Temporary Solutions for Your Leaky Roof

A leaky roof can cause significant damage to the interior of your home, even if the leak is only present for a short period of time. If you aren’t able to have a roof repair company come in to fix the damage immediately, you will need a quick fix that eliminates the leak until repairs can be made.

Identify the Leak

Identifying the site of the leak in your roof may be a little more complicated than you expect. For example, if your shingle are damaged then you may have a generalized leak over a large section of your home. You can identify these types of leaks by looking inside the attic for areas of moisture or mold. Large areas of wetness will need to be treated by a professional as soon as possible, but emergency repairs can help reduce the damage cause by the leak.

If you have an issue with your shingles, then the emergency repair will need to begin by identifying the damage. Covering a large section of the roof with a tarp may work if you are able to cover the peak of the house well. If the damage is on the lower section of the roof, away from the ridge cap, then this solution will still allow water to run into the home. Opting for patching materials that can be used in both wet and dry weather can assist you in making an emergency repair.

Simple Solutions

Often, a leaky roof can be repaired quickly by using an adhesive type putty, caulking, or other waterproof fillers. To apply putty, you will need to be able to pinpoint the source of the leak. Only leaks that are small in size, such as a nail hole, can be repaired using this method. To apply the putty, simply use a putty knife and cover the hole thoroughly. You will need to complete the treatment while the roof, and weather, are fairly dry to ensure the putty sticks and dries properly.

For larger sized holes, you may need to have a gallon of roofing tar on hand. The roofing tar can be applied with a paintbrush. Make sure to cover the entire area where damage is visible, as well as areas where you suspect the leak is originating from. Roofing tar is very inexpensive, but may not work when it is raining. If it is wet outside, you may want to consider simply trying to minimize the damage inside since a wet roof can be very dangerous to walk on.

Minimizing the damage inside is easier when the water can flow out of the ceiling. Try drilling a small hole in the ceiling to allow the water to flow out easily rather than spreading over the ceiling.

Peter Wendt is a writer and researcher living in Austin, Texas. He recommends you check out Austin Roof Repair and Austin Roofing Repair.