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Tips for Fixing a Roof
Leak
How to Find and Fix Roof Leaks
Temporarily and Permanently
By: Mark J. Donovan
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There are two stages to fixing a roof leak. First, there’s the
triage stage of stemming the risk of additional water flow into the
home after the roof leak has first been observed, usually after a
heavy rain storm. Second, there’s the permanent repair after either
making the full repair yourself or calling in a professional roofing
contractor. When you notice a roof leak during a rain storm, your
only immediate solution is to simply pull out the buckets and
strategically locate them to catch as much of the leakage as
possible. When possible try to place the buckets in the attic to
catch the rain at its first point of entry. Do not attempt to go up
on your home’s roof during a storm. |
For the triage stage of fixing a roof leak, this should happen only
after the weather has improved and the roof has fully dried. Walking
up on a wet roof can be extremely dangerous. Roofs can be very
slippery when they’re wet. Also, if there is any roof
framing/sheathing rot associated with the leak, which could lead to
you falling through the roof, you’ll have a better chance of
detecting it when the roof is dry and before you walk on it.
When determining where the roof leak is occurring, keep in mind that
it probably is happening higher up on the roof than where you see
evidence on your drywall ceiling or wall. Usually water penetrates
in via a nail or damaged shingle, and then works its way down
underneath the shingles until it finds a point where it can enter a
seam in the roof sheathing. So one of the best places to start to
find out where the roof leak is occurring is in your attic. Look for
wet spots on the back side of the roof sheathing from the attic.
Also look for water on roof nails that penetrate through the roof
sheathing.
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While inspecting the roof for the roof leak entrance, start at the
top of the roof and work your way downwards. However, before walking
on the roof examine it carefully from the ladder to make sure that
the roof looks stable and safe to walk on. Also, when walking on the
roof pay particular attention for any soft or spongy spots. If you
notice either of these conditions come down off the roof and call a
roofing contractor.
Often the roof leak occurs at the ridge vent where possibly a ridge
vent shingle cap has blown off.
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Also the ridge vent itself could have been partially wind
damaged. As you work your way down the roof, look for damaged and
missing shingles, or old shingles that might be exhibiting cracking,
curling, cupping or fishmouthing. Any of these shingle damage signs
are possible candidate areas for roof leaks.
| Once you’ve located the source of the leak, you have a couple of
methods for temporarily fixing a roof leak. If it is simply a popped
roofing nail, hammer it down and apply a dab of roofing sealer on
top of it. If you observe an area of the roof that has cracking,
curling, cupping or fishmouthing then cover that section of the roof
with a nylon tarp until you can permanently fix the roof. If you see
you’ve lost a shingle or two, then find a couple of replacement
shingles and simply slide them up underneath the shingles just above
the missing shingle(s). This will at least temporarily fix the roof
leak until you can have it permanently repaired. |
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To fix a roof leak permanently, in some cases roofing sealant may be
all that is necessary. However, if the roof is damaged in any
significant way or shows significant wear, then the roof should be
completely re-shingled.
Finally, keep in mind that roof leaks can lead to mold and mildew
damage which is very difficult and expensive to get rid of. It’s
also a major health risk to the home and its occupants. Persistent
small roof leaks can also lead to structural damage within the home.
So don’t put off fixing a roof leak.
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