Fixing A Leaking Roof In Winter

The roof shingles should be softened and flattened as the shingles tend to curl up in winter.

Fixing a leaking roof in winter.

If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. Install the top of the ice and water shield under the tabs of shingles above the leak and nail it down with 2 inch roofing nails around the edges. Perhaps placing tube on furnace duct so air heats pre cut tube inside of home then climb up ladder and seal area keeping the sealant warm and easily caulk able. The secret to caulking in winter time is to heat the sealant in the tube.

For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides. You can t fix a leaky roof from the inside so don t even try. Small nail holes left behind from old vents satellite dish brackets or anything previously attached to the roof can allow water to enter and cause damage for years before leaking is noticed. In the wintertime ice has no problem building up under the roof membrane shingles and gutters.

The ice builds back up when it reaches the wall line where the house is heated and it creates an interior drip. Isolate areas when you run the hose. Make use of the flame carefully on the curled shingle edges. Proper ventilation rain and ice shields along with installing a drip edge will help prevent this problem.

Sealing the shingle to the object can be accomlished with a roofing sealant available at menards lowes etc. While temperature is below freezing at 7 degrees and ot. 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. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house.

The shingles can be warmed up with a propane torch. Special materials for winter roof repair if you plan to replace shingles in the winter it can be done but you have to add something to bond the shingles together. Scrape away old sealant wipe away debris and dry the area thoroughly before applying a new compound. Use a thin flexible putty knife to apply roof cement to small cracks in the sealant around chimneys pipes or other joined surfaces.

Now is a time when you can start planning if you know where to start. Shirlock homes jan 18 11 at 11 06. Locate the leaking source and search for the damaged or missing shingles and make a list of the areas to be repaired. Identify the potential source of the leak.

Apply roof sealant or cement to gaps less than 1 4 in 0 64 cm wide.