Is there a temporary fix for a leaky garage roof?

Garage is going to be my workshop and will have all my bikes and tools in the summer. If I can fix this leaky roof, I may even put away my car in it over the winter. But I don't trust it yet. Its leaking in at least 2 places now. Seems to be structurally OK, but leaks when it rains.

Redoing the entire roof is on the agenda, but I'd like to get a couple years out of it if I can. Short of putting in a new roof, is there anything that can be done to fix the leaks? Can you spray something on it? Tar it? If so, any of that DIY or do I need to call in a roofer?

Here are the pics of present condition.

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whats on the outside? cheap and ghetto would be a tarp and strapping until good weather to patch proper.

I am NOT a roofer and only know bits of what friends have talked about..

There is tar/fabric you can use to patch, it'll be dirt cheap and it might work for a while. If the problem is minor(ish) and you're planning to get the entire roof redone later on, might make for a quick/cheap fix. But it might deteriorate quickly and/or trap moisture inside that makes the problem worse and possibly rots the structure.

If the leak is fairly minor you could start with managing the leak inside - buckets or gutters until spring comes around to keep it off the floors. Last ditch effort to hold the leak off until spring you could go 100% ghetto and staple a tarp up there for a couple months.

Hopefully someone with actual experience can be more helpful..

In my experience roof fixes aren't usually simple.

Is this in an open area of the roof or are there penetrations / transitions in the area?

Roofs can be tricky as they are typically multilayered, which means the location of the leak on bottom can be different than the top.

If there are penetrations / transitions in the area you think is leaking you can look at roofing mastics / sealants. If it's open / flat look for obvious problems with (I assume) shingles.

My opinion. If it's leaking you won't get a couple years out of it. Plan on replacing it this year. If it's not already been done you can typically do 2 layers of shingles. If it already has 2 layers all will need to come off.

Why does that garage look exactly like the original location of Zip Tie Alley?

Post pictures of the outside

I will take some photos of the outside of the roof and post them tomorrow. I need to get a ladder....

Gardner Gibson - Gallon Leak Stopper Roof Patch #TV819490

For the one and done approach, a large tarp and some thin strips of strapping will do ya for a year or two.

http://www.williamsworldwidetv.com/w...Boat-Water.jpg

Other than slapping a tarp over it, there's nothing cost effective you can do. All the bandaid products to temporarily stop the leak, make a mess and will likely add to the cost of replacing the roof in the future. Keep in mind with a roof that's leaking, the longer you wait to repair it, the more damage, and the more it's going to cost.

Find the cause of the leak, it may just be a punctured shingle that can be replaced, etc.

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Originally Posted by Kurlon

Find the cause of the leak, it may just be a punctured shingle that can be replaced, etc.

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That's what I was thinking too. The pictures of the inside don't look too bad. It could just be a missing/loose shingle.

Waiting to see pictures of the outside


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My son's next door neighbor has a leaky roof on his shed. He went over to Ocean State Job Lot and picked up a tarp for under $10, threw that over the roof. That was 10 years ago, at least. He adds a new $10 layer every year. :rolleyes:

Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions. Here's an update -

Had a roofing company go out and give me an estimate for entire roof replacement. It came in surprisingly cheap - $1800 to rip out all shingles and replace with new asphalt shingles. Labor and materials included. Given that's its only $1800 to do it right, I am going to do that sooner than originally planned. i.e., Spring of 2018. I have plans to take out the inground pool (remove liner, fill in and pave on top to create parking) and repave the entire driveway at that time anyway, so will just do the garage roof together.

For now, I am going to ghetto-fab it. Bought two of these:
UTARPit 6 ft. x 8 ft. Blue Roofing Tarp-BT0608 - The Home Depot

Bought one of these:
Amazon.com: OxGord Aluminum Folding Scaffold Multi-Purpose Ladder 12.5-Feet / 350 lb: Automotive

Going to climb up there and slap two of these on and see how long they hold. TheIglu has been kind enough to give me detailed instructions on how to strap the tarps, which I may do. Will keep you guys posted.

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Originally Posted by xxaarraa

Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions. Here's an update -

Had a roofing company go out and give me an estimate for entire roof replacement. It came in surprisingly cheap - $1800 to rip out all shingles and replace with new asphalt shingles. Labor and materials included. Given that's its only $1800 to do it right, I am going to do that sooner than originally planned. i.e., Spring of 2018. I have plans to take out the inground pool (remove liner, fill in and pave on top to create parking) and repave the entire driveway at that time anyway, so will just do the garage roof together.

For now, I am going to ghetto-fab it. Bought two of these:
UTARPit 6 ft. x 8 ft. Blue Roofing Tarp-BT0608 - The Home Depot

Bought one of these:
Amazon.com: OxGord Aluminum Folding Scaffold Multi-Purpose Ladder 12.5-Feet / 350 lb: Automotive

Going to climb up there and slap two of these on and see how long they hold. TheIglu has been kind enough to give me detailed instructions on how to strap the tarps, which I may do. Will keep you guys posted.

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OK, I finally got around to climbing up on the garage roof and boy it's bad. The shingles are crumbling just to the touch with bare hands. There is no salvaging this, and at $1800 to replace shingles, it's a no brainer. Since I was already up there (I'm not scared of heights but did not enjoy being up there), I laid the tarp down. It's got self-adhesive sides, but I placed a few bricks up there just for good measure. (Yes, I know, bricks aren't a great idea when there's a major storm but it was cold and damp and I hadn't had breakfast and I didn't want to be up there and I wasn't thinking clearly OK?)

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You're nuts for waiting another year to shingle that roof if it's only $1800. That roof is so bad that you'll be replacing plywood before long. You may only have one spot that water is actually leaking into the garage but I'll bet you've got a lot of areas where water is getting under those shingles. I'd have that roofing contractor out there at his first available spring appointment.

^as a former contractor, I couldn't agree more, except it probably ain't plywood under there and I'd have them do it right now.

The point of a large tarp is to cover the whole roof, especially the peak. Don't be surprised if water from the top of the roof goes right under the top edge of that tarp and leaks in. The adhesive strip is worthless against porous rough shingles as far as keeping water out.

I don't feel so bad after seeing those pics, I have 35 year old (25 year warranty) shingles on my house. I am planning to reroof with metal

That tarp in that position , will do nothing...as you're about to find out with a nor-easter knocking at our doorsteps. That roof is beyond any type of repair or patch, it needed replacing 5 years ago. As others have said already, I'd have it replaced ASAP.

Wow. That's way worse than I pictured. Replace it sooner rather than later


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Originally Posted by TheIglu

The point of a large tarp is to cover the whole roof, especially the peak.

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Originally Posted by R7

That tarp in that position , will do nothing...

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Thanks for pointing out my sub-par tarping skills :) I agree, I am expecting the tarp to do nothing.

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Originally Posted by RandyO

I don't feel so bad after seeing those pics, I have 35 year old (25 year warranty) shingles on my house.

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Originally Posted by LuvDog

Wow. That's way worse than I pictured.

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Thanks for making me feel better, haha. Right now, all I have in this garage are tools, kendon and a few odds and ends. Bikes and car are elsewhere in a non-leaky heated garage. Before I start actually using this garage (spring), I plan on having the shingles replaced.

Water travels so where its dripping may be far from the hole

At least walk around carefully and inspect, it may be obvious and a bucket of roofing tar troweled on and your good

If you have 2 stupid loyal friends rent a nailer and a new shingles are like 2 days away on a garage NBD
If its old the 3 days cause you will be replacing some sheathing

Ice and water shield. You can buy it by the roll 3' wide. You have to start at the TOP, but basically lay that shit out everywhere and use a heat gun at the seams (it's tacky on the back).

This is how we stopped a leak in our addition, has been solid for at least a month now and we've had quite a bit of rain since then. We are going to redo the roof (rubber, low pitch) once it's warm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tr7LOco1gcs

- - - Updated - - -

No joke - stuff seems pretty legit.

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Originally Posted by xxaarraa

OK, I finally got around to climbing up on the garage roof and boy it's bad. The shingles are crumbling just to the touch with bare hands. There is no salvaging this, and at $1800 to replace shingles, it's a no brainer. Since I was already up there (I'm not scared of heights but did not enjoy being up there), I laid the tarp down. It's got self-adhesive sides, but I placed a few bricks up there just for good measure. (Yes, I know, bricks aren't a great idea when there's a major storm but it was cold and damp and I hadn't had breakfast and I didn't want to be up there and I wasn't thinking clearly OK?)

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took a pic of my roof for comparison
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THat roof was bad 20 years ago

OK, an update on this - A roofer is replacing the shingles this Saturday. He says he'd "rip out all the old shingles, clean, ice and water shield, drippage and install new asphalt shingles" Says he'll complete the entire job in one day. $1800.

Will post pics when done.

With the way the wind is blowing today... you might not have to worry about the current removal.

Alright, these roofers are quick. They installed it yesterday itself. 3 year warranty on labor and lifetime warranty on the shingles. It matches the shingles on the house, so looks clean. Time to start moving bikes in, after I test it out the next rain we get.

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Looks good! Did they say anything about the condition of the wood underneath?

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Originally Posted by xxaarraa

OK, an update on this - A roofer is replacing the shingles this Saturday. He says he'd "rip out all the old shingles, clean, ice and water shield, drippage and install new asphalt shingles" Says he'll complete the entire job in one day. $1800.

Will post pics when done.

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Looks great. Who is the roofer? Please PM me his contact info -- thanks,

Kurt

Ya... What about the wood and the paper??? Did they just throw down shingles?? That seems odd.

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Originally Posted by TheIglu

Looks good! Did they say anything about the condition of the wood underneath?

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He said the structure underneath was in good shape.

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Originally Posted by whynot

Looks great. Who is the roofer? Please PM me his contact info -- thanks,

Kurt

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Wisdom Roofing in Medford, his name is Luis. Found him on Angie's List. (617) 461-7450. I am impressed by quick response and professionalism, though I'd need more time to pass to see how good the roof quality is. So far, it seems to be very well done.