Weather, mold, wear and tear, roofs are exposed to many risks. Risks that can lead to leaks which are not without consequences, but which are not inevitable either. Maison à part reviews the steps to take in the event of a leak and good practices to avoid them.
To take the sky on the head is not only an ancient fear. Roofs are in fact exposed to many dangers that can damage them and cause significant damage in our interiors. “The causes that can lead to water infiltration are numerous. It can be the fall of dead leaves in autumn or moss, climbing plants, tree branches, frost etc. These elements can degrade the coating, hinder the spontaneous flow of water, and move the tiles. On the other hand, the risk of a storm has been avoided because the regulations on the fixing of tiles have been tightened “explains Emilie Benjamin-Casadei, Chef Roof Tiles and Insulation Market at Terreal.
In the event of an aggravated leak, the water load stored by the plaster and stored by the insulation can cause the entire roof to collapse. As water literally passes everywhere, it can also reach the electrical system. But not only: “an infiltration can cause the wood to rot, weaken and cause the ceiling to fall. If water enters the insulation, this will create thermal bridges because the insulation characteristics of the insulation products are lost through the insulation. ‘air …’ explains Olivier Lafore, Marketing, Communication and After-Sales Director of Edilians.
Monitor risk areas
To avoid the worst, experts invite you to anticipate. The individual must first keep an eye out for risk areas. “When you have a chimney on a roof, it is installed in the direction of the slope, which will create a storage area (for leaves and pine needles for example, editor’s note) in its upper part. the top of the roof windows is also a retention area, where water does not drain away, ”explains Olivier Lafore. In the case of an L-shaped roof, the inner side of the L will have a valley generally embellished with a zinc corridor which can sometimes become blocked with leaves.
As a rule, experts invite to check your roof, and more particularly these singular points, at least once a year. More than controlling, individuals can also anticipate. When renovating his roof, he may decide to install an under-roof screen, which acts as an additional waterproofing. It is not compulsory, although in France 85% of single-family homes are equipped with it. It lets the steam that comes from below the house circulate to the outside, while helping to fight against infiltration.
From defoamer treatments can also be applied. Regarding the durability of the tiles, this is not a particular point of vigilance. Manufacturers generally display a durability that approaches 100 years, subject to proper maintenance of course.
Ideally, checks and maintenance are carried out at the end of winter to verify that the sub-zero temperatures, frost and snow have not caused too much damage. But also in the fall to get rid of plants which, in the meantime, have had plenty of time to develop and accumulate.
What to do in the event of a leak?
You didn’t pay attention, and it’s the tile? Do not panic. Let us first recall a golden rule on which professionals insist: do not tempt the devil! Translation: do not act alone. “Most insurance companies have emergency numbers which speed up reaction times. the individual must not take the risk of initiating the repairs himself“. By playing the apprentice roofer, the individual puts himself in danger and takes the risk of worsening the condition of its roof by walking on it.
As to how to secure the roof while waiting for repairs, again, caution is in order. “There is still the good old technique of the basin, but it is very archaic. As for installing a tarpaulin on the roof, once again, it is much too risky. Safety above all!” insists Olivier Lafore.
Especially since locating a leak is not an easy task. Water can infiltrate at one point, and come out several meters further. It is therefore up to an experienced roofer to establish a diagnosis. in order to apply the right remedy.
Choose the right professional
You still have to know how to choose the professional. “This is a sector mainly made up of craftsmen and very small structures. To ensure the seriousness of a business, it is therefore preferable to favor word of mouth“suggests Olivier Lafore. Or, if your relations are looking good, contact your insurer who can eventually refer you to trusted professionals.
In any case, it remains judicious to have several quotes drawn up and compare them. Before signing, it is important to find out about the craftsman’s certifications, labels and guarantees. “Check the sites that it has recently delivered, and check the financial soundness of the company, on the internet or with the commercial court” suggests the Guide-toiture.com site.
Regarding the response times, “for a simple observation, it can be quite fast. After that, everything will depend on the level of urgency of the intervention, especially since there is a shortage of manpower in the field. sector, and this for years “warns Emilie Benjamin-Casadei. Logically, a craftsman will always prioritize urgent projects.
Check your insurance contracts
Of course, before you embark on any roofing work, you need to be insured. There are two ways to proceed: through personal home insurance, which must include the roof and works, and ten-year roof guarantee insurance. The latter consists of “professional civil liability insurance for the craftsman who will carry out your work”, specifies Guide-toiture.com.
The craftsman must also be able to provide a decennial roofing guarantee certificate. He must commit to the timeframe for completion of the work and submit a certificate of tightness or conformity of the work at the end of the site.
