Can you patch a roof from the inside?

This section is a step-by-step guide to find the source. Some methods require two people plus roof and attic access. Contact a professional if you’re unable to execute any of these steps safely.

Locating the exact leak location isn’t always as straightforward as it may sound, especially with pitched roofs. Leaks tend to be higher up from the obvious interior leak. Water gets under the shingles and then travels down the rafters or sheathing before finally finding a nail or protrusion to aim that stream of water at your ceiling. Once there, it may pool and cause sagging or bubbling, or it may travel farther, finding light fixtures or other openings to drain through.

Below are the tools you’ll need to help you discover the source of the problem.

• A Helper
• Ladder
• Garden Hose (if it’s not raining)
• Dust Mask
• Flashlight
• Tape Measure

Finding the Leak

Finding exactly where the leak is coming from can be the most challenging part of fighting the leak. One common cause of leaks in the home is that water has entered through the roof, and settled into a pool inside the ceiling. When this happens, your ceiling will become waterlogged and will start to bulge; you want to get this water out right away. Get a large container and place it under the ceiling, then puncture the middle of the bulge to let the water flow freely. You’re already going to need to repair the ceiling, so this will allow the water to drip down instead of pooling more and damaging a wider area.

Once you’ve addressed any damage coming into the house, get up into the attic around the location of the affected ceiling. Be careful not to step anywhere that doesn’t have supports! You don’t want to do any more damage to your ceiling than has already been done. Using a bright flashlight, locate the affected area, and find the trail of water back to where it’s entering your roof.

Fixing the Leak from the Attic

Once you’ve spotted the leak, and found a way to get to it, you can patch it up temporarily with any durable material. Even a wooden plank or some spare shingling with roofing tar will do the trick; if you don’t have any on hand, sprint to the hardware store and get some so that you can fix the problem quickly.

Spread the adhesive material over the leak from the attic and hold your patch in place until it’s secure. Then, apply some more tar where the patch meets the roof to lock it in. Take good note of where the leak is from the inside so that you can find it more easily once you can safely get up onto the roof outside

What If I Can’t Find The Leak?

If you can’t find the leak in your roof you will need to cover it quickly with some plastic roof covering.  This also goes for homes where there is no attic or attic access.  Follow these steps to protect your home if you can’t do a temporary patch.

Buy & Prep The Roof Plastic

You likely don’t keep roof plastic just hanging out in a closet.  So, you’ll have to head to the hardware store or call for help.  Plastic roof covering comes in 4-foot rolls of polyethylene.  Buy some and head home to get it placed on your roof.  You’ll also need some 8-foot 2×4’s to act as anchors for your roof covering.

Cut The Plastic To Length

You’ll want to unroll the plastic with a little more length to run from the top of the roof (the ridge) to the edge of your roof (the eave).  Don’t unfold your covering yet and cut it to length with a utility knife.  You can use one of your 2×4’s as a guide to make the cut as straight as possible.  Once it is cut to length you will unfold it to make a section that is long enough for your roof, and about 8 feet wide.

Attach The Cover To 2x4s

Roll one of the ends around an 8 foot 2×4 and use a utility staple gun to attach it to the wood.  Take a second 2×4 to and sandwich the plastic between them, then nail the 2×4’s together.  Do the same thing on the other end of your plastic roof covering to finish preparing your cover.

Place The Cover On The Roof

It should go without saying that safety comes first and if there’s lightning, you don’t have the ability, or the right equipment to get this done; you should be calling for emergency roof repair.  If you’ve got rubber soled shoes, a saw to cut the 2×4’s, a ladder, and some courage to jump on your roof take your cover up there and set one pair of the 2×4’s over the ridge and then stretch the rest to go down to the eave.

Roof Leaks – Deciding to DIY

If you are sure that you want to DIY your roof leak, here are some helpful steps in order to fix the leaks.

• First you need to seal the leak ASAP. Find out where the source of your leak is. Examine the underside of your roof from within the attic or crawl space.
• Second, shine a flashlight along the roof’s underside and check to see if there is a hole in the roof. You’ll also need to look for any wet areas or dark spots caused by moisture.
• Third, the areas which you found to be leaking should be marked with some chalk so they can be spotted quickly.
• Fourth, the wet areas need to dry before sealing. Once they have dried, apply a patch to the underside of the roof. Using a putty knife will be the easiest way to do it. Cover the entire leaky area.
• Fifth, use a Caulking gun to apply caulk to seal any holes that are in your roof. The putty knife will help you spread the caulk evenly to cover the holes.

Using Sealants as the Solution

If the leak is due to faulty or missing flashing, sealants might be the cure. Use sealants on all flashing around skylights and protrusions like a chimney or vent. You should never use them to fix shingles permanently. It may work as a stop-gap measure to fix broken or cracked shingles until you have time to replace them.

For a quick, short-term shingle fix, all you’ll need is some mastic or roofing cement, a trowel and a flat bar:

• Lift the broken shingle up with the flat bar. You may need to pry the nail out a bit. If you do, don’t forget to hammer it back in at the end.
• Spread the sealant. Using the trowel, spread the sealant under the broken shingle.
• Flatten the shingle out gently. The sealant should seal the cutout – the gap between the tabs – on a three-tab shingle.

How to Choose a Residential Roofing Contractor

When it comes to choosing a residential roofing contractor, it’s important to select an experienced contractor who can give your roof the quality it needs to keep your family and personal belongings safe from the outside elements. When choosing a roofing contractor for your home, you must seek out multiple candidates with the proper licensing and a great business reputation in your area. Continue reading to learn how you can choose a residential roofing contractor for your home.

Contact three roofing contractors. Treat this step just as you would if hiring a new employee. Making a bad decision regarding which contractor to hire will be very painful.

Verify that the roofing contractor you hire has the required applicable business licenses for your state or local area.

If you are unsure of the business licenses required for roofing contractors in your area, contact the licensing board or Department of Professional Regulation for your area or state.

You may also visit the Contractor’s Licensing website featured in the Sources section of this article to determine the licenses required by specific states

Verify that the roofing contractor or business is legitimate by asking for their tax identification number, a business address, business website or email address, and contact phone number.

Ask the roofing contractor to provide you with proof of insurance, including worker’s compensation and liability coverage.

Not all areas or states require roofing contractors to have insurance, but you may want to hire a person with insurance to protect yourself from lawsuits if the contractor is injured while working on your property.

Check with the contractor to verify that the insurance covers the entire time-span during which the roofing project takes place.

Selecting a professional roofing contractor

Buying a new roof system is an important investment. Before you spend your money, spend time learning how to evaluate roofing contractors. You should insist on working with a professional roofing contractor. NRCA wants to assist you in getting the kind of results you expect—a quality roof system at a fair price. All roofing contractors are not alike, and NRCA recommends that you prequalify roofing contractors to get the job done right the first time

Check for a permanent place of business, telephone number, tax identification number and, where applicable, a business license.

Don’t hesitate to ask a roofing contractor for proof of insurance. In fact, insist on seeing copies of his liability coverage and workers’ compensation certificates. Make sure the coverages are in effect through the duration of the job. Many building and home owners have been dragged into litigation involving uninsured roofing contractors. Also, if a contractor is not properly insured, you may be liable for accidents that occur on your property.

Check to see if the roofing contractor is properly licensed or bonded. Some states have specific licensing requirements, and others do not. Your state’s Department of Professional Regulation or Licensing Board will have this information.

Make sure the contractor is financially stable. A professional roofing contractor can provide current financial information about his company.

Look for a company with a proven track record that offers client references and a list of completed projects. Call these clients to find out whether they were satisfied.

Insist on a detailed, written proposal and examine it for complete descriptions of the work and spec ifications, including approximate starting and completion dates and payment procedures.

Have the contractor list the roofing manufacturers with which his firm is a licensed or approved applicator. Most roof systems require special application expertise to achieve lasting quality.

Have the contractor explain his project supervision and quality-control procedures. Request the name of the person who will be in charge of your project, how many workers will be required and estimated completion time.

How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

Need to Find a Good Roofer?

Installing a new roof is one of the most important, and expensive, home improvement projects you’ll run into as a homeowner. It and your siding is the first line of defense for your home against the elements. Whether you need a quick repair or a complete replacement, you’ll want to hire a trustworthy roofing pro. Here are a few tips to help you find — and work with — your contractor.

When Do I Need to Find a Roofer?

There are a few reasons you might need a roofer:

installation or replacement

repair

maintenance and inspection

Remember that these companies, especially independent contractors, often specialize in repairs or replacement. An installer might not have much experience with repair, and vice versa. Make sure that the one you hire knows how to work with the material you have (or want).

New Roof Installation or Replacement

A roof will last 20 to 50 years. Afterward, it usually requires replacement. The cost to replace or install a roof ranges from $5,200 to $10,100. High-end materials may cost more. If you’re hiring a pro to put one on a new home,

Roofing Repair

The price to repair a roof runs $350 to $1,300. If it is leaking, sagging or showing other signs of damage, you may need a pro to fix it. Many professionals will perform this work on one they installed. If you need to a hire a pro different from the installer, be sure to look for companies that offer repair.

How to Choose a Roofing Contractor

Selecting a properly certified and high quality roofing contractor is important and often a difficult task for consumers who are unfamiliar with the roofing industry. Roofing in the Ontario region is an unregulated industry. It is important to select certified roofers who will be in business to honour their warranty in the future. There are a large number of roofing contractors who are not certified and have both low quality installations and poor workmanship. The average start-up business is usually closed within three years, and may be out of business when potential roofing problem could arise.

How long has the company been in business?

An established company will most likely be around in the future should any problems arise

Does the contractor have a permanent business office address, phone, and email?

An established contractor should be able to provide a business address, phone, and email. A permanent business address is a sign of a stable company.

Does the contractor use subcontractors?

Subcontractors are often paid on a per job basis, which can result in poor workmanship as the job is completed as fast as possible.

Does the company supply a written contract and estimate (and do they require a deposit)?

All job specifications and prices should be supplied in writing. Established companies with strong financial stability usually do not require a deposit. Deposits are common, be wary of any contractor requesting more than 1/3 of the cost of the project

How to Choose a Residential Roofing Contractor

Many homeowners can have a hard time when it comes to fixing or repairing their roofs, especially when it comes to choosing which residential roofing contractor to hire for the job. People can make the mistake of simply selecting the first one they see, and the results of such a decision can be disastrous.

Homeowners should seek the services of a professional contractor who has a record of being trustworthy with their past clients. Hiring qualified professionals may not be the cheapest in the short run, but settling for the cheaper option could end up costing you in the long run.

Look for Local Contractors

As much as possible, homeowners should look for contractors in their community. Local roofing contractors know more about the local rules and regulations in your area, as well as having an established relationship with the area’s suppliers.

Get Referrals

The best way to find a good roofing contractor is to ask your neighbors. Find out their good and bad experiences and they will tell you what to watch out for. If you don’t know any neighbors who have had roofing done lately, you can check out local chat groups online and ask them for referrals.

Look for Manufacturer Designations

You’ll need to look for roofing contractors who have earned their manufacturer designations. The designations are considered badges of honor that, at the very least says that the contractor passed the minimum requirements to become factory-certified.