Patching A Small Roof Leak

Patch the nail or screw holes by slipping a piece of roof flashing underneath the shingle.

Patching a small roof leak.

If you have a leaky roof you d better fix it immediately even if it doesn t bother you much or you re getting a new roof next year. For small gaps at the metal or rubber collar of an exposed pipe or vent. However when it is not practical to climb up on the roof to fix a leak such as during the winter months you can repair a leaky roof temporarily from the inside if you can determine where the leak is occuring from the underside of your roof. Once you ve found the leak you can make a temporary leak patch from some plywood or shingle and some roofing tar.

Even over a short time small leaks can lead to big problems such as mold rotted framing and sheathing destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings. Some overhead leaks are due to minor problems such as a single torn shingle or a small hole in flashing that you can usually handle with a little diy experience and some. Use a putty knife to spread the tar into the leaking hole on the inside of your roof. Place the shingle or plywood onto the tar and spread more of the tar around the edges of your patch.

Roofing professionals should handle any large or complicated jobs. To repair a leaking roof with curled shingles straighten the shingles with a heat source like a hair dryer and reattach them with. Make a temporary leak patch. Small nail holes left behind from old vents satellite dish brackets or anything previously attached to the roof can allow water to enter and cause damage for years before leaking is noticed.

Roof leaks must be repaired from the outside to ensure the problem is corrected. Use a thin flexible putty knife to apply roof cement to small cracks in the sealant around chimneys pipes or other joined surfaces.