How to Seal Leaks in a Metal Roof

A metal roof can be repaired just like any other roof.

Despite what you may think, metal roofs can leak just as easily as any other roofing material. The cause of the leak can be any number of reasons, and a hole in the metal is one particular type of damage that will need immediate repair. For the best leak repair, purchase your materials and set aside a few hours on a sunny day.

Things You'll Need

• Putty knife (flexible)
• Wire brush
• Butyl tape
• Scissors
• Galvanized metal sheet
• Shears
• Drill
• Metal screws
• Caulk
• Roof coating
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. Scrape the metal surrounding the damage with a wire brush and putty knife. The wire brush will help remove loose dirt for a clean repair and the putty knife will allow you to scrape away any rusted metal.

2. Place the butyl tape around the damaged area. Cut the tape and place the strips around the hole to form a square shape. Make sure the pieces are two inches or more away from the hole.

3. Cut the galvanized metal with the shears. The size of the metal sheet needed will be the same exact size as the butyl tape square you placed on the roof.

4. Lay the metal sheet over the damage with its edges correctly placed over the butyl tape. Drill the screws into the edges of the sheet metal so that they go through the butyl tape underneath as well.

5. Caulk the area. Put the caulk over the screws and edges of the metal until completely sealed.

6. Apply a thick layer of roof coating with the paintbrush.

References

• Leak Stopper: Metal Roof Repair
• My Great Home: Repairing Metal Roofs