Is Your Roof Leaking Follow These Steps To Repair Your Roof
If you have found water leaking through your ceiling, it is important to take action and repair the roof as soon as possible. A leaky roof can cause extensive damage to your home if left unchecked
There are many causes of water leaking from the roof, from missing or damaged shingles to faulty flashing around chimneys or vents. It is important to inspect your roof regularly for any signs of leakage so that you can address the problem before it becomes a bigger issue.
Here are the steps you need to take for roof leak repair:
How Is The Roof Leak Repaired
To repair this leak the roofer will have to break the seal on the shingle, lift the shingle up, pull the nail out, and move it.
If the nail wasnt driven in straight then theyll have to pull the nail out, drive it in properly, and then lay some ice and water shield on top of it. If the nail worked its way through the shingle, then theyll reseal the shingle as well.
If the , then it’s just a matter of moving the nail over so that it catches the rafter. Then theyll fill the nail hole with some type of cement and reseal the shingle back down.
Call A Professional Roofer For More Complex Leaks
If the problem is beyond a simple DIY fix or involves extensive structural damage to your roof, call a professional as soon as possible. They will be able to identify the extent of your roof leak and provide repair estimates. Solutions to more complex problems may include:
- Replacing roof flashing
- Installing heat cables
- Total roof replacements
If you do need to replace your roof, an easy disposal solution for all those shingles is a dumpster rental. Youll be able to keep your yard clear of roofing materials and have it all removed in a matter of minutes. After all the hard work is done, take a few minutes to enjoy your cozy, dry home.
Now that youve tackled that leak, why not take care of a few other projects around the house? Check out our Home Improvement & DIY section for how-tos, guides and inspiration for all your home improvement projects.
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How To Find A Roof Leak Step By Step
Estimated Read Time: 6 minutes
Drip Drip Drip
Just when it seems like nothing has needed fixing in your house for a while, you start to hear that frustrating noise that signals a leak. Finding the source of a leak is rarely easy because the water often travels away from its source before showing up in your home.
Its important to act fast and hire a professional once you have any suspicions about a roof leak because water damage in your home is a complicated and expensive issue to fix.
If Your Roof Is Under Warranty It Might Be Voided
Its a given that manufacturers, in general, have stringent requirements when people try to claim warranties. A lot get turned down or rejected whenever they file their warranty claims, because they unknowingly voided one or more clauses.
IF you do DIY work on a roof while it is still covered by warranty, chances are that this would void it. Most manufacturers require homeowners to get roof repairs done by licensed roofers, with some of them even requiring homeowners to hire roofers affiliated with their company. Read our article on homeowners insurance and roof leaks.
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Make Note Of Water Leak Area
Follow the pool of water upward. The drip area on the ceiling is usually obvious and remains even after the drip has dried up. Water travels downward, seeking the path of least resistance, though sometimes with a circuitous route. If the drip area on the ceiling is widespread, mark its outline with a pencil. Test areas that are not visibly obvious with the moisture detector.
Common Reasons For Leaks On Flat Roofs
A common cause of leaks on flat roofs is often flashing. Thin pieces of material that have been installed to weatherproof the roof and stop water entering at angles or joint. This flashing is normally installed around pipes and at roof edges, but it isnt always that durable. Its these sort of areas youll want to check carefully, especially to see if any of the flashing has cracks or holes in it, or if its peeling.
This flashing and other roofing materials can suffer from heat damage over the years and may bubble or develop cracks. These cracks can also be the location of a leak.
Once youve found an area that you think is the source of a leak you need to make sure. Many holes or cracks on your roof might just be simple wear and tear rather than actual leaks. While these could develop into leaks over time, its important that you find out for sure where your leak is coming from before you try and repair.
A leaking roof is a common problem for homeowners to deal with, and it can rapidly cause serious damage to the inside of your home. Its important to find the source of the leak quickly and to take care of it properly. A flat roof is characterized by its lack of a slope, meaning that any standing water on the surface could potentially lead to serious damage if not dealt with promptly. This type of roof often has an extremely long lifespan because there are very few factors that can wear it down.
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How To Find The Location And Cause Of A Roof Leak
Finding where the leak is coming from isnt as simple as just finding a wet patch on the ceiling. Often the location of the actual leak is not always where the water ends up staining your plasterboard and ruining your paintwork. Water can enter your roof at one end of the house and trickle down through insulation before soaking into a weak spot in your ceiling.
Take a walk outside and visually inspect your roof. Start with the parts of the roof that are higher than the location of any stains inside, or any obvious signs of roof penetrations. If you can spot any damaged spots on your roof, tiles, corrugated iron sheets or shingles, this could be the location of the leak. You might also see water spots under your roofline on exterior walls. This could be a sign that your flashing is damaged and needs to be repaired or replaced.
Once youve had a look outside, have a closer inspection on the inside of your house and roof. Inspect your ceiling and look for peeling paint, moisture marks, and brown, grey or yellow stains these are all tell-tale signs of a leaking roof. To be extra thorough, grab a flashlight and take a look inside your roof space or attic. Mould, water stains and damp rafters or beams are obvious signs of a roof leak, and you might even be able to follow the flow of water to the source.
Repair Affected Roofing Parts
Some roofing parts may need repairs. These include under-driven or overdriven screws, backed-up fasteners, misaligned roofing panels, and flashing edges, among other things. The issues affecting these roofing parts will determine how they are fixed.
For example, misaligned metal roof panels may need to be readjusted and reinstalled. And if the flashing on the roof has small holes, these could be patched up using roofing cement. And those whose edges stick out can be flattened and then nailed down after applying roofing tar. Finally, you can caulk the edges and seal them to prevent future leakages.
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Move Things Out Of The Way
When your roof is leaking, thats bad enough. The last thing you want is to ruin your belongings in the process. If theres a leak over your bed, clothing, or furniture, its time to clear the area!
Water damage can destroy some of your precious belongings, and nobody wants that. Not to mention, some fabrics trap water and create a dreadful mildew smell. So whatever you can push out of the way, do it ASAP!
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Seal The Leaking Point
Sealing a leaky spot on your roof requires patience. After locating the affected area, wait until the rain has subsided and the affected spots are dried up before taking action. Wet surfaces may affect adherence, and this can affect the intended results.
Make a small circle around the affected spots using chalk. This is better when you have multiple leaking spots. The chalk marking allows you to easily spot the problem areas and patch them once your patch mix is ready.
To make a patch seal:
You can also use a scraper to cover the entire leaking area and surround it with caulking for the best results.
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Get Your Gutters Cleaned
Cleaning out your gutters is a job you should be scheduling at least twice a year. If your gutters are old or clogged up with leaves and debris, this water could overflow and trickle down into weak spots in your roof. If youre unsure about climbing up on to a ladder yourself, get a Mott professional to clean your gutters for you.
Make A Temporary Patch
If you do find damage on your roof thats causing a leak, you can make a temporary patch until you can have the roof professionally repaired . This will help prevent any further water damage to your home.
- To make a temporary patch, start by using a putty knife or trowel to apply roofing cement around the perimeter of the hole.
- Then, press a piece of flashing into the cement.
- For extra reinforcement, hammer in some galvanized roofing nails around the edge of the flashing.
You can also use this same method to patch cracks in your flashing. Just be sure to smooth out the cement so that water cant pool in the crack and cause more damage.
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Checking For Leaks From Roof Gutters
Roof gutters have the simple task of collecting and directing water from the roof to a specific location. This role can be hampered by various aspects including disjointed parts, clogs or even holes in the gutter. Water escapes the gutter and goes to the roof leading to rots and other issues.
To find this kind of leak, youll have to inspect the whole gutter all around the house. Its a kind of leak thats very easy to find. If you cant find it with ground observation, youll do much better with a ladder to inspect it from above. For gutters above the second floor where a ladder cant reach, youll need an expert to get on the roof and inspect them.
What Causes A Leaky Roof
Roofs are a buildings first line of defence against all sorts of elements: strong winds, hailstorms, heavy rain, etc. As such, theyre built to withstand a great deal of damage while upholding their structure. However, there is a range of potential threats that can cause damage to your roof, resulting in a leak. Missing or damaged shingles, loose seals around chimneys and skylights, flashing leaks, compromised gutters, falling debris, and many more can leave you in need of a roof leak repair.
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You Run The Risk Of Spending More When You Expect To Save
A lot of DIYers dont successfully finish a project at their very first attempt. Because of this, not only do they have to redo the work, they also need to repurchase the materials that can no longer be used. This scenario is all too familiar to a lot of people.sa
A botched DIY roof repair job equals wasted money. Even if you keep buying roofing materials that dont go beyond $100, adding them up will make you realize that you will actually get to save if you hired a roofer from the get-go.
If your primary goal is to save money thats why you are considering attempting to fix a leaking roof yourself, even if you dont have the training nor knowledge for it, save yourself the hassle, the headache, and the potential injury by letting a pro do it.
Look Near Chimneys Dormers And Vents
Areas of penetration on your roof are one of the number one spots where leaks occur. Chimneys, dormers, vents, and any other opening on your roof require extra sealants to ensure it is leakproof. This includes flashing, caulk, sealants, a special installation of shingles, etc. If any of these areas cracks or gets damaged, the water can leak directly down the vent or chimney and into your attic or the walls of your home.
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Look For Signs Of Leaks On The Exteriors Of Your Home
Focus on the siding and step flashing. Inspect the walls outside of your home for any watermarks. Edges of the roof are usually several inches away from the siding and walls, so only roof leaks are the likely cause for water stains on the upper half of your sidings.
The presence of rust on the flashing and gaps on your siding are also good indicators of roof leaks.
You Have Ice Dam Buildup
What Does It Look Like: An ice dam is a ridge of ice that forms at the edge of a roof and prevents melting snow from draining off. The combined weight of the ice itself can damage the roof, as well as the water just sitting on the roofs surface.
Why It Happens: The heat from your attic is above freezing, which causes some of the snowfall to melt, despite the cold temperatures outside. The water will then run between the roofs surface and the snow and will refreeze into ice once it hits the roofs exterior edge.
How To Fix It: Invest in a roof rake, which looks like a sideways shovel with a long handle, and use it too reach up onto the roof and remove at least the lower four feet of snow from the roof edge. If you see an ice dam forming, consider treating it with an ice melt product, according to manufacturers directions. As winter gets closer, be prepared to find a way to clear the snow off your roof.
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