How To Fix A Leaky Roof In Winter

You nail shingles to the roof of course but each shingle has a tar strip on it that causes it to stick to the shingle that overlaps it.

How to fix a leaky roof in winter.

While temperature is below freezing at 7 degrees and ot. Fix this board to your roof using a screw as a temporary anchor. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. The board must be 2 feet longer than the tarp s width and it should sit against the roof to avoid the collection of rainwater snow or debris.

The purpose is to keep the shingle tabs down in high winds. Locate the source of the leak by examining the underside of the roof from within your attic or crawl space. If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Isolate areas when you run the hose.

Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. The roof shingles should be softened and flattened as the shingles tend to curl up in winter. If you plan to replace shingles in the winter it can be done but you have to add something to bond the shingles together. To stop the leak use a long handled roof rake to remove snow from your roof or blow cold air onto the area of the roof that is leaking in your attic using a box fan.

Sandwich the tarp by nailing a second 2 x 4 board to the first. Dig out any cracked or dry caulking that isn t properly sealing adjoining surfaces and replace with silicone caulk. Replace any missing or rotted siding above the step flashing on dormers. You can t fix a leaky roof from the inside so don t even try.

Now is a time when you can start planning if you know where to start. This step ensures the tarp stays taut and fully protective. Recaulk the corner flashing if any areas have hardened caulk. Locate the leaking source and search for the damaged or missing shingles and make a list of the areas to be repaired.

Your best solution may be to just tarp off the problem area until the spring but be sure not to block off any venting pipes that vent out dangerous gasses. The shingles can be warmed up with a propane torch. How to repair a leaky roof from inside the house. Identify the potential source of the leak.