Roof leaks: find and fix them before the heavy rain
Brunei's heaviest rain usually falls from October to January. A roof check now costs far less than repairing ceilings, walls and wiring later.
Brunei gets rain all year, but the heaviest rain usually falls between October and January, and November is typically the wettest month. That's when small roof problems turn into stained ceilings, damp walls and damaged wiring. If you haven't checked your roof this year, now is the time.
Signs your roof is leaking
- Brown stains or bubbling paint on the ceiling
- Sagging or soft ceiling boards
- Damp patches or mould on walls near the roof
- Water dripping from light fittings or ceiling fans
- Rust on roofing sheets or trusses, if you can see into the roof space
If water is coming through a light fitting or fan, switch off that circuit at the distribution board and keep everyone away from the wet area until it has been checked.
Where leaks usually come from
- Loose, rusted or missing roofing screws and washers
- Damaged or lifted flashing where the roof meets a wall
- Blocked gutters and downpipes that overflow into the house
- Cracked sealant around pipes, vents and other openings in the roof
- Rusted or holed roofing sheets
- Poor joints between an old roof and a newer extension or car porch
Water often runs along the roof before it drips, so the stain on your ceiling can be some distance from the actual leak. That's why it pays to inspect the roof itself, not just the stain.
What you can check safely yourself
- After heavy rain, look over every ceiling and photograph any new stains.
- Check the ceilings around bathrooms and where any extension or car porch joins the house.
- Clear leaves from gutters and downpipes if you can reach them safely from the ground or a stable ladder.
- Don't walk on roofing sheets. They can bend or give way, and wet roofs are slippery. Leave roof access to people with the right equipment.
When to call a contractor
Call us if stains are spreading, ceiling boards are sagging, or water is getting near wiring. We'll inspect the roof, find the source and quote the repair.
Fix the roof before the ceiling. Replacing stained boards without stopping the leak only means doing the job twice. Once the roof is watertight, we can replace the damaged ceiling too. See our roofing and waterproofing and ceiling services.
Sources
- Climate and average weather year-round in Brunei, WeatherSpark
