How to Fix a Leaking Roof from the Inside

How to Fix a Leaking Roof from the Inside

As roofers in Raleigh, NC, we know how frustrating a leaking roof is. The water damages ceiling boards and drywall, and causes mold and mildew to grow.

Although Raleigh roofers will have to repair your roof shingles from the outside, you should temporarily fix the leak from inside, if you can, to reduce the damage caused by the water. 

The Basics of Temporarily Fixing a Leak from the Inside

You will need to be close to the leak to spot it, which means being in the attic. Roofing contractors in Raleigh will tell you to exercise caution when doing so. Sheetrock has the potential to collapse, especially if water damage has weakened it. 

Rather, step on wood beams that can support your weight. If you have a thick sheet of plywood handy, use it as a working platform.

Use a flashlight to find areas of dampness, and track down the leak. Because of the roof’s pitch, the leak itself may be far above the point where water is dripping. Mark it with chalk, and use a measuring tape to cite its location.

When you call the best roofer in Raleigh, we can use that same measurement on the outside of your roof, find the leak fast, expedite your repair, and save you money. 

Drain the Leak

You can’t patch the leak while the area is wet. Roofing specialists in Raleigh, NC recommend sticking a nail into the area, so that the water will concentrate there, and position a 5 gallon bucket underneath. Wait until the area is dry.

You will have to strip back insulation to see where exactly the leak is. Do so carefully. If it’s waterlogged, and you feel confident in your cutting abilities, cut the affected bits out with an exacto knife. This reduces mold growth and spores spreading through your home.

Patching the Leak

Roofers in Raleigh, NC, differ as to the method for patching a leak from the inside. As the best roofer in Raleigh, we assure you that the best method is the one that you implement. Even if you don’t stop all the water getting in.

Cutting a gush to a trickle, a trickle to a drip, is a win. The less water that gets in to damage your home, the better. And if you’ve found the leak and can tell Raleigh roofers where to look topside, you get the damage completely fixed with little delay, preventing a chain reaction of harm.

Some roofing contractors in Raleigh recommend roofing tar, others roofing cement. These are, in fact, one and the same. But please don’t get roof sealant, and steer clear of anything containing asbestos!

Wear PPE: rubber gloves, a mask, and goggles. Apply the roofing cement with a putty knife, and while it’s still wet, embed a piece of plywood, shingle, or aluminum sheeting. And your leak is fixed!

Should you be unable to locate exactly where the leak is, follow the same method, but use the roofing cement along the edges of a piece of plastic sheeting.

Get the Professionals

As soon as the weather clears, call roofing specialists in Raleigh, NC, to repair your roof. Get a free estimate today!

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