How To Fix A Leaky Roof In Winter

While temperature is below freezing at 7 degrees and ot.

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. The shingles can be warmed up with a propane torch. Replace any missing or rotted siding above the step flashing on dormers. Recaulk the corner flashing if any areas have hardened caulk.

Now is a time when you can start planning if you know where to start. Dig out any cracked or dry caulking that isn t properly sealing adjoining surfaces and replace with silicone caulk. Shine a flashlight along the underside of the roof and look for a hole in the roof as well as areas that are wet or have been. If you plan to replace shingles in the winter it can be done but you have to add something to bond the shingles together.

Isolate areas when you run the hose. 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. How to repair a leaky roof from inside the house. The purpose is to keep the shingle tabs down in high winds.

The roof shingles should be softened and flattened as the shingles tend to curl up in winter. 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. Locate the leaking source and search for the damaged or missing shingles and make a list of the areas to be repaired. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides.

Identify the potential source of the leak. This step ensures the tarp stays taut and fully protective. This will freeze the leaking water in place but you ll still need to deal with the ice dam or it will melt and start leaking again. If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose.

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. You can t fix a leaky roof from the inside so don t even try. Make use of the flame carefully on the curled shingle edges. Sandwich the tarp by nailing a second 2 x 4 board to the first.