It’s that sound that no homeowner wants to hear-tap,tap,tap. The sound is coming from above your head and then you realize it-you have a leaking roof. Noooooo! Never fear, all is not lost. A leaky roof doesn’t have to mean that you’ll need to replace your entire roof. Often all that is needed is to address the area of the roof that is causing the leak and then you are able to get several more years out of your roof. You’ll find that the costs to repair your roof are minor compared to the thousands required to replace your whole roof.
While many leaks can be fixed yourself, it should be noted that climbing on one’s roof isn’t a job for many homeowners. Often the best decision is to find a local roofing company and let them repair the roof. You can find a list of the best roofing companies in your area here.
Common Causes of a Leaky Roof
While each situation is always unique, most roof leaks have similar root causes. The cause usually falls into one of several reasons:
- Missing or damaged shingles
- Chimney flash damage
- Leaking pipe flashing
- Ice damage
Unless the damage is extensive or your roof is leaking so much that it needs emergency attention, the only situation that we would advise against handling yourself is ice damage. If you experience ice buildup on your roof and this causes damage to your roof, it’s time to call the professionals. That is a situation that only people with experience in this can fix.
Now it’s time to show you how to fix your leaking roof.
How to Replace Damaged or Missing Asphalt Roofing Shingles
Even this small amount of damage to the shingle can cause a leak in your roof.
Step 1-identify what shingles need repairing.
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Even this small repair can stop a leaking roof
Step 2 – Take a pry bar and loosen the damaged shingle from below. This will break the tar seal. Once the tar seal is broken you will find that the shingle easily lifts up.
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Use prybar to break tar seal
Step 3 - Again, with the pry bar, loosen the roofing nails. You will need to remove the roofing nails from the damaged shingle AND the shingle above it.
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Use the prybar to lift the existing roofing nails
Step 4 – Once all of the nails have been removed, the shingle will slide out.
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The loosened shingle should slide out
Use the damaged shingle as a template for the new shingle if a cut needs to be made.
Step 5 – Install the new shingle. Slide the new shingle into place. Use roofing nails and hammer the shingle in much the same fashion as the old shingle was installed. Usually you can expect to hammer in at least 3 roofing nails. Don’t damage the other existing shingles while trying to install the new shingle
Other than the slight color difference between the new replacement shingle and the sun-faded roof, the completed repair is seamless and ready for rain.
Roof Flashing Repair
Rain water can get under the shingles where they meet the flashing so a great way to seal that area is with roof cement.
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A couple of tubes of roof sealant should be all you need
Roof cement is applied like caulk. First, get yourself a caulking gun. You will be able to apply pressure on the trigger to squeeze out a bead of cement. It’s pretty basic to apply the roof cement. Slide the nozzle underneath the shingle and apply the cement bead. It’s easiest to start from the bottom and work your way up to the peak.
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Apply the sealant.
Roof leak detention can be as much art as science. You will need to go up on your roof to fix any roof leaks. However, don’t despair. A leak in the roof shouldn’t cause you stress. Anyone can do it. The materials needed for a roof repair are inexpensive and unless you have major roof damage, you can finish the job in a weekend afternoon. Below are listed the major items needed for fixing a leak in the roof.
- Pry Bar
- Hammer
- Replacement Shingles
- Roof sealant for leaks
- Roofing Nails
- Ladder