Fixing a Leaking Roof – Hard or Easy

One night, you’re sitting and watching your favourite show on television, having a drink and enjoying the cool breeze; then a drop of water falls right on the top your head, there’s a leak! The scenario may not be so common, but a leaking roof certainly is and nobody likes them.

So what do you do? Calling someone to fix it is the simplest but not the cheapest way of getting the roof fixed. There are many simple ways to fix a leaking roof, if the leak is easy to find. All you need are some tools and the location. So start by looking for where the leak is coming from.

There are two ways to look for a leak, from the inside and from the outside. Sorry to tell you but it may not be as simple as looking for where the drop came from and voila, leak is right above. It’s possible for water to flow along pipes and interior surfaces, short or long distance, before it drops onto your ceiling. It’s possible that the problem is right above the leak, so measure as to where the leak is on the inside and you’ll know where to look when you’re on your roof. If you have an attic however, look up there for any standing water, water stains, mould, wet insulation or other exposed insulation.

If that doesn’t work, you can try pouring water on your roof on a sunny day. Pour the water on a small portion of your roof, and if there’s no leak inside, check another spot till the leak starts. Do give enough of a time gap between pouring the water. When you’ve found your leak, get ready for the tools.

Some people have a bunch of tools in the garage or basement that they can use for fixing a leaking roof, but if you don’t then the hardware store is your next destination. Now depending on the cause of the leak, you’ll know what to buy. A small crack can be fixed with a little bit of work, a hammer and some nails or a sticky drying solution. If you need to replace a shingle or tile then you’ll need more than that. Depending on the type of roof you have, these are some items you’ll need:

Replacing Shingles:
• Pry bar
• Scraper
• Replacement shingle
• Utility knife
• 6d galvanised roofing nails
• Hammer
• Asphalt roof cement
• Trowel

Flat Roof:
• Utility knife
• Clean rags
• Propane torch with flame-spreader nozzle
• Safety goggles
• Asphalt roof cement or compound
• Trowel
• 6d galvanised roofing nails
• Hammer

Tile Roof
• Hammer
• Replacement tile
• Galvanised roofing nails
• Caulking compound or Roof cement

Now if the leak is not from something on the roof’s surface, then it maybe from open valleys. In this case you’ll need:
• Sheet metal
• Wire brush
• Metal shears
• Roof cement
• Trowel

If these items seem a bit alien to you, then I suggest you call for help instead. If you’re going to fix the leaking roof by yourself, then make sure you follow safety precautions at all times. Remember to work on a sunny day when the roof is dry, sliding down a roof and hitting the ground is not fun. Use safety ropes and secure, sturdy ladders. Dress appropriately, most important part of your wardrobe being your shoes. Rubber-soled shoes are the safest on roofs. Look at your surroundings, be careful of power lines and keep someone in the know about what you’re up to, ladders do fall sometimes.