How to Stop Roof Leaks Fast

Patching a roof is an emergency step to prevent further water damage.

A leaking roof can be an emergency situation. Leaking could lead to more damage to the property and your first response should be to minimize the damage. Even if you cannot immediately fix the roof properly, you can take steps to stop the damage until you can perform full repairs. You should only patch the roof during dry weather to avoid injury.

Things You'll Need

• Hammer
• Plywood
• Wood lath and plastic
• Double-headed nails
• Roofing cement

Instructions

1. Use a sheet of plywood to cover the damaged area of your roof, using double-headed nails to secure it in place. If you do not have plywood, secure a tarp or other plastic covering over the damaged roofing and nail lath strips around the edges.

2. Mark nail locations so you can find them when you make permanent repairs. When you make repairs, remove the nails and fill the holes with roofing cement.

3. Check the roof for other signs of damage along places like the chimney. Check for missing tiles or shingles that could be responsible for leaks.

4. Patch open areas that could be responsible for leaks with roofing cement. Perform the work on temperate, dry days, as weather that is too hot or too cold could make shingles and tiles brittle. Use replacement shingles or reattach shingles by drying them and then coating the backs with roofing cement. Press the shingle into place.

5. Seal around areas where previous roofing cement has cracked with fresh roofing cement.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid performing repairs on hot, wet,or cold days. Certain weather conditions could increase your chances of injuries. You will also be working with materials that are temperature-sensitive. Working in hot or cold weather conditions could cause tiles to break.

• Contact a roofing professional as soon as you notice roofing damage. Keep in mind that these repairs are for quick and temporary fixes and will not permanently solve the roof's problems.

• Have a friend assist you as you work on the roof. You may not be accustomed to standing or walking on your roof, which could increase your chances of injury. If you are uncomfortable performing the repairs, hire someone to do it for you.

References

• "Ten Pound Books: Home Repair Guide"; Creative Publishing International, Inc.; 2007.