How to Repair a Leaking Roof
Fixing a leaking roof can be easier than cleaning up any mess that results from it. Here are the instructions to follow.
What You’ll Need
Nails
Stiff wire
Brush
Roofing cement
Plasticized roof cement
Step by Step Instructions to Plug the Leak
After locating the cause of the leak, drive a nail or poke a piece of stiff wire through it so that you can locate it from outside.
The next step is to clean the crack thoroughly with a brush so that the cement will fill in all the areas of the crack. Now you have to plug the hole in the roof with plasticized roof cement.
If the source of the leak is small, fill it with plasticized roof cement, smoothing it carefully with a trowel to eliminate rough spots where water might collect. If you cannot pinpoint the source, apply plasticized cement in all logical areas.
If a bubble or blister forms on a flat roof, it is an indication that the crack is widely dispersed. If this is the case, slit the affected area with a utility knife and use a putty knife to push roofing cement over it so that the crack is sealed completely.
For a large damaged area, clean the area to remove worn materials and apply roofing cement to the bare area, overlapping two inches all around the troubled spot.
Once the repair job is done, pour a can of water over the repaired section to see if any water seeps through the ceiling. You may have to conduct periodic inspections to prevent leaks from developing in the area again.