QUICK FIX FOR A LEAKING ROOF

It’s a hassle to have a leaky roof at any time, but dealing with it during a heavy rainstorm is a problem that requires immediate attention. If you have no experience and the problem is severe, you should call a roofer as soon as possible, but if that’s not an option or it will take a while to get a roofer to you, you can always fix it yourself. It may be easier than you think to stop the flow of water and save your home from further water damage. Follow these steps to fix a leak on your own:

LOCATE THE LEAK’S SOURCE

Patching a leak will be the most challenging part. Water might be pouring from a single point in your house or from a number of locations throughout different rooms. There might be a trickle, a torrent, or a bulging drywall section. All of these are not indicative of how severe the problem is. When your roof leaks, water will accumulate and eventually find a way to drain, which could be far away from where the leak originated.

In order to find the leak’s source, however, you’ll need to ensure your home’s interior is protected. If you have water trapped behind drywall or in your ceiling, poke a hole through it with a screwdriver so that the water can collect in one stream and drain.

The leak will be easier to find during the day. Try standing in your attic, turn off the lights, and look for sunlight shining through an area where your roof has been damaged or shingles have come loose. Also, test for leaks with water. A friend can stand on top of the roof with a garden hose during dry weather. You should have your friend house down the section of roof from the bottom to the top, while standing in the attic. The roof will leak eventually, so you’ll be able to find the source.

ASSISTANCE FIX

There are also a few quick fixes for a leaking roof if you don’t have time to wait until it’s bright and dry outside.

During a storm, you can always check the floor of your attic to see where water is dripping off the roof. Then, if you find that, place two boards underneath a bucket so that the weight is distributed evenly and the bucket can collect the water, preventing further damage to your home.

You can also tuck some sheet metal underneath the loose shingle to cover the hole and direct water down.

Le Fong recommends this solution if you don’t know exactly where the leak is coming from but have a general idea:

• Cover the leaking section of the roof with a sheet of heavy-duty plastic from top to bottom
• Glue the edge of the plastic to a two-by-four that’s the same length as the plastic
• Apply another two-by-four to the original one and repeat the process on the other side.

This will create a weighted cover for your home that won’t blow away in the wind.  Then contact us today