DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

HELP - water leaking from roof

3K views 15 replies 6 participants last post by  thinksincode 
#1 ·
We're still getting a lot of rain here in MA, and just now water started dripping from my living room ceiling. I looked up how to temporarily put a tarp on a roof but it involves cutting wood, tarp, nailing things down, and I don't have the resources to do that at almost 10 pm. Is there any temporary way I can keep a tarp on there to stop the leaking?? Don't know what to do!!
 
#3 ·
Got lights in the attic? If so and your able I'd also pull back the insulation so it does not help spead the water out to a bigger area.
By punching the hole in the ceiling it will get the water out faster, which is a good thing in this case.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Windows on Wash
#4 ·
There's no attic in that part of the house. This was an addition with a high ceiling and some windows. I made a crappy diagram to show where it's leaking. The water is seeping in where a high window meets the sloped roof.

This diagram is basically a cross section of that part of the house.
 
#5 ·
Installing a tarp on a roof correctly (Depending on pitch,valley's,skylights,pipe flashing,roof vents and the amount of dormers,dormer walls,verticle walls and slopes can be tricky and requires some experience.

The installation factors I mention above are a bit difficult on a normal and calm day in terms of the weather.Now factor in some 50-80 mph sustained winds and wind driven rain,darkness its going to be EXTREMELY difficult not to mention the possibility you can ne seriously hurt or killed being either blown off the roof,hit by flying debris and or struck by lightning.And that goes for your helpers too.

If your not experienced setting or installing a tarp then the slightest exposure to direct winds then your tarp will be blown across your street or somewhere a few streets down or in the next town.And I pity you if your behind that tarp once the winds grab a big bite of the tarp.

It would be about the same as parasailing.I would grab a bucket.Ideally it would be best to get in the attic.Doing so will limit and prevent further damage to the insulation and ceilings.If not your stuck with the bucket.

I feel its in your best interest to stay OFF the roof and inside where its safe.

The danger factors are against you.(e.g slick roof,high winds,pitch,height,heavy rains,flying debris and inexperience.)
 
#7 ·
If the windows are really that close to the roof I can see why it would leak.
Unless you have at least 6" of room there's no good way to flash the window, roof, or wall.
 
#10 ·
Why would you call a general contractor? Are you building a house? Not to be snotty, but it comes naturally :)

Call a roofing contractor who has experience with roofing and siding. All the general contractor will do is sub out the work to a roofer or sider sub contractor and add on his 30%.
 
#12 ·
Joe, LOL.

I think the point Joe is trying to make is that caulk grade repairs are temporary at best. If you want this fixed properly it's going to take more than a tube of caulk. Most likely will be some flashing issues and may require some reworking of the materials or installation of new materials.
 
#13 ·
I used to work for someone that only used rusty nails and gal. can of roofing tar to fix everything. It drove me nuts.
He sent me to a ladys house with a new galvinized bucket with instrutions to put it under a vanity sink. I get there and there's already a rusted out bucket under the sink. The lady tells me he put it there years ago to catch a drip.
All it was is a rusted out old chrome trap. Instead of replacing it he would just go buy a new bucket. I went ahead and replaced the trap and he raised heck saying the lady did not have much money so he was trying to save her some.
This is no joke.
He would make his own flashing for sky lights and start at the top and work his way down, everyone of them leak so he just covered them with tar.
 
#14 ·
I was involved for a number of years with a roofing/siding distributor -
installer.
My "marching orders" were -
Carry "wet-or-dry" tar (sometimes there's an emergency) -
Try not to use it - fix the problem!

Yes - seen people flash sky-lights, chimneys, walls - from the top down -
with the flashing on the top - being overlapped by the flashing below it.
With LOTS of "tar" to seal it!!!
That'll work!! Right?!? :(
"RF"
 
#16 ·
Hi all,

Excellent advice as always. I called a roofing company recommended by my father-in-law and they came out this morning. On the bright side, it looks like the hurricane winds. didn't damage the roof. On the not-so-bright side, the leak was caused by improper/nonexistent flashing, badly installed shingles, etc. by the roof installer. (The roof was done years before I bought the house.)
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top