How to Fix a Leaking Roof From the Inside
If you’re wondering how to fix a leaking roof from the inside, it’s probably raining heavily, and you’ve got a dripping ceiling on your hands. Thankfully, you’ve got a few options to temporarily repair a roof leak from the inside until the weather clears and you can attempt a more permanent fix.
Tools You'll Need:
- Bucket
- Scraper
- Caulking
- Torch
- Rubber Gloves
- Nails
- Utility Knife
- Roof Patch
- Shingle or Plywood (optional)
How to Find the Roof Leak
The first thing you’ll need to do before you can fix your leaking roof is find the source of the problem. You’ll need to get inside your loft and use a torch to identify any damp or mouldy areas, which suggest the presence of excess moisture. Then, trace this up to the point where water is entering your roof space. It’s best to search when it’s dry, however if rainwater is coming through and you need to deal with this issue now, you’ll need to divert the water.
How to Divert Water
If it’s raining heavily, you won’t be able to seal the roof leak, so it’s vital to create a path for water to channel through where it can be caught. You can do this by sticking a nail into the hole, which will attract the rainwater and allow it to flow in a single direction. Then, using your bucket, catch the water to stop it hitting the floor and potentially ruining your carpet and other possessions. This is a good time to remove any insulation from the area, which can be reinstalled if it hasn’t already been waterlogged.
How to Seal a Roof Leak from the Inside
Once the weather has cleared up, you can now work to fix your leaking roof from the inside. We’d suggest marking the area out with chalk to help you remember the location of the problem area when you come to carry out a more permanent fix later. If you measure the distance between the leaking spot and the edge of your loft, you should be able to find the corresponding spot on your roof above.
First, apply a liberal amount of roof patch to the problem area, and use a scraper to cover the entire area in an even coating. Once this has had time to dry, you should apply caulking around the edges and any holes to ensure it is sealed and waterproof. You could consider applying the roof patch tar to a shingle or piece of timber to provide an even greater physical barrier to water ingress.
Conclusion
Fixing a leaking roof from the inside is a relatively straightforward process, and is a great option for homeowners in a pinch that need to stop their roof from leaking in the short term. However, this is only a temporary fix, and should act as an effective stop gap until you have the time, money, or materials to perform a more permanent repair.
