When heavy storms hit, every roofer in the phonebook gets busy and most of them will naturally take care of their regular customers first. While most reputable roofers would love to be able to swoop in and save your ceilings, the overwhelming demand during rainstorms make it impossible to be everywhere at once. So, when you start to see the telltale signs of a roof leak - don't panic; instead consider taking action to control the amount of damage that is being caused by the incoming water.

• Pots & Pans - while it may seem like a cliché, these kitchen utensils are probably the most common mechanisms used for catching water that is dripping through the ceiling.
   
• Create a drain - water dripping through the ceiling typically comes from an ever-growing reservoir that is building on top of the ceiling material. To limit the spread of the ceiling damage, it often helps to make a hole in the ceiling exactly where the drip is occurring. Since the ceiling is going to need some repair anyways, a simple plaster patch of a small hole (about the diameter of a pencil) is generally cheaper and easier than replacing large sections of plaster or drywall.
   
• Get to the source - while catching water in the living room might save a mess on the floor, it is far better to catch it before it hits the ceiling in the first place. To do this however will require a trip to the attic. Once in the attic, a bright light will be necessary to help spot the entry point of the water. (Note: moving through the attic must be done slowly and cautiously since ceilings are not intended for foot traffic. Always step on the ceiling joists and never on the ceiling material since it is not strong enough to support your weight. It may be easier to place boards across the ceiling joists to act as walk boards.)
   
• Buckets in the attic - once the leak has been spotted, buckets or the aforementioned pots & pans may be placed strategically to catch the water before it reaches the ceiling. You must remember to periodically check the contents of these containers and drain them before they become full.
   
• Collector funnels - for leaks that are coming in from multiple entry points in the same general vicinity, it is sometimes possible to fashion a catch funnel by nailing or stapling plastic sheets or tarps to the rafters to capture the water and direct it into a bucket. Again, be mindful to empty the bucket periodically lest it overflow.
   
• Tarps - covering the area of the roof where the leak is entering can prevent the need for the bucket brigade but it is not something that should undertaken during the rain since roofs can be very slippery when wet. Placing tarps in place between rain storms may help but this can still be a dangerous proposition for people unaccustomed to walking on roofs, plus it is not always a practical solution depending on the source of the roof leak.

There may be other methods that can mitigate the damage from roof leaks but those shown above represent a few methods that have been successfully employed for many years. All of these measures fall under the heading of stop-gap emergency steps and they do not take the place of proper roof repair, no matter how well they work in the short term. It is still important to have a professional evaluation done to determine if your roof is repairable or in need of total replacement. August Roofing understands the urgency of roof leaks and will everything within our power to provide the appropriate service and solution for your roof and we appreciate your patience as we work to get your problem solved.