How to Quickly Repair a Roof Leak
- 1). Place a stepladder in the attic. Locate the hole in the ceiling. Have an assistant aim the beam of a powerful flashlight at the hole while you go onto the roof.
- 2). Locate the hole in the roof by finding the beam of light from the flashlight. Call your assistant via cell phone and tell him that he can turn off the flashlight.
- 3). Put on work gloves. Sweep the area around the hole with a whisk broom to remove any loose dirt. Draw a 12-inch square around the hole, using a piece of chalk, a straightedge and a ruler.
- 4). Place the edge of a piece of medium-grit sandpaper against one side of the outline. Press down on the edge as you drag the sandpaper across the length of the outline. Reverse directions to bring the sandpaper back to where you started. Move the sandpaper down 1 inch and repeat the procedure. Continue to do this until the interior of the outlined area has been sanded. Sweep the outlined area with a whisk broom.
- 5). Cut a 14-inch-square piece from the waterproof roofing sheet, using a utility knife, a straightedge and a tape measure.
- 6). Remove the backing paper from one side of the cut sheet. Place one side of the sheet, adhesive side down, on the outline. Press the sheet against the roof as you drag it over the outline. Press down on the sides, top and bottom and along the sheet to adhere the adhesive to the roof. Sweep the sheet with the whisk broom.