There’s no good time for your roof to begin leaking or having other issues, but there are also definitely times when it is worse than others. If your roof begins to leak during a holiday weekend or another time when your roofer can’t come out, your roofer is booked waiting for the shingles for several weeks, or you need time to get the money together to fix the roof, sometimes an emergency roof repair is needed. These temporary repairs are designed to help get you through a short period of time with minimal water damage to your home while you wait for a new roof.
Fasten On a Tarp
One of the fastest and least expensive ways you can make a temporary, emergency roof repair is to cover the involved area with a plastic tarp. Make sure you get one that is large enough to cover the entire affected area, and one that is meant to be used outdoors. Pull the tarp tightly down onto the roof and smooth it out. Nail down the edges and cover the nail heads with roofing cement. This will prevent rain from entering your home while you wait for the actual repair.
Refasten Shingles
If you have some loose, missing, or curling shingles you can readhere them to your roof temporarily. This is not a permanent fix, but if you need to buy a little time before a roof replacement, this can be just enough to help you skate through a few rainy days.
- Straighten out any curling shingles by softening them with a heat gun and gluing them down with roofing cement.
- Slide any loose shingles back under the bottom edge of the row above and nail them down securely with 6d galvanized nails. Cover all the nail heads with roofing cement.
- Apply additional roofing cement to all cracked or worn looking joints and the edges of the flashing to help seal the roof.
Cut Some Shingles
If you have missing or cracked and damaged shingles, and you need a temporary repair that will be a little more attractive than a tarp, you can make some shingles out of sheet metal or copper. Cut the sheet metal into the shape of the singles by tracing a loose shingle on top. Nail the metal shingles onto the roof in the same way you would install an asphalt shingle; use roofing cement, slide the top of the shingle under the bottom of the previous one, nail it into place, and cover the nail heads with additional roofing cement. This is a good way to repair a few missing shingles if you don’t have any on hand, and you intend to replace the entire roof fairly soon. The sheet metal will keep your roof watertight, and makes a fairly unobtrusive and inexpensive repair.
Take Care of Problems in a Timely Way
By making an emergency repair while you await a new roof, you can help prevent thousands of dollars worth of water damage, mold, and mildew to your home. Catch problems as soon as they are spotted, call for an inspection right away, and make any necessary emergency repairs you need. Protect your roof from further damage and help minimize the pain of replacement.
