While waiting for licensed contractors, there are two temporary remedies you can use to prevent further damage from leaks.

CAUTION: it is very easy to slip, particularly on wet tile and there is danger from tree branches, power lines and ladders.

• On the inside, set up buckets under leaky areas and punch a pencil or screwdriver into the lowest part of the ceiling around the leaks to relieve the water pressure.
• On the outside of the roof, you can use plastic sheeting or tar paper. The smallest holes may be patched by using a trowel to spread roofing plastic cement over them.

Plastic Sheeting

This is the most temporary measure. Take heavy plastic sheets (a brand name is Visqueen) and use roofing nails to fasten them around the hole. If you can find 2x4s, square off the hole with the wood first. Then wrap the plastic around the wood, and nail down the wood. If you can't get wood or nails, use bricks, cement blocks or sandbags to hold down the plastic.

Roofing Paper

This is known as tar paper or roofing felt. Find it in the building materials sections of stores. It is applied with trowel grade roofing plastic cement and a trowel. The paper is generally sold in rolls by weight: 15, 30 and 90 weight paper are common, per hundred feet. the paper is best applied in overlapping layers, alternating the cement and the paper, from the bottom of the roof upward.

Contractor Tips

The NCRA offers these tips:

• Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax identification number, and occupational license. A professional will have these readily available.
• Check for a company with a good track record.
• Ask the contractor for proof of insurance. Insist on seeing copies of both the liability coverage and workers compensation certificates.
• Find out if the contractor is licensed and bonded.
• Be sure the contractor can provide a manufacturer's warranty. Beware of unrealistic, long term warranties.
• Ask for a list of references, and completed projects. Check with past customers to see if they were satisfied with the materials and workmanship.
• Call the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to check for complaints against a contractor. DPR's number is (800) 342 7940.
• Insist on a written proposal, and examine it carefully!

Spotting Roof Problems

Resist the urge to get up on a ladder to take a closer look at your damaged roof. Leave that to a professional. Here is some inspection advice:

• If you can't see from a distance, wear non-slip rubber soled shoes and use a firmly braced or tied off ladder equipped with rubber safety feet.
• DON'T walk on the roof! You could dislodge protective surface granules, diminishing waterproofing effectiveness. You could also fall off or through a weak damaged roof.
• If you find large accumulations of of shingle surface granules in the gutters, it doesn't necessarily mean the roof needs to be replaced. However the roof should be inspected by a contractor.
• Tile roofs should be checked for cracked, missing, or loose pieces of roofing material. For asphalt or wood shingle roofs, look for protruding nails.
• On flat roofs, look for bare spots in the gravel surface and check for standing water.
• Take a close look at the flashing on chimneys, vents, skylights, wall/roof junctions, and other areas.
• Check television and radio antennas and other add-ons to see if there are leaks that are a result of improper sealing of openings made in the roof.