How Do I Temporarily Fix a Leaky Roof?

July 21, 2023 | Uncategorized | Comments (0)

A roof leak can cause severe damage to the structure of your property if left unaddressed for long. It can occur due to many reasons. Be it the broken shingles or clogged drainage, a roof leak can be super frustrating.

Complete Guide Temporarily Fix a Leaky Roof

The worst time for a roof leak is on holidays. You have a family gathered at your place and a leaking roof. Sadly, you can’t call emergency roofing services since most contractors are not available on holidays. So, your only option is to find a temporary solution to the leakage.

Although these methods do not work for a long time, they can protect the integrity of your roofing structure for a brief period. Let’s say your roof starts leaking unexpectedly on a special occasion. Here are a few quick and effective tips you can try for fixing a leaky roof.

Cover the Leaking Area

Grab a tarp and cover the damaged area on the roof. A tarp can protect the roof and prevent leakage for a short while. A tarp or tarpaulin is a water-proof material that comes with a grommet, which makes it easy for you to attach it to the roof. Place a tarp such that it covers the damaged portion securely and prevents water from entering the roof. To secure it tightly, you may need to nail the edges of the material to the roof so that it doesn’t get blown away. It’s an emergency fix for a leaky roof.

However, for this method to work, you need a tarp handy. Borrow it from your neighbors or get it from a local retail store. If you can’t find a tarp at the last minute, use polyethylene plastic sheets. These must be secured to the roof with roofing nails, just like a tarp or any other covering material. However, plastic sheets are highly likely to be blown away soon. Use bricks and heavy rocks for added security. You can also use duct tapes to fasten them tightly to the roof.

Tip: If one polyethylene sheet or tarp doesn’t seem enough, you can use a couple of them. Nail each one down to the roof to ensure the best protection from leakage.

Tape the Leaky Area

A quick way to prevent the leak is by taping the leaky area. It is ideal for those who aren’t comfortable going up on the roof. The tape will prevent water leakage so long as it is a small crack in the attic. Note that the adhesive might not work if it is raining hard.

Patch the Leaky Portion with Cement

If you have roof cement available, use it to cover the patches and small holes on the roof. Cement is available at most hardware stores and on Amazon. You need to lay cement on a dry roof to secure the patches tightly.

The process is pretty simple. Remove the dirt and debris stuck in the hole or a roof patch and fill this area with dry cement. You can lay mesh over the cement for added security, but that isn’t needed for a temporary fix. You will most likely hire a roofing contractor to secure the patch later.

Use Rubber Sealant Coating

Silicone and rubber sealants are often used as a temporary fix for a leaky roof. The sealant, however, works on small holes. You can apply it in both dry and wet conditions. Just spray a small volume of the solution to the leaky portion and wait for a few minutes. It fixes the leak immediately, but it can’t protect the roof for long.

Eventually, you will need to replace the damaged shingles or whatever it is that’s causing the leakage. The color of the portion you are spraying the sealant in will change slightly. Make sure you spray it only in the damaged areas that you plan to replace later.

Replace Damaged Shingles

If you know how to replace a broken, damaged, or missing shingle, you can DIY shingle installation to cover the leaky portion temporarily. First of all, you need to take the damaged shingle out. Use a pry to remove the nails holding the shingle in place and slide a fresh one in its place. You need to nail the new shingle down to secure it properly to the roof.

Beneath the shingle, apply a small amount of cement to keep the shingle in place. This can be a permanent fix for your damaged roof if done correctly. However, you should contact an expert roof contractor immediately, even if the roof seems alright after shingle replacement. The contractor will see if the shingles are placed appropriately and if you need to add cement to secure them more tightly.

The question is, where do you get a shingle? The roof repair materials are available at hardware stores. If you can’t find one, use sheet metal to make a temporary replacement shingle. You could also use plastic, but it won’t cover the leakage for long. The size of the metal or plastic should match the damaged shingle. Cut it accordingly and nail it down the roof just like you’d do with the regular shingle. Fill the underside of shingles with roofing cement (dry) to secure them.

Replace Pipe Flashing Boot

You need to get up on the roof to identify the areas causing the leakage. If the drain isn’t clogged and the shingles are in place, the problem might be in the roofing pipe flashing boot. If it is old and outdated piping, chances are it has cracked. You can fix the leak by replacing the damaged pipe. There are plenty of colors and sizes in pipe flashing boots.

Remember that the above methods will prevent leakage for a short period. Eventually, you will have to hire professional roofing contractors to identify the root cause of the problem and fix it permanently. Once the rain has stopped, call Best Top Roofing on tel: +1 780-710-9990 for a permanent solution to the leaky roof.