DIY Guide: How to Fix a Leaking Roof on Your Home—And Save Money
Homeownership comes with its fair share of excitement and challenges. One of the less thrilling situations? Discovering a leak in your roof. Seeing water dripping through your ceiling sparks concerns about potential damage and costly repairs, plus it can be inconvenient for you and your entire household. To mitigate these concerns, it can be helpful to understand when and how to fix a leaking roof on your own. In this blog, our roofing experts walk through the main steps and considerations.
Why to Prioritize Your Roof Repair
A leaking roof is not just a minor inconvenience—it’s a sign of potential trouble that can escalate quickly. Addressing leaks promptly is crucial to avoid more extensive damage. Water intrusion, if unchecked, can damage walls, ceilings, and even the foundation of your home, leading to expensive repairs.
Ignoring a leak can also create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. These issues not only affect your home’s structural integrity but can pose health risks to you and your family. Therefore, taking action at the first sign of a leak can save money and protect your home’s value. Knowing how to fix a leaking roof yourself can speed up the repair process.
When to Consider a DIY Roof Repair vs. Hiring a Professional
Deciding whether to tackle a roof repair yourself or hire a professional depends on several factors, including the type of damage, your skill level, and the safety risks involved. While DIY repairs can be a cost-effective and rewarding project, they’re not always the best solution—especially if the damage is extensive or the roof is steep and challenging to navigate.
For minor issues, like a few missing shingles or small patches of damaged flashing, DIY repair might be feasible if you have the right tools and confidence in your abilities. However, for more complex problems, such as leaks that are difficult to locate or damage spread over a large area, it’s typically safer and more effective to bring in a licensed contractor. Professionals have the expertise, tools, and safety training to address repairs properly, especially on higher or more complex roof designs where the risk of accidents is greater.
Beyond immediate repair needs, keep in mind that DIY fixes may not provide the same level of durability or thoroughness that a professional can achieve. Pros will often inspect for underlying issues and ensure your roof is up to standard, which can help prevent future problems and extend the lifespan of your roof. While knowing how to fix a leaking roof yourself can save money in the short term, it could lead to higher costs down the road if not done correctly.
How to Safely and Correctly Complete a DIY Roof Repair
#1. Identify Damage and Tools Needed
The first step of how to fix a leaking roof? Locate the source of the leak. Head to your attic and look for signs of moisture, water stains, or mold. Then, inspect the exterior of your roof, focusing on missing or damaged shingles, worn flashing, and other areas where water might be seeping in. Once you’ve identified the damaged area, gather these items:
- Safety Equipment: A sturdy ladder, safety harness, and non-slip shoes.
- Tools: Pry bar, hammer, utility knife, and a caulking gun.
#2. Gather High-quality Materials
Selecting high-quality materials is key to a DIY roof repair that lasts. Standard Supply & Lumber offers premium products from trusted manufacturers—including GAF, North America’s largest roofing manufacturer. GAF meets the highest standards, offers the most competitive warranties in the industry, and even boasts a shingle wind resistance up to 130 mph to protect your home against storm damage.
Additionally, choosing materials that match your existing roof ensures a cohesive, polished appearance after the repair. CertainTeed® offers a wide range of material, style, and color options and several lines of shingles to choose from. They also offer top-of-the-line durability backed by several warranties.
Along with replacement shingles, make sure you have roofing nails, waterproof roofing sealant, underlayment, and any other roofing materials needed for your specific project.
#3. Repair the Leaking Roof
We’ve broken down how to fix a leaking roof into these easy-to-follow steps:
- Ensure Safety First: Set up your ladder on stable ground, securing it if possible. Always avoid working on the roof in wet, icy, or windy conditions, as these can make surfaces slippery and increase the risk of injury.
- Remove Damaged Shingles: Using a pry bar, carefully lift the edges of the damaged shingles and remove any nails. Slide out the damaged shingles, being cautious not to damage surrounding shingles in the process.
- Install Underlayment: Cut a piece of waterproof underlayment to cover the exposed area. This extra layer helps protect against future leaks and reinforces the durability of the repair. Secure it in place with roofing nails, ensuring it’s flat and without gaps.
- Replace Shingles: Place the new shingles, ensuring they align with the existing shingles for a seamless look. Nail them in place, following the manufacturer’s recommendations for spacing and nail placement to prevent lifting and future leaks.
- Seal and Finish: Apply roofing sealant around the nails, edges of the new shingles, and any overlapping sections to create a watertight seal. Smooth the sealant with a putty knife if necessary to ensure full coverage and protection against water intrusion.
Should You Repair or Replace Your Home’s Roof?
In some cases, a roof replacement is a more practical and cost-effective solution. Skip on the DIY roof repair and consider a replacement if:
- The roof is nearing the end of its expected lifespan: Most asphalt shingle roofs last 20-25 years. As a roof ages, its materials naturally degrade, making it less effective at protecting your home.
- Extensive damage or widespread issues are present: If damage extends over a large portion of the roof or there are multiple leaks, a replacement is often the most reliable way to restore your roof’s integrity.
- Frequent repairs have become necessary: If you’re finding that repairs are needed often, adding up to significant costs over time, investing in a new roof may be more economical.
- Structural damage: If there are signs of significant structural issues—like sagging or damaged decking—a replacement is the safest choice to prevent further issues or collapse.
Your homeowners’ insurance might cover a roof replacement for damage caused by severe weather, including wind storms or hail. The coverage will depend on your specific policy and might vary based on your roof’s age, condition, and the type of weather event. It’s best to check with your insurance provider to understand what’s covered.
How to Fix a Leaking Roof Within Your Budget
Understanding the costs involved in a professional versus DIY roof repair is essential to making an informed decision that fits your budget and meets your home’s needs.
Cost of DIY Roof Repairs
Opting for a DIY roof repair can be a budget-friendly choice, especially for minor repairs like replacing a few missing shingles or applying sealant to a small leak.
- Replacement Shingles: Shingles generally range from $100 to $400 per square, depending on the type, quality, and brand.
- Roofing Sealant and Flashing: Sealant and flashing to address leaks can cost between $10 and $50, depending on the size of the area.
- Underlayment: A roll of waterproof underlayment is typically $50 to $100.
- Tools and Equipment: Items like a ladder, safety harness, pry bar, and nails, if not already on hand, can add $100 to $300 to your costs.
Cost of Professional Roof Repairs
Hiring a roofing contractor for repairs increases the cost due to labor and expertise, but if you’re unsure how to fix a leaking roof on your own, this can provide peace of mind.
- Labor: Labor costs vary by region, but they can range from $75 to $200 per hour, depending on your market, the contractor’s expertise and the complexity of the repair.
- Materials: Contractors often source high-quality materials at discounted rates, but they still pass some of the costs onto the customer. Basic shingle replacement, flashing repair, and sealant application typically cost between $300 and $1,000 for a small area.
- Inspection and Warranty: Many contractors offer an inspection before and after the repair to ensure quality, often included in the service fee. Warranties, typically offered on professional repairs, add value by covering future repairs for a set period.
High-quality Materials for Your DIY Roof Repairs
When embarking on a roofing project, using high-quality materials is non-negotiable. Standard Supply & Lumber supplies everything you need for a successful DIY roof repair or replacement. Our team is here to assist you in selecting the best materials to match your needs and budget. Reach out today to request a quote and ensure your roofing project starts on the right foot.