DIY Network

Roofing From "10 Things You Must Know" episode DTEN-109

Here are the 10 Things You Must Know about repairing a roof.

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Roof Repair Countdown

10. Let the conditions settle before you start to meddle. Fussing to try and find a leak as soon as it happens is something that could put you in the hospital. Meddling on a roof while it's raining or covered with ice and snow isn't the ideal way to find your problem. Trying to temporarily fix a leak could be highly dangerous. If you want to do it right there is no quick-fix. Just take your time, and be very patient and careful to wait for Mother Nature to give you the green light.

9. Bad roofs ruin good backs. Being on a roof will put your body in positions that will not be comfortable or safe. Make sure you wear rubber sole shoes to prevent slipping. You can also use a harness and always have someone with you.

8. Hose it down until it shows up. Take a garden hose and go up to the roof and start spraying in different locations to find the leak. Wait if it's wintertime because you don't want to run water on your roof when it's freezing out.

7. Before you climb up the roof, check down in the gutter. One of the most common areas and causes for roof leaks are clogged gutters. Gutters that have not been cleaned can cause the water to build up during rain.

6. Dry rot leads to a wet ceiling. Dry rot isn't related to any type of water damage, but lack of ventilation. If you have a roof repair that's right in the middle, there is a chance that the plywood might be deteriorating. The roof will actually sag in and cause the roof shingles to get brittle, crack and then leak. Preventing dry rot consists of installing a ridge vent, which will only work if you have a soffit vent. You have to drill holes through the soffit vents so cool air comes in through the bottom and pushes the hot air out through the top.

5. Don't let ice damn your roof. In the wintertime, ice has no problem building up under the roof membrane, shingles and gutters. The ice builds backup when it reaches the wall line where the house is heated and it creates an interior drip. Proper ventilation, rain and ice shields along with installing a drip edge will help prevent this problem.

4. Make certain your boots fit snug. Flashing, roofing, ice damping and skylights are all obvious places for potential leaks. One thing people often miss is the rubber boots. It's where the roof fence comes up that you find roof boots. If they dry up they will cause major leaks. It's a quick fix; purchase a new roof boot in your local hardware store. You may have to remove some of the shingles, reset it and bring the shingles back over it. Lay a better tar under it and put it back in place.

3. Cracks can lead to big disasters. Sometimes shingles are faulty and will begin to crack after you've nailed them down. Faulty installation with nails and shingles can also play a big part in leaks. Nails could be nailed too low and it will start pushing back up. Make sure to always check your merchandise before you get on your roof.

2. Bad things happen down in the valley. A valley is where the intersection of two roofs comes together. It is also called the ridge, which is again where two roofs meet at the top. Valleys are very common places for leaks because that's where the water from the entire roof goes to and it will start sloshing back and forth.

1. Sometimes leaks come in twos and threes. It's important you don't get discouraged when you can't find a leak. It's a process of elimination. You've covered one area, installed the shingles back and sealed it watertight so you've at least eliminated one spot. Now, you can try other areas.

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• If you have little or no pitch in the roof and a puddle has accumulated, remove the extra water with a wet/dry vacuum. Once the puddle is gone, take roofing tar and cover the cracked area until you can get the right materials to make the permanent fix.

• To make emergency repairs using a sealant, start by cleaning the membrane surface with alcohol or a household cleaning solution. Then, wipe the surface with a clean cloth and "splice cleaner" or white gas (use rubber gloves and proper skin protection). After the membrane has been cleaned, apply a butyl or polyurethane sealant (caulking) to the damaged roofing material. Sealants are available at most hardware, builders supply and home discount stores.

• A quick and easy way to make a temporary patch for the roofing membrane is by using common duct tape or roof tape. The surface must be clean and dry in order for the tape to stick. When using duct tape, pressure should be applied over the entire surface of the tape to ensure adhesion.

• Never use staples when shingling your roof. Staples can easily break and are not as sturdy as nails. A really good type of nail to use in roofing applications is a "hot-dipped galvanized" nail and can be purchased at your local hardware store.