Repairing A Leaking Roof Valley

Follow these three preparatory steps to get ready to fix the valley leak.

Repairing a leaking roof valley.

These instructions should now allow you to repair a leaking roof valley on a roof with woven shingles. You can patch small holes with the same type of sheet metal valley is made of. And you can tar it but it s a real stop gap band aid like measure. For example soak the downhill side of a chimney first then each side then the top on both sides.

Take measurements of your roof flashing most flashing is 14 inches wide but yours may vary. A lead valley is a particularly difficult item to dispose of as lead is toxic and so a repair may involve simply patching up your lead roofing. If a leak is difficult to find enlist a helper and go up on the roof with a garden hose. If you find that this is a problem then you will need to repair your roof valley before anything serious happens such as plaster loss or even major water damage.

Clean surface of valley with wire brush. Clear any debris in the roof valley and surrounding area. Using different metal to patch valley will cause corrosion. A properly flashed roof valley should have an ice and water shield installed with roofing felt being properly secured over the ice and water.

And if they put a second layer of shingles on they brought it up the valley but they didn t replace the valley it s probably leaking and cracking and split. Move to the highest end of the valley and work your way down cleaning. Start low soaking the area just above where the leak appears in the house. T o repair an open valley.

Inspect valley for holes all along joint. Isolate areas when you run the hose. Most valleys use either aluminum or copper. This repair process is also the same for composition and tile roofs.

If the ice and water shield is missing then you will have to remove the shingles on both sides along the valley put ice and water shield in place and re shingle the roof.