Most people gasp when they discover a leaking roof. Although this type of problem can be major and in need of professional help, other times the problem can be completed as a do-it-yourself project. Fixing a leaking roof could mean any number of repairs and typically, when the problem is identified early any damage would be minor. We wanted to provide some solutions for the more common types of leaking roofs that you could take care of on your own.
Obviously, the first step would be to identify the location on the roof where water is getting in. While this sounds easy enough, sometimes pinpointing the location can be a challenge in that water could run down from the actual leaking site to give the appearance of the problem being quite a distance away. A great way to find the actual place where you need to start fixing a leaking roof is to go up into the attic to the general area and then look for water spots. From there, most repairs are relatively easy and inexpensive.
Many times, the solution for fixing a leaking roof involves nothing more than replacing a damaged piece of shingle. If one or more shingles have pulled up from wind, fallen tree branches, or simply age, all you need to do is replace whatever has been damaged. Now, more than likely you do not have identically matching shingles just lying around the house so if not, you would need to find shingles close enough to blend in. From there, you would use a pry bar to pull the damaged shingle up, followed by taking out the roofing nails. Next, apply a good amount of tar onto the underneath area, followed by attaching the new shingles. If you cannot find shingles to match your roof and the shingles in the area where water is leaking are not in bad condition, you could again apply tar and then nail the old shingles back into place.
A common place for leaks is around the chimney. Fixing a leaking roof in this case generally requires flashing to be repaired or replaced. The flashing is a piece of metal that goes around the base of the chimney to keep water out but if the seam had loosened or the flashing had simply pulled away, you could simply tighten the seam and flashing so it once again sits firm and flush to the chimney. On the other hand, if the flashing had actually ripped or developed a large hole, then it would need to be completely replaced. Flashing is sold at hardware and home improvement stores and because it is flexible, cutting, and fitting around the chimney is easy. For fixing a leaking roof that involves new flashing, the piece would be held in place with roofing nails.
Fixing a leaking roof for problems such as these are usually quick fixes that work but again, if you find a serious hole or other major damage, the other solution would be to hire a professional contractor. Just remember, if you decide to take care of repairs on your own, take your time, use the appropriate tools and equipment, and wear non-slip shoes so while fixing a leaking roof you remain safe.
