If your roof has a small leak, you can fix it yourself with a little time.
If your roof is leaking, you can identify the source of the leak and repair it yourself with some time and patience. Roof leaks are often difficult to find, but small leaks caused by a small hole or a missing or loose shingle are basic repairs. If more than half your roof is damaged and is missing shingles or has pulled away from the top of your house, you'll probably need to hire a professional to get the job done. In most cases, your homeowner's insurance will cover the cost of a new roof if the damage is severe. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Identifying the Leak
1. Mark the spot where water is coming into your house on a rainy day.
2. Get on your roof on a sunny day and find the spot on the roof exterior that corresponds with the spot inside your house. Mark the spot on the outside with a piece of chalk or tape.
3. Review the area above where you made the mark. Try to wiggle shingles around with your hand to check for popped, loose or missing shingles. Since most roofs are slanted, water typically travels down after leaking through the roofing material, making your leak inside lower on the roof than the actual leak outside.
4. Check other problem areas, such as flashing and the ridge cap. A pulled piece at either place can cause a roof leak.
5. Spray the entire roof down with water, moving section by section, if you can't find the leak by sight. Have another person inside check for water coming inside the house. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before spraying a new section. This should help you pinpoint the leak's location.
Repair the Leak
6. Replace the missing or damaged piece, if needed.
7. Repair small holes with roofing cement. Peel back the roofing material carefully with a pry bar, if needed. Tape the hole with metal tape. Apply a thin layer of roofing cement over the tape with a cement trowel or putty knife. Let it dry. Secure the roofing material back into place.
8. Repair larger problems by peeling back the damaged shingle or shingles. Measure the damaged area. Cut a piece of aluminum flashing 1 inch narrower and 4 inches wider than the damaged shingle tabs with a utility knife. Flatten the edges of flashing out with a rubber mallet. Peel back the damaged shingles gently with a pry bar. Apply two to three lines of roofing cement to the area underneath where the shingle was. Slip the flashing onto the roof underneath the shingles. Press gently down on the flashing to make sure it's secure. Apply two to three more rows of roofing cement on top of the flashing. Press the shingle or shingles back into place. Let the patch dry completely.
Tags: roofing cement, your roof, roofing material, your house, Apply three, back damaged, back into
