DIY: How to Repair Roof Flashing

A leaking roof is normally caused by damaged roof flashing. If you don't want to spend days with water dripping into dozens of buckets through a leaking ceiling you need to know how to repair roof flashing. Many people would like to know how to repair roof flashing themselves.

Roof flashing consists of a piece of galvanized steel, copper or aluminum that covers the joints in your roof and stops water seeping through the gaps. So if you see the roof leaking, you need to check the flashing.

Roof flashing is normally placed across the intersecting points on the roof where water is prone to accumulate and is mainly used to avoid prevent water seeping through into the house below.

You may now be asking yourself how to repair roof flashing if water does seep in. Before starting any roof flashing repair, you need to make sure you've got the right tools and materials for the job. You should also check the scale of the damage to see how much replacement roof flashing you need to buy. Be careful when climbing up on the roof, especially if it is raining.

The most common reason for damaged roof flashing is the expansion and contraction caused by exposure to heat and cold that can also affect the roofing shingles as well. If the roof flashing is intact but is coming off in places, all you need to do is fix it back in place with new nails or screws and seal it with waterproofing material.

If the roof flashing is corroded though you'll need to replace it. You will need tin snips to cut the new roof flashing, nails and roof sealant. Buy enough new flashing to cover the damaged area. It should be durable, weather resistant and able to deal with changes in temperature through the seasons. It is also a good idea to coat the flashing with primer paint before you fit it.

Now you know how to repair roof flashing. But before tackling a repair, think about the safety issues, in particular the risk of slipping on a sloping roof.