The purpose of a roof is to protect you from bad weather. But, wear and tear, elements, and age can damage your roof, resulting in water getting inside your home. Once you notice a hole in your roof, you should move to patch it up quickly to avoid severe water damage. If the damage is not extensive, you can repair it by yourself as you await the arrival of a roofing expert. Follow the steps below to patch a hole in your roof.
Locate the Damaged Area
The first thing is to identify where the hole is located. You already know there is a problem because of wet walls or ceilings, but you may not know the actual source of the leak. Therefore, it is essential to narrow down the location of the leak. Go to the attic and look for wet stains or leaks. You can also look outside to look for penetrations in the roof and damaged or missing shingles. Do not forget to check vents and the chimney too. If you cannot identify the source of the leak through your attic, run water on different parts of your roof. Have someone on the inside to watch for water drips.
Patch the Hole
The simplest way to prevent water from getting into the house through a hole in your roof is to cover it before you seek the help of roofing contractors. You can cover the hole using a tarp. Place the tarp across the damaged area and reinforce it with things that can withstand wind. The tarp should lay with its upper edge overlapping the ridge of your roof. By doing this, water will not run down your roof, under the tarp, into the hole.
If you know how to use tools around the house, there are other ways to patch a hole in your roof. You can start by removing the shingles in the area surrounding the hole. Next, plug the hole with roofing tar and wood, or purchase a customized roof patching kit.
Having holes in the roof is a common problem. Patching the hole involves observing safety precautions and taking a lot of care. Therefore, you should ensure that you do not further damage your roof in the process of patching up the hole. If you have never repaired a roof before, it would be safer to call a roofing contractor to fix the damage.
