Water dripping through a ceiling is one of the most stressful things that can happen at home, and it rarely picks a convenient moment. The good news is that a few calm steps in the first hour can limit the damage dramatically. This guide walks you through exactly what to do when your roof starts leaking, what not to do, and how a roofer will find and fix the cause.

Step 1: Protect People and Electrics First

Before you think about the roof, think about safety. If water is coming through near a light fitting, ceiling rose or socket, switch off that circuit at the consumer unit. Water and electricity together are far more dangerous than the leak itself. Keep children and pets out of the room, and if the ceiling is bulging or sagging, stay out from underneath it.

Step 2: Catch the Water and Relieve a Bulging Ceiling

Put a bucket, washing-up bowl or storage box under the drip, with an old towel inside to stop splashing. Move furniture, rugs and electronics out of the way, or cover them with plastic sheeting or bin bags.

If a plasterboard ceiling has a swollen, water-filled bulge, it can give way suddenly. Placing a bucket underneath and making a small hole in the lowest point of the bulge with a screwdriver lets the water drain in a controlled way. Only do this if you can reach safely from a stable stepladder, and never on lath-and-plaster ceilings that are already cracking badly.

Step 3: Check the Loft (If It's Safe)

If you have a loft hatch and a boarded loft with lighting, a quick look can help. With a torch, follow the drips upwards: water often runs along rafters or felt for some distance before it falls, so the wet patch on your ceiling may be a metre or more from the actual entry point. Place a container under any active drip and move stored items away. Stay on joists or boards, as stepping between them can put a foot through the ceiling.

Step 4: Don't Go on the Roof

It's tempting to climb up with a tarpaulin, but please don't. Wet tiles and slate are extremely slippery, wind makes ladders unstable, and falls from roofs are a leading cause of serious injury at home. A professional emergency roofer has the access equipment, harnesses and experience to make the roof safe, often within hours.

Step 5: Photograph Everything

Take clear photos and short videos of the water coming in, the stain on the ceiling, any damaged belongings, and, from the ground, any visible damage to the roof such as missing tiles. Note the date and time. If the leak was caused by a storm, these records make a home insurance claim much smoother. Our storm damage guide covers the insurance side in more detail.

Step 6: Call a Roofer

A good roofer will do two things: a temporary fix to stop water getting in today, and a proper diagnosis of what failed. Our 24/7 emergency roofing team covers West Molesey and the surrounding area with no call-out fee, and we'll always explain what we found with photos.

The Most Common Causes of a Roof Leak

In our experience across Surrey and south-west London, most leaks come from a handful of places:

  • Slipped, cracked or missing tiles and slates: often after high winds, or because the nails holding them have corroded with age.
  • Failed lead flashing: the lead that seals where the roof meets a chimney, wall or dormer can split, lift or be held on with perished mortar. See our lead flashing guide.
  • Blocked gutters and valleys: leaves and moss stop water draining, so it backs up under the tiles. This is very common in leafy areas like Esher, Cobham and Weybridge.
  • Chimney problems: cracked flaunching (the mortar around the pots), porous brickwork or missing caps let water down inside the stack.
  • Ageing flat roofs: felt on extensions and garages blisters, splits and ponds as it reaches the end of its life.
  • Condensation: not every drip is a leak. Poor loft ventilation can make water form on the underside of the felt and drip onto the ceiling, especially in cold weather.

What a Temporary Repair Looks Like

On a pitched roof, a temporary repair might mean refixing or replacing a few tiles, or fitting a secured, weighted waterproof sheet over the damaged area. On a flat roof, it could be a patch over a split. These measures are designed to keep water out for days or weeks while a permanent repair is arranged, not to last for years.

Making It Permanent

Once the cause is clear, the permanent fix might be as simple as replacing a few tiles and re-bedding a ridge, or it might be new lead flashing, a chimney repair or a new flat roof. If your roof has several problems at once, it's worth reading our guide on whether to repair or replace before committing to a series of patch repairs.

Leaking Roof? Call Us Now

My Local Roofer is based in West Molesey and covers Elmbridge, Kingston and Richmond, Spelthorne and the wider Surrey area. We answer the phone ourselves, day and night, with no call-out fee and no deposit. Call 07470 744247 or message us on WhatsApp.