Helpful DIY Roof Repair Tips: Learn how to find leakage and fix it like a pro

At your household, there are certain things that you want to see in proper condition. Plumbing problems like ceiling leak is one of those problems that can give you nightmares. Though, the best way to deal with such problems is to hire a professional plumber who has proper knowledge about these things. But in case you are in an extreme situation when nothing is available nearby, you can DIY it with the following guidelines.

Leaky Roof

If you notice water stains that are running down from the ceiling and the walls, you are dealing with a leaky roof problem. Before going for ceiling roof repair, you need to track it down, which is also the hardest part.

If you have a leaky roof, fixing it should be your top priority. Even if it's not bothering you much at this point, you don't want the problem to grow. The flashing leakage that can be fixed now will bring damages and expensive bills if you wait for too long.

Find the Roof leaks

When you are trying to track down the root of leakage, start by looking at the roof where there are stains. You should look if there's any kind of roof penetrations as they are the most common source of roof leakage. These penetrations can happen at the roof vents, chimneys, dormers, and anything that comes through the roof.

If you have an attic upstairs, you should go up there with a flashlight and look for the evidence. If the leakage is coming from there, you will see water stains, black marks, and molds, but if you have a vaulted ceiling and can't get access to it other than climbing at the top, you should probably hire a professional plumbing expert.

Find out the Difficult leaks

If you can't find the leakage by yourself, take a helping hand and go to the rooftop with a garden hose. Again, it would be better to leave such works to the professionals to avoid any falls and injuries. Start low, soaking the areas that are situated above the leakage point and isolate the area with a hose. For example, try to soak the downhill area of the chimney first before approaching the top on both sides. Ask your helper to stay inside the house and alarm you as soon as the drip appears.

This method might take an hour and a half, so be patient and try not to move the hose too frequently. If the running water doesn't reveal the leakage point, you should just start removing the shingles in the suspected areas. As you will start to remove them, the leakage area will soon be visible, where you will see discolored papers or water stains and even rotten woods.

Small leakage solution

Small leakages are much tougher to locate and most of the time the leakage that appears on the ceiling comes from a distant point. So, if you can't see any flow marks, try the underside of the roof to check the shiners. A shiner is a nail that might have missed or became loose somehow and the moisture can easily escape from it to create a ceiling leakage. To fix the issue, all you have to do is to clip the nail with side-cutting pliers.

Fix the smaller holes

Tiny holes in the shillings are harder to find and they can cause rot. But smaller holes are much easier to fix, not by injecting a caulk at the hole, but by replacing the flashing with new ones.