceiling.