5 DIY Options for Fixing a Leaking Roof

by Abdul Ahad Dublin's Roofer

The roof is one of the most costly and important components of your home yet still the most neglected part. Why say so? Roofers in Dublin report that most homeowners try to fix the problems themselves to save both time and money. They argue that they are repairing a small portion of the roof that doesn't require a professional.

Indeed there are some roof maintenance activities that you can do yourself. They range from removing debris from the gutters, removing damaged shingles and replacing them with new ones, repairing rotten battens which are causing your roof to sag due to the weight of your roof, fixing the open valley flashings or the metal flashings around the skylights, chimneys, or vent opening or renovating a flat roof.

The article will tell you about 5 DIY options for fixing a leaking roof irrespective of the degree of damage. These ideas will help you act immediately before bigger storms hit Dublin.

Are these DIY Options Applicable in all Types of Roof Repairs?

Rain is good because it gives you drinking water, food, and the yard looks better during the rainy season. However, a single raindrop on your head as you relax with your family or friends is enough to move you up and down as you try to figure out the problem.

Still, there are several factors that you need to take into consideration even as you prepare to head up with your tools. What are these factors?

Ø The kind of problem. Some issues are not straightforward as they seem. You may think that you're going to replace a damaged shingle, but you may find a bigger problem requiring professional help.

Ø The tools needed to fix the leaking roof.

Ø The skills needed to repair or replace some elements such as the chimney flashing, vent pipe flashing, valley flashing, ridge board, skylight shingles, rafters, solid decking, among others.

What are the Different DIY Options for Roof Repairs?

Shingle Replacement

Missing shingles is an issue that can arise and require your immediate attention. A missing shingle breaches your roof's water tightness and should be replaced as soon as you notice it.

According to Roofer Dublin, you can use your DIY skills when only a few pieces are missing but hire a professional when the damage is more extensive. Such major issues may arise after a hurricane or a large storm than what is expected in Ireland.

You will find the broken or missing shingle lying on the ground next to the house or a black residue showing that the roof is bleeding due to the missing part.

You can now pull your ladder and climb up to remove the damaged piece and place a new one. Make sure that the new shingle is well aligned with others. You should also use special roofing nails and cover them with caulk or cement to prevent weather damage or oxidation.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters direct rainwater away from the roof to a tank or underground sewer. Since they are made from metal, gutters experience corrosion, and holes start to form. Thus you should regularly inspect these channels and install new ones once rust begins eating the metal.

Another roof maintenance activity is to remove leaves washed into the gutters and start to rot, thus creating a clog that can damage your roof system. Blocked water forms a pond on top of your house, which creates additional weight and can breach your roof's waterproofness. If you don't clean your gutters at the end of every fall, then one day, water will find you inside your home.

Repair the Open Valley Flashings of Your Roof

Small cracks are the trickiest roof maintenance and repair activity since it's difficult to locate them. Roofer Dublin gives an example of a tiny puncture that happens in flashings and joints. Since the roof's open valley is the single biggest joint on your top, leaks are more likely to appear here than in other places.

Therefore inspect this area keenly and use a simple brush to clean it in order to identify the problem. Patch the area with aluminum or copper metal because they don't corrode like other types of metal. Further, the piece of metal should be wider than the hole to create a buffer zone. Make it watertight by spreading a thick layer of cement around the edges.

Fix Battens

While roof problems are mostly known to start from the upper part, some issues may originate from the inside due to extreme weather conditions. For instance, batten or roofing lathes are used to fix shingles and tiles. However, with time the batten may begin to rot and fail to support your roof.

For that reason, you may need to use your DIY skills to replace your wooden battens with fiberglass, plastic, or metal ones because they don't rot even when there is poor ventilation. More so, metallic battens made of stainless steel last longer and are also stronger than wooden batten.

Renovate Your Flat Roof

Flat roofs are simple and less costly to fix. However, they are more risky than a slanted one because water tends to pool on the top due to the lack of gravity that pushes water downwards.

Further, the roof is held together by felt and tar. Damaged felt causes water to start dripping from the roof surface. So, drain the pond of water first before repairing this type of roof and don’t damage the underneath felt when slicing through the blistered layer.

Squeeze the water trapped between the layers or use a rag to soak it and then allow the hole to dry. The best time to make this type of repair is on a sunny day. Patch up the hole by applying a thick layer of cement and use roofing nails on the edges. Lastly, cover these nails with roof cement and ensure they are evenly coated to make the area watertight.

Conclusion

The article has shown you different DIY options that you can use to maintain your roof. While Roofer Dublin recommends that you should fix these issues right away, they also urge you to call professionals when the procedure of repairing them seems complex.

So, don't postpone the problem because having a leaky roof can be disastrous. Instead, use your DIY skills to replace damaged shingles, clean clogged gutters, renovate a flat roof, fix battens and repair the open valley flashings.