Taking Care of Roof Leaks

If you’ve got water dripping somewhere inside your home then you have a roof leak.  Not only are roof leaks annoying, they’re also particularly damaging for one’s budget.

The first thing you need to do in order to take care of a roof leak is to identify where the leak is located and what is causing it

1. Replace Shingles

The most common cause of a roof leak is because the roof shingles have either become worn, have curled on themselves, are broken or are missing. The best (and only) thing to do in such cases is to replace the damaged shingle with a new one. Carefully remove the torn or rotten pieces of shingle from the place, apply a generous amount of roof cement or caulk to the bottom and re-attach in place, pressing down on it firmly.  

2. Repair Vent Boots

A vent boot is a cover that slides on top of the PVC vent or plumbing pipes protruding from the roof. The purpose of these vent boots is to waterproof the space between the pipe and the roof. Made from metal, plastic, or rubber, they can easily become worn out over time. Luckily though, they’re quite easy to remove and replace. You can buy premade vent boots from any home-store, pull the old one off with the aid of a screwdriver or knife, and adjust the new one on top.

3. Reseal Flashing

Flashing is a thin metal strip installed at the various junction points across the roof to waterproof it against leaks. They’re commonly used around vent pipes, chimneys, and skylights installed in the roof. If the flashing seal has come undone, you can easily reseal it with the use of a lead sealant applied around the flashing area.

4. Refit Skylights

Skylights when improperly fit or installed can be the source of a roof leak. A skylight needs to be properly adjusted into place and then sealed with rubber to prevent water from penetrating into your home. In case your skylight is the source of your leaking roof, it’s advisable to have the skylight refit correctly.

5. Patch the Sidings

Wall or window sidings can become old, worn out from the weather, or cracked as time goes by, allowing water to go through the flashing and into the house. If you have broken or cracked siding, patch it up by replacing the old caulk with a silicone one, or replace the entire piece of siding entirely. However, if you choose the latter, be sure to ascertain correct placement of the siding. A lot of people incorrectly overlap the siding in their DIY roof repair jobs and then continue to complain about a roof leak.