Have a leaking roof? Try the Pencil Trick

Is it raining in your living room?

Is your ceiling bubbling? Leaking?

During a monsoon like Monday's deluge in Phoenix, don't wait for the weight of the water to cause a costly cave-in, said Robyn Charland, office manager of Canyon State Roofing and Consulting in Gilbert.

There's a simple technique she calls the "Pencil Trick."

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"If you have a roof leak in AZ, and you are reading this article, chances are, you have drywall that is leaking water right now. Or you have a ceiling that is bubbling. Caution must be taken because you could be in danger of your entire ceiling caving in from the weight of the water," Charland says in an

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"Here's a little tip to keep damage to a minimum until a licensed roofing contractor can complete a permanent repair. I call it the 'Pencil Trick.' '"

First, grab a pencil. Preferably a sharp one.

Next, get a bucket and some towels.

Stick a pencil through the drywall and wall in the middle of the leaky ceiling area. Poke a couple of holes.

"This," Charland says, "will allow the water to drain out safely and will prevent the water from pooling. You will minimize your drywall damage, and it will also reduce the chances of your ceiling caving in."

But be careful: "Depending on how much water there is, and how heavy that ceiling is, there may be a gush of water that comes out."

To get a more permanent patch-up, contact a roofing company for an emergency roof tarp service to re-direct the rain off the area.

Once the roof dries, ask a roofing company to come by and make a permanent fix.

Fix your roof first, then the drywall, she said.

Monday was one of the busiest-ever days for Canyon State Roofing and Consulting in Gilbert, Charland said.

"I would say our calls increased tenfold," Charland said.

Most of the calls were from new customers reporting leaks and worse, cave-ins.

"This storm, I am having a lot of people telling me their entire ceiling is collapsed," she said.