How to Fix Roof Leaks &
Broken Shingles

As any Roofing repair contractor in Seattle or otherwise would tell you, there is a lot to do when it comes to your roof. While you can simply defer maintenance, every season can add on new problems. Stopping a problem in your roof as early as possible is an excellent way to preserve your roof’s strength. Some repairs can be done yourself, while others should be outsourced to the professionals.

Identify the Problem – Track and Fix Roof Leaks

The first step in fixing any obstacle is to figure out precisely what it is. In this case, finding out where your roof is leaking is also vitally important. Unless you intend to replace the entire roof, which is costly and very labor intensive, targeting the precise location of your leak is essential. This generally means going up onto the roof and poking around.

The two main things to look for with a roof leak are apparent cracks and weak spots. A soft spot means that water has ended up there, and it can be a good clue as to where the water entered. Sometimes water will flow into a breach in your roof and then flow downward, causing damage below itself. Once you have found a weak spot, you can usually find the leak’s location that much sooner. Check out our full range of roof repair services as we cover everything from minor work to consultation and much more.

Fixing Broken Shingles

Broken shingles can be snapped into two pieces, hanging off of your roof or blown off altogether. In some cases, such as when the shingles are in sections, it may be time to replace the broken ones. If small parts are missing, you may be able to repair them with a tube of roofing tar. In cases where there is a tear at the top where the nail had been before, and the shingle itself is still intact, simply putting in a new nail at roughly the same vertical level. If it’s placed precisely underneath the above shingle, this can solve the problem fairly quickly.cracked shingle roofing repair

It is important to remember that before you repair or replace a shingle, you check out the decking underneath. If it is too weak, replacing a part of the decking may be required. For the most part, if you catch the shingle issue early, the decking should still be strong enough that it can easily air-dry underneath once the shingles are restored to water tightness.

The Flashing

Flashing surrounds virtually any potential breach point in your roof. This is a point that can fail reasonably quickly, and you may be able to replace it yourself. Flashing is also good because it is easy to find. Flashing usually consists of concealed tar backed aluminum foil or sheet metal. Generally, flashing can be bent into place and secured either via nails or adhesion. Also check our post on “Pros and Cons of Do It Yourself Roof Repair Work“.

When you flash an area, often you will have to remove siding or shingles to get in. This can be very labor intensive, and thus you may want to trust this to a professional. One of the most critical parts of handling a roof leak is determining what you are individually capable of, and what issue should be left to the professionals.