Locating and Temporarily Fixing a Roof Leak

Have you ever been in a rainstorm and had a roof leak? It is the most vulnerable feeling. Knowing that the weather elements are only separated from you by a damaged roof can be a daunting thought. Unfortunately, during a storm you cannot fix a damaged roof permanently. However, you can create a temporary fix. There three common ways to temporarily repair a leaking roof, but first you need to find the source.

Common sense would tell you that the water leaking in your house is directly below the damaged spot in the roof. Unfortunately, many times this is incorrect. Water can make it’s way under and around shingles until it collects in a low spot. This is usually where it begins to leak in the house. To see if your leak is coming from the same spot as the damage, run a wire or a nail through the leaky ceiling. Than, once it is dry, climb onto your roof and see where the nail has come out. Look around this area for any damaged shingles. Be prepared to look upward on the slope to find any damage. Once you find a spot, you can make a temporary fix.

Patch

When you are still inside the house, you can create an emergency roof patch. Take a putty knife and generously smear a material called roof patch to the hole. Make sure you use plenty so it can squish up into the crevices.

Shingle

Although you will not be doing any permanent fixes, a temporary shingle can do wonders to fix a leaky roof in a storm. Once the roof is completely dry, simply slide sheet metal under the shingles right above the shingle that has been damaged.

Water diversion

As said earlier, sometimes water leaks show up in a different spot than the actual damage. If this happens, try to divert the water directly under the problem area. Simply drive a nail through the hole and place a bucket right beneath it. This should keep your water flow more predictable and won’t have you guessing where it will appear next.

A leaky roof is very depressing. Usually it means your house will be damp for a while and you will be spending a fortune on a new roof or roof repair. Either way, don’t let a leaky roof completely ruin your belonging. Use these three simple tips to temporarily fix any roof leaks.