A leaking roof is something that can be a real problem if it’s not dealt with promptly and correctly. As soon as you realise that you have a leaking roof, you need to put down some containers, a bucket for example to collect the water. If you don’t have buckets to hand then you can improvise and use any plastic or metallic container that you might have available in your kitchen.

If you don't act fast, water damage can occur, this might be stains on walls and ceilings or even, if the leak is left, or goes unnoticed for a while, floor timbers and floor boards will become water saturated and will buckle, warp and eventually succumb to wood rot. The priority is to prevent further damage to you roof and property until you can better access the situation with regards the leak and what’s caused it.

It’s probably a good idea to get a professional roofing contractor in to have a proper look at the leak origin. They will know what to look for and work out what need to be done to rectify the leak. To find a good contractor, you can get recommendations from friends or family, the yellow pages or Thompson local directory that you might have around the house is a good place to start, if you have access to the internet then these directories can also be found there. Also if you visit your local council offices, either in person or on the internet, they will usually have recommended set of available contractors that you can choose from. They will be reliable and have all the necessary qualifications to ensure that they know what they are doing and will do a good job on your flat roof leak.

If you are feeling confident enough, then you might try a DIY repair, this is only really going to be suitable if it’s a small job, that doesn't involve for example having to re-lay large amount of rubber or asphalt roof. Perhaps it’s as simple as replacing a few floor tiles, which will mean sourcing suitable replacement materials, which you can get from a local builders yard, and replacing them yourself. If it only one or two to replace then it will cost effective to do this yourself, however large sections may be too daunting for even a confident DIYer, especially if access to the roof area is restrictive, hard to access or just high up.

Whatever you do, try not to leave a leaking roof, collect water so you don't get collateral damage to your property and use contractors that are reliable and have all the necessary certifications.