Samantha Mazzotta - 8/18/11

Fast Roof Patching

Q: While organizing the attic, I noticed there was an area of the floor that looked like it had gotten wet recently. I looked at the roof above, but did not notice any holes. But there is a little water streak down the plywood. Is this a serious problem? — Carol H., New Bedford, Mass.

A: If you address it quickly, it will not become a serious problem. Minor leaks in a roof can be patched fairly quickly. They’re often caused by damage to the shingles on top of the roof, which occurs over time due to debris strikes, ice buildup or just general stress from extremes of hot and cold.

During the next rainstorm, go into the attic and note where the water is seeping. Follow the trail of water upward until you can see an entry point. That is the likely area of damage. Mark the spot clearly and brightly for now (put a piece of bright tape or tack a bright piece of paper over the spot).

To repair, you’ll need to be able to access the rooftop safely, with safety harness, rope and ladder, and have a helper. If you’re not able to do this, contact a roofing professional to do the repair.

If you can do it yourself, first re-mark the leaky area. From the attic, take a large (ten-penny) nail and drive it straight upward through the bottom layer so that it juts out past the shingles above. (Don’t sink it in all the way, as you’ll need to remove it later.)

Gather your repair materials: spare shingles, roofing cement, roofing nails, hammer and pry bar. Make your way safely to the rooftop, with your helper minding the ladder and safety rope. Locate the upward-jutting nail.

Remove the nail and patch the hole with a dab of roofing cement.

Inspect the shingle for damage. If it is very minor, like a ripped edge or small crack, it can be patched with roofing cement and a piece of spare shingle cut to fit. Or, you can completely remove the shingle, sliding it out carefully from the ones above and to the side, and slide in a replacement. Tack down on the top and sides with dabs of roofing cement. Tap in roofing nails along the top of the replacement shingle, holding the shingle above it up, then press the shingle above it back down into place. Secure the bottom of the shingle with a couple small dabs of cement underneath the flap.

HOME TIP: August is prime time for roofing repairs, as the hot and relatively dry days allow for plenty of work to be done and for roofing materials to set correctly.

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.