What do you do to fix a leaking roof? You probably have a vague idea of how you should proceed that involves examining the roof for possible entrance points for water, but how can you be fully prepared when you find the source of the leak?
You can approach the leak with confidence if you understand what to look for and where the seal is generally weakest. Oscar Roofing has experience with diverse kinds of roof leaks and can introduce you to the process of finding and fixing a leak.
Read on to learn how the procedure for fixing a leak differs based on the cause and your roof materials. We’ll also discuss common questions that arise in homeowners’ minds when a leak is detected.
Table of Contents
- Fixing a Leaking Roof: DIY or Hire a Professional?
- Before Determining How To Fix a Roof Leak, You Must Pinpoint the Location and Cause
- How To Fix a Leak in the Roof Based on the Cause
- How To Fix a Leak in the Roof Based on Roof Type
- FAQs About Fixing a Leaking Roof
- Ensure Your Leaking Roof Is Fixed Properly With Oscar Roofing
Fixing a Leaking Roof: DIY or Hire a Professional?
If you’re a handy homeowner, you can try fixing the leak on your own. However, you may want to hire a professional if your home is more than one story or the roof has a steep pitch.
Even if you perform the repair yourself, it’s still wise to have an expert appraise the damage first because he can alert you to other potential problems related to the leak and its repair.
Contact Oscar Roofing for an appraisal of your roof damage and an estimate of repair costs.
Before Determining How To Fix a Roof Leak, You Must Pinpoint the Location and Cause
Identifying the Location of a Roof Leak
It can be tricky to locate the origin of a roof leak because the visible signs of a leak that you detect inside the house may be several feet away in any direction from the entrance point of water in the roof.
To start to fix a leaking roof from the outside, note these tips for locating a leak:
- Search in the attic with a flashlight for evidence of a leak, such as rust or water stains. Trace these signs up to the roof to find the entrance point. If you’re still having trouble, have a helper watch in the attic while you spray water on the roof with a garden hose.
- Start spraying low on the roof just above the visible signs of the leak in the house. Soak the area for several minutes, then on the right and left sides, until your helper notifies you that water droplets are visible. Move up slowly and systematically, marking the areas with leaks.
- If this doesn’t work, remove shingles from the suspected area and look for evidence of the leak (rotted or water-stained wood, discolored felt paper, etc.).
Identifying the Cause of a Roof Leak
How you’ll go about fixing a leaky roof will depend on what is causing the leak in the first place. Common causes include:
- Damaged shingles
- Old holes from things mounted on the roof
- Rusty or loose flashings around a chimney
- Cracked, rotted, or missing siding in dormers and walls
- Damaged plumbing vent boots (cracks in plastic or broken seams in metal)
- Ice dams
How To Fix a Leak in the Roof Based on the Cause
Fixing Roof Leaks Around Plumbing Vent Boots or Roof Vents
Water may enter from a damaged plumbing vent boot, roof vent, or the vent pipe flashing. Plumbing vent boots can be made of plastic, metal, or both. Plastic may crack, and metal may have broken seams. The rubber surrounding the pipe might be torn or rotted. In any of these cases, the vent boot should be replaced. If the boot is in good shape but the nails at the base are missing or loose, just replace them with rubber-washer screws.
If the housing on a plastic roof vent is cracked or the seams of a metal one are broken, replace the vents with new ones and any pulled or missing nails with rubber-washer screws.
Fixing Roof Leaks Due to Damaged or Rotting Walls or Dormers
Water sometimes enters not directly through the roof surface but through vertical spaces, such as cracks in the siding of a dormer or wall or spaces in the corner boards or windows. Check the caulking between adjoining surfaces or in the corner flashing to see if it is cracked or dry. Replace it with silicone caulk. Replace missing or rotted siding on dormers.
Fixing Roof Leaks Caused by Old Mounting Holes
Any small holes can let water in that causes rot, leaks, and other damage slowly over several years before there are visible signs. These holes can come from old vents, satellite dish brackets, or other equipment attached to the roof.
A piece of wood flashing slipped under the shingle and glued with caulk or roof cement can serve as a patch.
Fixing Roof Leaks That Occur Because of Damaged or Missing Step Flashing
Step flashing consists of short overlapping sections shaped like stair steps and placed around a chimney or on walls intersecting a shingle roof. Flashing is designed to channel water over the shingles below it, but if it becomes loose or rusted, it can’t prevent water from penetrating into the house.
Rusted flashing must be replaced. The shingles and/or siding must be removed and the new flashing secured with roofing cement.
Fixing Roof Leaks That Are Complex
Your roof may have sustained damage that is not so simple to fix, so it is best to hire a professional to deal with ice dams or tree damage.
A leak caused by poor flashing can turn into an ice dam if you live in a cold climate. The water leaking into the house freezes on the roof’s colder edges, causing water to pool behind the dam and damage the shingles and soffit.
The key to solving this problem is good flashing. Remove the shingles in the area affected and apply an adhesive ice-and-water barrier under the soffit that extends to the roof edge, overlapping another ice-and-water barrier underneath.
Once you have done this, you can replace the shingles and slide metal step flashing behind the trim behind the gutter. Valley flashing, which overlays the point where the two roofs meet, must overlap the step flashing by 2 inches.
The best preventive measures against ice dams are good attic insulation and ventilation, but these might not be sufficient in some cases. Roof edge heating cables can help prevent recurring ice dams.
A roof penetrated by a tree or falling debris should be repaired by a professional roofing contractor. It might even need to be replaced. Until a repair or replacement can be carried out, be sure to tarp the area to prevent further damage.
How To Fix a Leak in the Roof Based on Roof Type
How To Fix a Leaking Flat Roof
Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) is a white membrane used in commercial and residential roofing that reflects heat. With a new matching piece of roofing material and a hot air welder, it is relatively easy to patch.
- Clean the area with weathered membrane cleaner and cut your patch to the right size (big enough to overlap the area needing to be patched by two inches on all sides) and with rounded edges (to make them adhere longer).
- Adhere the patch using the hot air welder. Small patches should have a total seal. Using a roller to press the membrane down can create this effect. If the patch is large, make a seal of 1.5 inches around all sides.
- Let the membrane cool, then apply cut-edge sealant around the edges and let it dry.
How To Fix a Leaking Asphalt Shingle Roof
Repairing shingles with caulk is not recommended because it is only a very short-term repair. Instead, replace the whole row of damaged shingles and secure them with roofing nails and caulk.
- Use a pry bar to break the seal between the old shingles and those surrounding it. Remove the old caulk while you pry up the old roofing nails. Once you’ve removed all nails, remove the shingles. Inspect the area underneath for damage. Any rotted areas will need to be replaced.
- Tuck a new row of shingles under the row above it. Secure them with roofing nails, each about an inch under the edge of the above row of shingles, spaced evenly.
- Form a watertight seal behind your nails by caulking unsealed lines above and below the new row of shingles.
How To Fix a Leaking Metal Roof
If the leak in your metal roof is large or the roof decking is damaged, you will probably want to consult a professional. If the leak is small, you can follow this procedure:
- Clean the area with a household cleaner and let it dry. Make a line around the area and cut out a matching patch from a loose metal replacement panel.
- Scuff the area on the roof within the line to enhance adherence. Apply sealant to this area, spreading it evenly with a putty knife. Then place the patch over the area and secure it with self-tapping screws placed an inch from the patch’s edge, four inches apart.
- Remove excess sealant around the edge of the patch.
FAQs About Fixing a Leaking Roof
How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Roof Leak?
Minor repairs done professionally can cost anywhere between $150 and $8,000, depending on the type of repair needed. On average, homeowners spend $1,150 for a roof repair. The exact price depends on several factors:
- The size of the affected area: The more extensive the damage, the more you’ll have to spend on materials and labor.
- Roofing material: Costs vary by type and region, with asphalt shingles being the cheapest and copper roofing panels the most expensive.
- Secondary features: If your roof has vents, skylights, dormer windows, or other additions, the roof repair can be more complicated and thus cost more.
- Roof pitch: If your roof falls in the steep category set by OSHA (greater than 4 inches of rise per 12 inches of run), repairs could cost more for being more difficult and less safe.
So if you want to know exactly how much to fix a roof leak, the answer can vary widely.
What Is the Fastest Way To Fix a Leaking Roof?
The fastest ways to fix a leak are only temporary, but until you can make a plan or hire a professional to do the repair, it may be necessary to turn to something like:
- Waterproof tarp: Nail it down or use duct tape.
- Silicone or caulk: For small gaps, remove old, dry caulk and apply fresh caulk. This can serve to seal a leaking roof temporarily.
- Tar paper: Use a caulking gun, putty knife, or roofing cement to secure it to the roof.
- Patching: Apply roofing tape to the damaged area with a roller. You can also use roofing cement to patch holes or leaks, but it takes 24 hours to dry and make a proper seal.
- Plugging: Combine plugging powder and water and apply it to the leak area. It will dry and keep water out, but it does disintegrate over time.
Is a Repair Enough or Should a Roof Be Replaced?
A repair is generally enough to maintain the health of the roof. There are some things you can do, however, to help you decide whether to repair or replace a roof:
- Keep your roofing warranty information and be familiar with it. It details your responsibilities if a roof leak appears.
- Know the lifespan of your roofing material. For instance, if your roof is near the end of its lifespan, you might prefer to replace it rather than pay for a costly repair.
Ensure Your Leaking Roof Is Fixed Properly With Oscar Roofing
Roof leaks can cause significant damage if not fixed in a timely manner, which could cost you more in the long run than a prompt roof repair. The professionals at Oscar Roofing perform quick, reliable roof repairs for damages of any size.
We have served areas in and around Indianapolis and Bloomington for over two decades. Besides roof repairs and replacements, our other services include other exterior remodeling projects, such as gutter installment, siding installment, and paint jobs.
Contact us today for a free estimate of the cost of repairing your leaky roof. We look forward to assisting you.
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