Roof started leaking this morning in one spot. Unfortunately I can not afford to fix it right now. Any quick fixes or things I can do to insure it will be alright until I can afford to fix it?
2006-12-22 05:15:50 · 7 answers · asked by jtbigz_ga 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
put a pail in the attic, or a sheet of plastic to collect the water. The damage to the roof is already done. It sounds like your roof is in bad shape, You'll do more damage walking around on it [if it's walkable] than you will by trying to do a repair, plus it's safer. By putting tar on it yourself, you'll compound the problem, double the work for a trained seasoned professional, make it more difficult for them to detect and will cost you more to repair. Even though Home Depot sells tar I believe the container tar is sold in states "FOR PROFESSIONAL USE ONLY"
2006-12-24 14:10:05 · answer #1 · answered by william k 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, you didn't mention what kind of roofing material you have now.
Since most roofs are asphalt shingle, I'll assume yours is too. First try to pinpoint where the leak is coming from. A look in the attic or low space above the ceiling might show you the wet spot.If it's in a place you can't get to do this.
From the spot inside the house where you see the drip, line the wet spot up with the position of a window. In other words- - - about two feet to the left of a certain window. Get the idea ?
Now get up on the roof and begin looking for the leak. First search at the approximate spot where the leak seemed to be, then search upward toward the ridge. Search both to the left and right for quite a distance, Water can run across the roof behind a fold of roofing paper for quite a way.
Look at every suspicious crack, a nail that popped through, etc. When you find the leak, carefully remove the bad shingle and replace it. Or repair the bad spot with thick fibered roof-fix.
If it's a popped nail. Take it out altogether, and plug the hole with the fibered tar or asphalt. If you can lift the shingle tab, do so and get a dollop of tar under the shingle.
2006-12-22 06:14:55 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have the same problem in my 1950s shingled, brick home. I just realized it today. The leak is in my living room. I went up in the attic, sure enough, there's a wet spot on the wood beams. I searched for roofing tar at Home Depot but couldn't find it. I saw the cement but wasn't sure if it could be used on shingles. Some of the labels read fiberglass, plastic or something or another. If there's a contractor reading, please recommend a brand to ask for at store. Thanks.
2006-12-22 06:11:02 · answer #3 · answered by Patee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A quick fix would be to apply mastic over the shingles where the leak originated. Mind you this is only temporary, although many will think or make it permanent. Make sure you are in the exact location, otherwise you will use more material than you nee. Good luck.
2006-12-22 05:22:23 · answer #4 · answered by tim r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well roofing cement (tar) will be messy but do the trick for ya. i could give you a better answer if you provided more details in your question. you can trowel the tar over the area suspected. just remember that water runs down hill and that your leak could be quite a ways up from where it is coming in. are there valleys on the roof? or dormers? in or alongside of those are prime areas for a leak to occur. what type of roof is it? what style of house? please give more details for more ideas.
2006-12-22 05:39:25 · answer #5 · answered by car dude 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do what Elmjunburk does. Cheap and that's the permanant fix.
20 years apartment industry
2006-12-22 11:01:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
CAN PUT SOME TARP ON TOP OF THE LEAK
2006-12-22 08:44:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋