How to Repair a Leaking Roof

A leaking roof can be quite expensive to repair. Some of the best things you can do to make your roof last longer are to check for leaks and fix them as soon as possible. Roofing experts will teach you the simple steps to repairing a leaking roof in a timely manner.

First, identify the location of a leaky roof and clean it with a special cleaning solution and a mild detergent. Then, apply roofing patching tape around the damaged area. Make sure that you leave no gaps or openings between the patching tape and the damaged area. If there is any loose soil under the patching tape, apply roofing sealant to prevent water from seeping through. Lastly, spray sealant over the damaged area and let it dry before continuing to repair the damaged area. When the sealant is dry, replace roofing patching tape and repair the leaks.

If the roof is old, cracked or has some signs of decay, call in a professional roofer for repairs. Many roofers are also licensed to inspect and repair roofs. You may be able to perform this type of roof maintenance on your own, but it is usually not a good idea. When repairing a leaking roof, you should always check with a professional roofer.

If your roof has any areas that need repairs such as holes in the roof, clean out the area with a ladder and a shovel. Once the hole is cleaned, apply roof repair patching tape around the hole.

Next, check the gutters and downspouts to see if they are clogged or leaking. If the gutter is clogged, take a long hose and pour some water into the gutters to clear away any debris that has built up. Next, take another long hose and attach it to a drain snake. Once the drain snake has completely emptied the gutter, clear the surrounding area using the drain snake.

If you are inspecting your roof, you may find that some of the roof shingles have broken or bent. Take some ladders and place them next to the damaged areas. Push the roof shingle back into place using both the ladder and the wrench provided with the roof repair kit.

If you have a flat roof, the most common problem that occurs is water leaking through the roof shingles into the home. If the roofing shingle is bent, you can use a nail to push it back into place. Before doing this, ensure that the cement is dry and level on both sides of the broken shingle.

To repair a leaking roof, you can either try to repair the entire roof or just fix the areas that show signs of a leaky roof, and then fix the rest of the roof yourself. If you have an older roof, you will most likely need to replace the entire roofing system instead of just one section. If you need to remove shingle boards, use a ladder to slide them aside and get underneath the damaged roof to see if the shingle can still support the remaining shingle. If you cannot reach the roof, shingle yourself, take another ladder and try to lift the board.

If your roof leak is caused by wind damage, you need to first inspect for leaks in the ceiling. This is easy to do and there are several different types of ceiling tools available that can be used to determine if there are any leaks. There are ceiling hooks to hang from the ceiling and a metal screwdriver to look for holes in the ceiling.

Another tool that is very useful is the ceiling hooks that you can hold over the wall to locate the leak holes that are hidden from the eye. Once you have located the source of the leak, you can use a hammer and nails to fix the roofing damage.

If you are unable to find the source of a roof leak, you can use a metal probe that uses a thin rod that will reach the ceiling and then pull it out  and check the areas for damage.