A leaky roof is something you should fix as soon as possible because a leak left unfixed leads to much bigger and more expensive repairs. That is why we are giving you a quick guide on how to repair a roof leak, without needing professional help.
How difficult the repair depends on the type of roofing. For instance, asphalt shingles are easier to repair than metal roofs because they are prone to premature failure because the surrounding metal has a different expansion and contraction rate than the surrounding areas.
So in this article, we will only cover how you can repair asphalt roof, due to its simplicity to repair. Without further ado, let’s dive right in.
How to Find a Roof Leak
Notice a water stain on the wall or ceiling? This is a clear sign of a leaking roof and you should investigate as soon as possible.
Firstly, find out where the leak is located. The easiest way to do this is to make a mental note of where the leak is inside the house and then checking out that spot on the roof.
The most common culprits are curled shingles, missing shingles, cracked shingles, and the end-caps. Usually, the damage is found at the butt, the part of the shingle that is exposed.
So let’s explore some of the common roof leak problems and how to fix them
1. Cement Curled Shingles
If the cause of the leak is a few curled shingles, you are in luck. This is one of the easiest roof leak repairs.
New asphalt shingles have a sealant strip but this may wear away over time. Fix this problem with a handy tube of roofing cement or roofing sealant.
All you have to do is generously cover the underside of the shingle with roofing cement, making sure you get all the edges and corners, too. Then, apply pressure by pressing down on the shingle until the roofing cement is dry.
2. Cement Metal Flashing
Sometimes it is not the shingles that curl back but the metal flashing around chimneys and dormers. Fixing this type of leak is essentially the same as fixing a curled shingle.
Take the same roofing cement tube and cover the underside of the metal flashing, again including the corners and edges. If there is any sealant that is starting to weather away, remove the loose bits and fill it up again using fresh roofing cement.
3. Replacing Asphalt Shingles
Although repairing one or two damaged asphalt shingles is doable for a DIY enthusiast, replacing an entire row or other types of shingles needs more expertise. First, remove the damaged shingle by curling back the edges of the surrounding shingles. Then, pull out the nails connected to the damaged shingles so that you can slide it out of its place.
Clean up the area where the damaged shingle used to be by scraping away leftover roofing cement and nails. Once this is done, take the new replacement shingle and slightly curve its edges so that it slides under the surrounding shingles.
Make sure all the edges and corners are in the right position before putting roofing nails into each corner of the new shingle. Finally, seal the nail heads with roofing cement and your roof should be leak-free. Besides all these common causes, let’s see how to fix other possible roof leak problems
Other Roof Leak Causes And Repair
1. Plumbing Vent Boots Crack
Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic, and metal, or two-piece metal units. When inspecting for the crack, first analyze the base and broken seams. Then move on to examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe.
If the base is rotten due to water, then you have no option but to replace it with a new one. Otherwise, if the nails at the base are missing but the boot is in a good condition, then you can simply replace them with the rubber-washer screws used for metal roofing systems.
2. Small Holes
Small holes can be caused by various reasons. If left unfixed can cause the roof to rot from the inside out, which can potentially lead to a larger problem. However, the problem is quite simple to fix. All you need to do is to inject the caulk in the hole and leave it dry. That should do the work.
3. Complex Roof Problems
Other complex problems that can cause roof leak is anything damage done on your roof by the storm and hail. Some of the problems are ice dams formation and rotten attic insulation. The main reason behind these is often due to poor flashing.
So the solution always starts off by having good flashing installed since this should stop leaks from rainfall and might stop the leaks from ice dams as well. Improved attic insulation and ventilation can also help with this regard.
Conclusion
And that’s all for how to repair some of the roofs leak problems. Remember that the guide above only applicable to asphalt shingles and similar roof material. If you use other roofing material, then it’s always advisable to hire a professional roofer to get the job done for you as you could end up making the matter worse by trying to fix things by yourself at The Architecture Designs.
