An Easy Overview to Repairing Leaking Roof

Follow the tips below, and visit our other pages to learn how you can be repairing a leaking roof in no time. In many ways, the hardest part about repairing leaking roof is identifying where the leak is coming from. Often a missing shingle, a small crack, or a tiny hole is responsible. Once identified, these problems are usually quite fixable. To discover the cause of the leak, you will probably need to get up on the roof and find it yourself. If you aren’t experienced or able to climb up on the roof, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to do it for you. It’s better to be safe than sorry. However, if you have successfully identified the leak, and want to fix it yourself, here are some tips: Flat RoofsUsually composed by piling roofing felt and tar, leaks in these roofs often occur in spots that have been noticeably damaged. Usually, these spots are right above where the leak is occurring. What You’ll Need:Rags or ClothesUtility KnifeGogglesTrowelHammerAsphalt Roof Cement6d Galvanized Roofing Nails    1. Soak up any puddle around the damaged area with the rags. Also clear off any dirt or gravel. Cut away the damaged area with the utility knife (note: Do not cut into the soundproofing layer), and pull up on it to examine what’s beneath.   2. If the damaged area is full of water, press down on the area, starting with the edges and moving toward the center to get the water out. Absorb the water with the rags, and prop up the edges so the moisture can dry out. Note: If there is water over a large area, you may need to call a professional.   3. Apply thick layers of asphalt roof cement to the edges of the area you’ve cut, and press down on them to seal it off. Next, hammer in the 6d galvanized nails on each side of the damaged area. Then apply roof cement all over the area, including the nail heads.   4. Wait until the next rain, and see if the leak happens again. If the leak does not persist, you can congratulate yourself on knowing how to repairing leaking roof. Shingle RoofsWhat You’ll Need:Pry BarScraperUtility KnifeShingle6d Galvanized Roofing NailsHammerAsphalt Roof CementTrowel    1. Lift the edges of the damaged shingle, and pry up the nails attaching it to the roof using the pry bar. Remove the old shingle by sliding it out, and clean up the area using the scraper. You’ll also want to remove any protruding nails from the area.   2. Very slightly make the corners of the new shingle round by cutting them with the utility knife. Slide the new shingle into place, making its front edge line up with the shingles on either side of it. Its back edge will be under the shingles in the row above it.   3. Lift the corners of the shingles surrounding the new shingle, and then hammer the 6d galvanized roofing nails into the new shingle to fasten it. Cover these nail heads with asphalt roof cement.Whether you live in a valley or on a hill, anyone can have roofing problems. Estimating roofing costs, knowing specifications for annual roof repairs, and repairing leaking roofs are important to know for any homeowner.