Tricks to Keep Your Roof from Leaking During Heavy Rain

Living in a tropical area with high rainfall every year, makes us familiar with rain. Several problems related to rain, one of which is a leaky roof, are very common. However, it seems impossible to just let the house leak. In addition to not damaging furniture and other materials, leaks must be prevented immediately so that they do not have a domino effect on other parts of the house.

Leaks are the condition of water or liquids entering by passing through, penetrating, and seeping into small, medium, and large holes. Meanwhile, in buildings, leaks can occur due to errors in construction planning, natural conditions, and poor and inappropriate material selection. Usually, leaks often occur in roof coverings, walls, and floors. It takes a surefire trick so that the house doesn't leak, again and again.

The most vital roof

The roof plays a fairly important role in a building. It is likened to an umbrella that protects humans from the scorching sun, as well as from pouring rain.

From a house planning perspective, added Mukti, it is the first defense for the structure and protects the building from the weather, rain, and cold. The roof can provide comfort and limit the privacy zone for residents or users of the building. The roof also presents an aesthetic value to the building. However, the greater the function of the roof, the greater the problems it will face.

Leaking is one of the most real threats.

There are several types of roofs that are commonly used to cover houses; polycarbonate, asbestos, clay tiles, metal roofs, concrete, some also use glass. Broken asbestos or clay tiles, cracked concrete roofs, can be the main cause of leaks in the house. Leaks can also be caused by errors in roof construction, especially regarding slope, natural conditions, material selection which is exacerbated by incorrect installation methods.

Roof tiles that are installed carelessly can also cause leaks.

Cavities resulting from untidy installation and not according to the rules make it easy for water to enter the house. Asbestos that is tilted less than 10º or not according to recommendations will cause problems.

Sometimes the most fatal is concrete. Not even 28 days after being cast, it is already given an excessive load. Practically, this will make it crack faster and be easily penetrated by water.

Another reason that must also be considered is the age of the material used as a roof. Never think that the materials we use do not have an expiration date. Zinc, asbestos, and other roofing materials, the older they are, the more fragile they will be. Over time, they will crack and cause leaks

Material and slope angle

Ideally, a roof made of tiles should have a slope angle of no less than 30º, so that water can flow smoothly. Even if there is a tolerance, it is generally less than 40º. The limitation of the slope angle is so that the water flow can be controlled properly. If it is more than the recommended angle tolerance, it is feared that the tiles will sag more easily and eventually open a gap that is easy for water to enter.

The roof determines whether the house is easy to leak or not.

Meanwhile, for asbestos or zinc, there is a slight slope tolerance. The angle can be made more gentle or less than 30º. The reason is, the cavities between the planes formed in zinc or asbestos are not as large as clay roof tile materials. Regarding how we can outsmart leaks so that they do not disturb the peace of the house, Julian Palapa gave some tips. Choosing the right roof is still the main reference.

The right roof shape will play a major role in preventing leaks in the house: flat, shield, or saddle. But don't just choose the shape of the roof according to your wishes, maintenance of the frame material and the covering material must also be considered.

Anti-leak coating is one solution to patching leaks in the roof

It can also be done with waterproofing. Sometimes leaks don't only occur on the roof.

Remember, leaks don't always come from the roof! The walls of the house, even the floor, can be the cause of leaks in the house. To overcome this, anti-leak coating is considered quite suitable to prevent unwanted things from happening.

Based on the raw materials, there are three types of anti-leak coatings that can be chosen, namely liquid waterproof, cement (cementitous), and membrane.