How To Fix A Leaking Roof From The Inside
Written by Wilbur You

How To Fix A Leaking Roof From The Inside

If you’re searching “How To Fix A Leaking Roof From The Inside” it is likely raining outside and you’ve got water pouring in on the inside.  This guide will help you by showing step-by-step what to do to fix your leaking room from the inside.

Emergency Leaking Roof Fixes

When your roof leaks it is a big problem during any kind of weather.  But it is a much bigger emergency if there’s a heavy rainstorm.  The heavy rainfall can quickly exploit what was a small hole and turn it into a nightmare inside your home.  Water will quickly seep into sheetrock walls causing it to crumble and soak insulation.  Time is of the essence if you want to avoid costly damages to your home.

How To Patch A Roof Leak?

Follow these steps or call for emergency roof repair services to preserve the condition of your home.

Step 1. – Get In The Attic

The first thing you need to do is to find access to your attic and get up there.  Remove the insulation from the drywall that is your ceiling and remove standing water with sponges, gently.  To do this make sure you’ve got a piece of plywood laid across the ceiling joists to work from and a bucket to wring the water into.  Avoid resting the bucket or any tools on the wet sheetrock as it may simply fall through.

Step 2. – Find The Leak

The next step is to try to find where the water is coming in.  Try to follow the path the water is taking to drip inside your home to where it is coming through the roof.  Many times, due to the slope of your roof this will be a good distance away from where it is actually dripping down onto your ceiling.  Water tends to follow along roof rafters or roof decking.

Step 3. – Make A Temporary Leak Patch

Once you’ve found the leak you can make a temporary leak patch from some plywood or shingle and some roofing tar.  Use a putty knife to spread the tar into the leaking hole on the inside of your roof.  Place the shingle or plywood onto the tar and spread more of the tar around the edges of your patch.

Step 4. – Map The Roof Leak

Before you leave your attic use a measuring tape to roughly map out where the leak is, so you can find it once the rain stops.  After the rain as stopped and the sun is out put on some rubber soled shoes and use the same measurement to find the leaky area on the outside of your roof.  You can add some more roofing tar to the area to complete your temporary patch.

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.

Emergency Roof Repair Services

If you need emergency roof repair services because you have a leaking roof, Right Way Roofing, Inc. is here to help!  Our team has been serving the Phoenix Valley in Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and valleywide for 3 generations.  We are family owned and operated, so we always keep in mind how much your home means to you and your family.  We strive to always work quickly, affordably, and provide the longest lasting roof repair services in the state of Arizona!

24 Hour Emergency Service Available

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RIGHT WAY ROOFING IS A RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL ROOFING CONTRACTOR LOCATED IN PHOENIX ARIZONA

Call us TODAY! East Valley: 480-232-5458 or West Valley: 602-299-8851