So your roof has sprung a leak; it’s not a big deal. Generally speaking, most leaking roofs can be easily repaired. You’ve just got to know what to do.

Naturally, the first step is to locate the source of the leak. This is a little easier said than done, however. Because roofs are almost always built on a slope, the place where the water is entering the building rarely coincides with the place on your roof where the water is getting in.

As your considering possible places that might be causing the leak in your roof, try to consider the angle of the roof and any structural elements the lie between your roofing system and the ceiling below. Once you’ve done this, you should be able to narrow down your options when considering the possible source.

With this narrowed-down list of options, you’re going to have to get up on the roof and take a look. In some cases, the offending spot may be obvious. For example, if you have a shingled roof, you might notice a spot where the shingles have either been worn down or blown off entirely. In other cases, however, the answer may not be as obvious. In this instance, you can use a water hose to wet suspected spots on your roof to see if they’re the source. Don’t go crazy with the water, though! You wouldn’t want to make the problem any worse.

As you’re considering possible locations, also note that the leak may not be originating from a spot on the roof itself. It might be coming from flashing around vents, your chimney and other things that protrude through the surface of your roof. So, be sure to give those the once over.

How to Repair a Leak in Your Roof

Once you’ve located the source of the leak, making the repairs is generally fairly easy. If the water has been getting into your home through a damaged or missing shingle or shingles, you will simply need to conduct a replacement. In this case, you’ll want to remove the offending shingles (if they’re still there) and clear any debris that’s in the area. Then, all you need to do is replace the shingles with ones of the equivalent size. After you’ve nailed them into place, make sure that you cover the sites where the nails entered the shingle with some kind of adhesive or sealant.

If the leak has sprung around flashing, then you should replace the offending flashing. While you may be tempted to utilize caulk or some other kind of cement to fill the hole, resist the temptation! It may fix the problem temporarily, but that caulk or cement will wear down and then you’ll have the same leak all over again. As they say, do it right the first time!

Finally, if you discover that repairing your roof leak is more complex than you originally thought, don’t be afraid to call for assistance. Attempting to repair the leak yourself might compound the issue and lead to even more costly repairs. Instead, let a contractor take care of it for you; they have the expertise and know-how to fix such problems.

So your roof has sprung a leak; it’s not a big deal. Generally speaking, most leaking roofs can be easily repaired. You’ve just got to know what to do.

Naturally, the first step is to locate the source of the leak. This is a little easier said than done, however. Because roofs are almost always built on a slope, the place where the water is entering the building rarely coincides with the place on your roof where the water is getting in.

As your considering possible places that might be causing the leak in your roof, try to consider the angle of the roof and any structural elements the lie between your roofing system and the ceiling below. Once you’ve done this, you should be able to narrow down your options when considering the possible source.

With this narrowed-down list of options, you’re going to have to get up on the roof and take a look. In some cases, the offending spot may be obvious. For example, if you have a shingled roof, you might notice a spot where the shingles have either been worn down or blown off entirely. In other cases, however, the answer may not be as obvious. In this instance, you can use a water hose to wet suspected spots on your roof to see if they’re the source. Don’t go crazy with the water, though! You wouldn’t want to make the problem any worse.

As you’re considering possible locations, also note that the leak may not be originating from a spot on the roof itself. It might be coming from flashing around vents, your chimney and other things that protrude through the surface of your roof. So, be sure to give those the once over.

How to Repair a Leak in Your Roof

Once you’ve located the source of the leak, making the repairs is generally fairly easy. If the water has been getting into your home through a damaged or missing shingle or shingles, you will simply need to conduct a replacement. In this case, you’ll want to remove the offending shingles (if they’re still there) and clear any debris that’s in the area. Then, all you need to do is replace the shingles with ones of the equivalent size. After you’ve nailed them into place, make sure that you cover the sites where the nails entered the shingle with some kind of adhesive or sealant.

If the leak has sprung around flashing, then you should replace the offending flashing. While you may be tempted to utilize caulk or some other kind of cement to fill the hole, resist the temptation! It may fix the problem temporarily, but that caulk or cement will wear down and then you’ll have the same leak all over again. As they say, do it right the first time!

Finally, if you discover that repairing your roof leak is more complex than you originally thought, don’t be afraid to call for assistance. Attempting to repair the leak yourself might compound the issue and lead to even more costly repairs. Instead, let a contractor take care of it for you; they have the expertise and know-how to fix such problems.