This Emergency Leak Repair Fixed a Roof Holding 38,000 Pounds of Rainwater
Roof leaks can happen for a wide range of reasons. In some cases, damage builds up over time, creating vulnerabilities that allow for water to seep through. In other instances, sudden severe storms can create punctures that create an opportunity for rainwater to enter. For today’s Project Spotlight, however, we’re sharing an emergency roof repair to address a leak unlike any other we’ve seen before. The Anchor Roofing team needed to act fast to resolve this leak—and protect the home from potentially catastrophic water damage.
The Client: An Omaha Homeowner with a Helpful Daughter
Anchor Roofing was fortunate to come into contact with this homeowner. During a team bowling outing, a member of the Anchor Roofing team was chatting with the person running the alley for the day. She mentioned that her mother, who lived in Omaha proper, was experiencing a roof leak, with water dripping through her ceiling. She put us in contact with her mother and we sent our team out to take a look.
A Swimming Pool of Standing Water
Anchor Roofing’s Mike Meyer visited this property and spoke with the homeowner, who gave us details about the leak. We then proceeded to the roof to complete an inspection and identify the root cause while the homeowner remained in her kitchen with a handful of friends.
In some cases, roof leaks can be tricky to diagnose. As professional roofers, we’re prepared for any amount of detective work that may be needed to identify the cause of a roof leak we’re inspecting for.
No detective work was needed here, however. As Mike climbed onto the roof he was met with a sight none of our team had seen before: a veritable swimming pool of rainwater had accumulated on the low-slope area of the roof covering our client’s kitchen, complete with plenty of algae and frogs enjoying the impromptu pond.
Getting Right to Work
With the cause of the leak plain to see, this inspection quickly became an emergency roof leak repair. After completing work, Mike Meyer did the napkin math, estimating that around 38,000 pounds of water was standing on this roof. While it made for an incredible sight, it was also a very dangerous situation—as strong as this roof clearly was, no home’s roof is built to support this kind of weight.
The first order of business was to call the homeowner and her friends out of the kitchen, as this accumulation of water rested directly over their heads. The next step was to remove the water as quickly as possible. Mike called in another team member, Carlos, to assist, and the homeowner helpfully provided a rake. After wading far enough onto the roof, Mike was able to reach the drain that had clogged on the roof, poke the debris away with the rake, and release the torrent of water.
A Repair Now, a Replacement Before Winter
After the emergency water removal, our team was able to complete a roof leak repair that would protect the interior of the home from further damage. Unfortunately, though, the toll this standing water took on the roof would also necessitate a replacement before winter arrives. Winter is a particularly harsh time for roofs in our area, and it’s essential to complete needed roof replacements before the season changes.
As this section of the roof had used EPDM, we’ll replace it with the same material—and recommend regular inspections to avoid clogged drains in the future.
Schedule Your Inspection Today!
Even as highly experienced Omaha roofers, we still never know what we’ll see on a given day of roofing. We’ve certainly never seen this much water on a residential roof—least of all a roof that was still standing!
As the calendar turns toward fall, we’d like to remind all our readers of the importance of fall roof maintenance—and especially roof inspections. Clogged drains are a frequent cause of leaks, and while this is a particularly extreme example, regular inspections are the best way to avoid emergency situations like this one. Schedule yours today!