How to Spray Repair a Roof

Small roof leaks can often be stopped with spray repair products.

Roof leaks left unrepaired, no matter how minor, lead to expensive fixes and replacement. When dealing with smaller leaks, they can be kept under control using products such as a spray sealant. "Close to 90 percent of all roof leaks happen at flashings. Flashings are transitional roofing materials. They connect a roof to something that is not a roof. You will find flashings at chimneys, valleys, where a roof bumps into a wall, skylights, plumbing stacks, etc," according to Tim Carter of AskTheBuilder.com.

Things You'll Need

• Whisk broom
• Chlorine bleach (if needed)
• 80 grit sandpaper
• Spray roof repair product
• Cloths
• Mineral spirits

Instructions

1. Sweep debris away from the areas needing repair. Tape off any items or walls that could be coated in overspray.

2. Kill any moss or mold by scrubbing with a mixture of 1 part chlorine bleach to 1 part water. Rinse with clear water and let the areas dry.

3. Roughen up areas such as flashing with 80 grit sandpaper before spraying the roof repair product on them. This will make them receptive to sealant.

4. Shake the can of roof sealant well and hold the can about 18 inches from the area being repaired. Push down the nozzle and apply several light layers over the area. Extend out a couple of inches from the area of the leak.

5. Remove any areas of overspray by wiping with a cloth dipped in mineral spirits.

Tips & Warnings

• Tape off any areas that could suffer from overspray.

• Wear safety glasses when using sealant spray.

• Use caution when working from the roof level.

References

• Aquaplan Repair Spray: Sealing Roof Leaks

Resources

• Ask the Builder: Finding a Roof Leak