All the outstanding ways to fix a leaky roof you’ll ever need

The roof of your house is probably one of the most underrated portions. Unfortunately, we don’t pay enough attention to the condition of our roofs, but they are the structures that hold up the entire house from extreme weather conditions.

And if the roof is leaky, it can lead to a big mess in the future. But if the leaks are mild, you can easily use home remedies or a few basic materials from local shops to fix the problem.

The average cost of fixing a leaky roof in the US is about $985, but most people spend between $376 and $1649.

If you want quick tips and tricks on fixing your leaky roof, keep reading this article!

1. Check the plumbing vent boots

Plumbing vent boots can be made of all plastic, plastic, metal, or even all metal. You should check the base of the vent boots for any cracks or leakages and see if there are any broken seams.

Next, examine the rubber boot used to surround the vent boot pipes. If the rubber boot is torn or rotten, it can break off and cause your roof to leak. In this situation, buying a new vent boot and replacing the old one is best.

But if the boot seems to look fine and only the nails are missing, you can replace them with rubber-washer screws found at any home supplies shop.

2. Look for the deepest part of the leak

When examining the roof, especially if the roof is made of concrete, check the kind of leak that has occurred.

Unfortunately, even though concrete is affordable and durable, it can form scales and cracks over time. And water leaks from these cracks, causing wear and tear to the very foundation of the roof.

So, if your concrete roof is leaking, find the leakage spot and identify which part of the leak is the deepest.

Next, replace your broken shingles and apply a concrete patch to the broken part of the roof. In the final step, use a waterproof roof coating to permanently solve your leakage.

3. Replace damaged vents

This solution will work if your roof vents are damaged and have caused a leak. Check for cracked housings on plastic vents.

If you have metal vents, then look for broken seams. Even if you feel that using caulk might solve the problem, it will only be temporary. The best way to fix this kind of leakage is to replace the damaged parts of your vents.

In case there are nails all around the vents, you might want to consider replacing them too. Screw the bottom in place using rubber-washer screws and squeeze out a tiny bit of caulk beneath the shingles to hold them in place.

4. Repair with roof sealant

Roof sealants are versatile materials found in any commercial roofing services shop.

If you have a roof shingle with a clean tear, you don’t need to replace it with a new one. Instead, use a caulking gun to apply your roof sealant and apply a thick coat under the crack.

Next, press the shingle down and reapply another bead over the crack. You can use a putty knife to ensure that the sealant’s top bed spreads evenly over the cracked area.

If the repaired portion looks too vivid, spread a bit of asphalt or tar on top to conceal it.

5. Look for cracks in the materials

Looking for small cracks in the roofing materials is necessary when you’re thinking of fixing leakages.

If your house’s interiors have water stains on the ceilings, it points to some damage in the house’s exterior.

Look closely to see if there are any cracks around the joints, vents, or chimneys. If the leak is big, you’ll instantly notice open splits in the roofing materials.

But for minor leaks, the cracks won’t be that visible. A small gap can be mended using a sealant but any gap wider than 0.64 cm will require patching.

Over to you…

You can fix your leaky roof using these easy tricks within just a few minutes! But remember to regularly inspect your roof to ensure that the joints and cracks you’ve mended stay in good shape. Read more.