How To Repair Shingle Roof Leaks

The source for leaks around your chimney can be difficult to pinpoint.

How to repair shingle roof leaks. To repair leaks caused by metal flashing around chimneys and dormers simply reseal joints using a caulk gun filled with roofing cement. If your home has sustained roof damage from a tree or other falling debris that has made a visible hole in the roof it s better to have a professional roofing contractor make the roof leak repair. Some overhead leaks are due to minor problems such as a single torn shingle or a small hole in flashing that you can usually handle with a little diy experience and some. For loose or damaged shingles remove them by pulling the nail out and scraping glue from underneath the shingles before replacing with new ones.

Meanwhile tarp the roof to prevent additional water damage. If your ceiling has a plastic vapor barrier between the drywall and the attic insulation push the insulation aside and look for flow stains on the plastic often water runs to openings in the vapor barrier such as at ceiling light fixtures. Diagnosing the cause of a roof leak. New vent shingles replace worn out roof vent with a new one and shingle around it to provide a better roof leak repair.

Some roof leaks are tough to locate. If your asphalt shingle roof develops a leak following a heavy rain storm or after being exposed to hurricane strength winds then it is likely that your leak happened due to a missing or damaged shingle. In some cases a roof replacement might be necessary. For flat roofing look for cracks.

Sometimes the water shows up at a ceiling spot distant from the leak. If this the case then your roof problem can be easily solved by replacing any missing or damaged shingles. Assessing a roof leak. To repair a leaking roof with curled shingles straighten the shingles with a heat source like a hair dryer and reattach them with asphalt roof cement or compound.