How to Repair a Metal Roof

There's nothing like the sound of rain on a metal roof - and there's nothing as annoying as when one leaks. Here's what you need to know to patch the hole and get your roof back into shape.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Roofing Cement
• All-purpose Cleaners
• Wire Brushes
• Pliers
• Sandpapers
• Solder
• Soldering Guns/irons
• Tin Snips

1. Identify the metal that the roof is made of, and get a piece of the same metal to make a patch.

2. Clean the damaged area with all-purpose cleaner and let it dry, then go over it with a wire brush to remove debris.

3. Cut a patch at least 2 inches larger than the damaged area.

4. Use tin snips to cut the corners off the patch.

5. Fold the edges under about 1/2 inch, and sand the folded parts until they're shinier than the rest of the patch.

6. Put flux both on the surface to be patched and along the folded edges of the patch.

7. Put the patch into place and weight it with a cinder block or brick.

8. Hold solder to the seam, and use a soldering iron to heat it until it melts and runs under the patch.

9. Follow the patch all the way around with the solder and soldering iron. Try not to leave any open spaces, or the patch will be ineffective.

10. Cut a pair of patches larger than the hole.

11. Coat the roof area with roofing cement.

12. Press one patch over the area and apply another coat of cement.

13. Repeat with the last patch and a final coat of roofing cement.

Tips & Warnings

• Use noncorrosive resin flux on steel roofing; use acid flux with copper.

• Put a fiberglass patch on aluminum roofs, as they can't be soldered.

• The metals must be of the same type for the solder to hold.