Fixing Leaky Roof Shingles

In all cases a mechanical fix is a better.

Fixing leaky roof shingles.

If a shingle is simply cracked or torn you don t have to replace it just repair it. Projections or penetrations such as vents dormers and chimneys are frequent places for leaks. How to repair a leaking roof. But as long as you can find matching shingles and you re not afraid of heights the repair is straightforward.

A broken shingle is both ugly and a leak waiting to happen. We ll show you some simple tricks for finding and repairing most of the common types of leaky roofs. Roof valleys are channels designed to drain runoff water and like any other part of your roof they can degrade over time with exposure to the elements. In other cases water can become trapped under shingles which have been overlaid to create the valley trough.

Assessing a roof leak. The roof leak repair is usually pretty easy. Though roof valleys are com mon leak sites on shingle roofs it s typically fairly easy to fix these problems with a little know how. Water frequently enters the house near things that go through the roof.

Press the shingle down and apply a second bead of sealant on top of the crack. Pick a day when the weather is moderate to do the repair too cold and the shingles can crack. Then spread the sealant with a putty knife. Start by applying a thick bead of roofing sealant under the crack.

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. We find evidence of a leaking roof by water stains on the ceiling. Asphalt shingle leaks can be caused by a variety of things including folded shingles nail holes and flashing issues around corners chimneys or vents. Upon investigating the roof we see no visible damage but find an obvious soft spot.

Fortunately you can mend minor issues without the help of a professional. Tracking down the leak is the hard part. The roof is literally at the top of any homeowner s maintenance list and they re subject to lots of wear and tear. And fixing a leaky roof can be less time consuming than locating where the water is coming in.