Temporary Repairs for a Leaking Roof

Sometimes a roof leak develops during a time when it isn’t possible to have it repaired by professionals. Maybe the weather is bad, it’s a weekend, or maybe you just need a little time to set the money aside. Leaving a leaking roof alone, however, is a recipe for disaster, inviting in rain, structural damage, and mold with each day you leave it alone. If you can’t have a professional roof leak repair done in a timely way, try using one of these temporary repairs for a leaking roof instead to help tide you over until you can (have a roofing contractor complete the roof repair).

Use a Tarp

If you can pinpoint the approximate position of the leak, and you have a plastic tarp you can make a very quick temporary roof repair. Stretch the tarp out over the area that is leaking until it is taut, and then drive nails into the edges to hold it tightly. If you have roofing cement, you can apply a little to the tops of each of the nailheads to help prevent new leaks from forming. While this isn’t the most attractive roof repair, it can help keep out the rain long enough to call a roofer in to do the actual repair.

Straighten Out Curled Shingles

If you discover that your shingles are curling and this is the source of the leak, you can straighten and flatten them back out to repair the leak. Keep in mind that shingles may be curling because they’ve reached the end of their lifespan, and if this is the case this roof leak repair is temporary at best, and you will need to call a professional in to assess the situation.

Gently flatten out the curling shingles and apply a little roofing cement to the undersides of the edges. Then just press them back down into place. This should help keep the water out while you determine the overall condition of the roof.

Make Some Shingles

If you have a few cracked or missing shingles, and you can’t find a good match for them to make the repair, you can use sheet metal to do the job. Just trim the metal down to the size and shape of a shingle and slide the back edge underneath the row of shingles above, making sure the bottom edge lines up with the bottom edges of the shingles on either side. Nail it into place and coat the nailheads with roofing cement. This won’t be the prettiest looking patch in the world, but it can keep out the rain and help you roof make it until you can have it professionally repaired.

Black Tar Patch

If the reason you can’t have your roof permanently repaired is due to wet weather, consider picking up a bucket of black tar roof patch and painting it onto the leaking area. This product can adhere even when wet and will seal up any gaps in your roof and prevent the rain from leaking in. It won’t solve what caused the problem however; you may still need to have the roof replaced even if you seal it up with tar.

Take Action Fast

The faster you can seal up or stop a leak in your roof, the better off you’ll be. Water leaking into your home can cause a lot of damage and promote the growth of mold and mildew. Take the time to make a temporary fix if you need to wait for a professional repair and take care of your roof and your home.