Use These Tips When Repairing a Roof Leak

A leaky roof can be a real headache. No homeowner looks forward to that dreaded dripping sound and having to keep pots and pans under leaky spots in the ceiling. It’s not only an eyesore but a trip hazard, as well. But winter storms often result in storm damage repair for McKinney homeowners.

Leaking roofs make up the majority of roof repair issues in McKinney. If you have asphalt shingles, you might be used to getting leaks when there’s a substantial amount of rain. However, asphalt roofs are also the easiest to repair.

Most homeowners don’t realize how simple it can be to repair a leaky roof. Luckily, the pros at Shamrock Roofing and Construction have some tips for you to help stop those annoying leaks. If you don’t feel competent making roof repairs yourself — and many homeowners don’t — give us a call. We’ll be happy to come out and take care of it for you!

Roof Repair Tips

Follow these simple steps to patch a leaky roof. Usually, all you need are a few simple household tools and something to seal the leak, and you’re good to go. You will probably need to climb up onto the roof, so a ladder is required for these repairs.

1. Find the Leak

The best place to start when you’re trying to locate the source of a leak is from the lowest point. Look up at your ceiling and search for where the leak is coming from. It shouldn’t be hard; just look for a moist area forming a circular shape anywhere on your ceiling.

After you locate the saturated point in the ceiling, you have two choices. If you have an attic or crawl space, you need to make your way to that area. It’s important to make sure the leak hasn’t damaged the wood and insulation in the area above the ceiling and beneath the roof. Sometimes the leaks slip between cracks in wood or drywall, but it’s possible the moisture has caused a hole to rot in the material.

Alternatively, you can go straight to the shingles. This is where the patch job will be completed.

2. Fix the Shingles

Once you have made your way to the roof, you should be able to figure out approximately where the leak is by lining up the wet ceiling underneath with the corresponding area in the roof. An easy way of doing this is by getting someone to stand in the room where the leak is with a broom. Have them tap on the ceiling and make your way towards the noise.

You will probably notice curled or missing shingles. The first step is to repair the curls.

3. Repair Curling Shingles

Use a coat of asphalt roofing cement to fix any curled shingles. Apply a generous coating of this material to the loose corners of each shingle. Press the shingle firmly to allow the adhesive to grip, and you should have a nice bond.

4. Missing Shingles

When you have missing or rotten shingles, they will need to be completely replaced. This isn’t hard if you have a few simple tools. All you need is a crowbar and a nail gun or hammer. Lift the corners of the damaged shingles and pull the nails with the crowbar. Scrape away any of the remaining residue the shingle left behind.

Round back the corners of the new shingle. This makes it easier for them to slide in place underneath the surrounding pieces. When you have the new shingle in position, lift the corners of the surrounding shingles and place your 6d galvanized roofing nails. Make sure you cover the nail heads with the same roofing cement you used to patch the shingles in step 2.

5. Flashing

Sometimes the flashing around the chimney needs to be repaired also. This can be a problem area for leaks. If you see flashing peeled up in any area of the roof, just lift the pieces with a crowbar and apply a generous amount of caulking to reseal and secure them.

Clear as Mud?

If, after reading this, you decide you’d rather not tackle your own roof repairs, give us a call at Shamrock Roofing and Construction. We specialize in all types of roof repair in McKinney. With over 55 years of experience in the industry, we know a thing or two about roofs. We’ll come out, perform a free roof inspection to determine the extent of the damage, and then guide you to the best solution for your roof. Storm damage repair in McKinney was never so easy! 

Contact Shamrock Roofing today to schedule an appointment for your free roof inspection. And leave the roof repairs to us!