If you have a roof leak, don’t wait to get it fixed! Even a small leak can cause major damage to your home. Fortunately, a temporary roof leak fix can help before things spiral out of control. In fact, there are essential solutions you can use to help prevent water from pooling on or seeping through your roof and into your home.
If you are like most of our customers, you do not have any idea on where to start. Never worry! We are seasoned professionals here at MY PITTSBURGH ROOFING. It’s what we do best. Our professional team can support and educate you during times like these. It’s our recommendation to call a professional when dealing with roof leaks, but in the meantime, let’s dive into temporary solutions – our tricks and tips of the trade.
Alert! Before reading any further: Take pictures and document everything if you want to make a home insurance claim for eligible damage. It’s important to remember that your insurance company will want evidence of the damage, so make sure to keep all of your records.
How to Minimize the Roof Leak Damage
While you are waiting for professional help, a roof leak can be a nightmare of any homeowner or business owner. There are a few things you can do to try and fix it yourself (temporarily) but, as always, we do recommend calling a professional roofing company for a permanent fix. Otherwise, you may end up with dangerous mold and other damage when spots needing repair go unmissed.
Clear The Water-Damaged Area
If the roof is leaking, the first step is to clear the area to save your possessions from getting damaged. This will help you prevent further damage and make it easier to repair the roof.
Remove any wet materials: If there are any wet materials, such as insulation or carpet, you’ll need to remove them. These can absorb water and cause further damage.
Dry the area: Once you’ve removed any wet materials, you’ll need to dry the area. You can do this with a fan or a dehumidifier.
Clean the area: Once you’ve removed all of the damaged materials, you’ll need to clean the area. This will help ensure that the repair process is successful.
Contain the Leakage
To catch the water, you can always grab towels to soak up the mess, but you will want to make use of the following (watching them carefully so-as not to overflow!):
- Garbage Cans
- Barrels
- Buckets
- Pots
- Washtubs
Find the Roof Leak
Leaks can be tricky to track down, but it’s important to find the source of the leak as soon as possible. There are a few things you can do to track down the source of a roof leak:
Checking your attic is a good place to start. Grab a flashlight to examine the wood rafters for dampness or discolorations such as black marks, water stains, or mold.
Call a professional roofer to check the shingles on top of your roof. Cracked or missing shingles are often the culprit.
Look for any water stains or sagging on your ceiling. If you see a water stain, it’s a good indication that the leak is coming from above that spot. Call a roofing professional for further investigation on the roofing surface.
If you can’t find the source of the leak by visual inspection, you may need to get on the roof and do a little investigation. If it’s safe to do so, try to locate the leak by feel. Once you’ve found the leak, mark the spot so your professional roofer can assess it and repair it.
Check chimneys and vents. Water is the number one enemy of both chimneys and vents and can quickly cause damage if left unchecked. Look for any cracks or holes in the mortar or masonry around any chimney or vent.
If all else fails, and it’s not raining, take a garden hose to create a manual rain on top of the roof. Have someone else inside of the house to be on the lookout for leaks caused by the water hose.
After you’ve cleared the damaged area and cleaned it, you can then call a professional to make the repair. This could involve patching holes or replacing damaged materials.
Again, do not perform any of the activities outlined above if you are not trained or feel comfortable of doing any of it. Roofing trade is a very dangerous and requires proper training, tools and equipment. Remember it’s much safer to call the roofing pros for any roofing inspection, repairs then risking your life and trying to do it yourself.
How to Fix a Roof Leak (Temporarily)
Don’t panic if you have a roof leak. We are the experts. Visit MY PITTSBURGH ROOFING for help with roof leaks in the Pittsburgh area. In the meantime, there are a few things you can do to temporarily fix the problem until you can get a permanent repair from a professional roofer.
Use Waterproof Tarp to Cover the Roof Damage
Tarps can be a great way to temporarily fix a roof that is leaking. However, you should be aware that tarps can easily be blown away by the wind, so you should choose them carefully by using the following tips:
- Tarps should be 5-6mm thick (or even thicker in some cases).
- Make sure the tarp measures 4 feet across the damaged area (for example, it should be 4 feet larger than the measured area of damage).
- Try to tuck the tarp or nail it around the very perimeter of damage so water can’t get in. (beware: cover the heads of any nail with roofing cement to prevent more leakage).
Sealant Temporarily Helps Roof Tile or Shingle Damage
Remember that sealant (or roof cement) is only a temporary roof leak fix. Simply apply it with a putty knife or wire brush around the damaged areas if repairing a crack. You can also use it to “glue” down loose shingles.
Important Tip: Once the cement dries, it’s not waterproof. So, if you have a heavy rainstorm, the leak may start up again. For a more permanent repair, you’ll need to contact a professional roofer to patch the hole in the roof or replace the damaged shingles.
To Temporarily Fix Roof Shingle Damage: Apply asphalt roofing cement or caulk to the underside of the damaged shingle(s) and press back in place.
We Fix Roof Leaks (Permanently)
You are not alone. MY PITTSBURGH ROOFING understands that roof leaks are a gigantic hassle. Grasping the magnitude of the hassle is the first step. Feeling confident is the next step. That’s why we put together the above steps – to help educate you so you feel reassured through a temporary fix – until help arrives.
Permanent roof leak fixes are a different story, and they should never be tackled DIY-style.
Are you in need of a permanent roof leak fix? If this is the case, we’ve got your back. Call 412-218-7082.
