Need to fix a roof leak?

Did you know that roof leaks can put the livability of your expensive property at risk and cause so much discomfort? That said, you need to find the patches on your roof and fix them accordingly before they cause more damage to your house.

The good news is that you do not need to hire a roofing contractor or repairer to fix a roof leak if they are minor. Here is everything you need to know about roof leakages and how you can fix the damage before things get worse.

Several factors can cause a roof leak, and they include heavy rains, thunderstorms, lightning, floods, waves for people living near lakes, and earthquakes.

Types of Roof Leaks

You may be aware that leakages may occur for many reasons and anywhere on your roof, including:

  • Vent pipes
  • Roof vent
  • Chimney
  • Around the nails
  • Around the dormers
  • Around the skylights
  • Damaged shingles

worker repairing a roof leak near the chimney

Tools Used to Repair Roof Leaks

Be sure to gather the following tools before fixing the roof patches.

  • Hammer
  • Flashlight or torch
  • A ladder
  • Tape measure
  • A piece of chalk
  • Saw
  • Pry bar
  • Pencil

How to Repair a Leaky Roof

There are many ways to fix leakages on your roof. But here is a quick and easy way to repair the leakages:

Locate the Roof Leak

locate and fix a roof leak

Check from the roof’s lowest point to locate the leak. Continue by going upwards by using a ladder and a torch. You, therefore, follow the roofing ridge up to the top to ensure you know the source of the whole leakage problem. The location of the leak may contain stains or some growth like mold.

The place where you have openings that allow in-out air or roof vents mainly lead to leakages on the roof. Roof leaks may occur due to roof vents such as turbines and any metal that extends above the top.

Once you locate the roof leak, you are required to remove the damaged vents. Do this by using a hammer to remove the nails that hold the shingles and the vent in place. Ultimately, you want some extra help or an assistant by your side if you value speed.

Replace the Vent with a New or Undamaged Roof Vent

Use some thick roofing cement to cover the whole vent’s flash. It would be best if you ask for assistance when replacing the roof vent. In essence, your assistant will help to roll the shingles back to the roof while you slide the vent. Make sure that you put the nails in all corners of the top and cover them with cement.

Remove the Shingles

removing shingles to fix a roof leak

Using a pry bar, remove the shingles to access the leaking section. You simply do this by prying the nails while pulling the shingles away.

Remove the Old Synthetic Underlayment

The synthetic underlayment or roofing paper separates the roofing deck from the shingles. To remove the roofing paper, use a utility knife or any sharp blade to slice it off.

Remove the Damaged Roof Deck

Once you locate the patch, carefully cut it away. Then, loosen the nails with a pry bar to remove the damaged roof deck.

Attach the New Roof Deck

Be sure to cut a new patch, which must be the same size as the damaged section. You want to do the cutting on the ground for safety purposes.

Then, set the replacement patch in place and secure it with nails.

Attach a New Underlayment

From the bottom, as you move upwards, nail the underlayment of roofing paper in place. Be sure to overlap the rows by 4-5 inches.

Run the Shingles

roof repair tips

From the bottom upwards, leaf the first row of shingles. Next, complete the remaining shingles by placing new pieces on the existing shingles.

Lastly, apply some roofing cement on the shingles’ bottom-most rows

Safety Measures to Take When Fixing a Leak

  1. Avoid fixing roof leaks during wet conditions since they are slippery and the roofing may be weak.
  2. Always work with the help of an assistant. Assistances will provide extra support and prevent accidents.
  3. Use protective devices while fixing a roof leak to prevent accidents. The devices include protective gloves, masks, gumboots, and gowns.

Call a Roofing Contractor

If you are at all uncomfortable working on a roof or the problem seems to be big for you to handle, you should contact a professional to fix the roof. You can also temporarily patch it yourself and get a professional to make a more permanent repair if you are unsure of your abilities.

At a Glance

Be sure to assess the patches on your roof before fixing them. You may find that you can do most of the work yourself- by following the above processes. However, consider hiring expert services if the repair is significant.