Fixing Leaking Roof Valley

Clear any debris in the roof valley and surrounding area.

Fixing leaking roof valley.

Inspect valley for holes all along joint. You can patch small holes with the same type of sheet metal valley is made of. Using different metal to patch valley will cause corrosion. Take measurements of your roof flashing most flashing is 14 inches wide but yours may vary.

The sealants and roof pitch used can crack and chip away over time. In order to lay the flashing the shingles on the roof will have to be removed. Most valleys use either aluminum or copper. The right thing to do here is to pull a valley basically pull a valley apart and rebuild it.

Once the roof valley has begun to leak you will need to cover the valley with flashing in order to prevent a repeat of the problem. Clean surface of valley with wire brush. And you can tar it but it s a real stop gap band aid like measure. Removal of debris collecting in the valleys and gutters will allow water to quickly drain away and protect shingles and flashing.

If leaks continue to occur from ice dams consider installing roof edge heating cables. 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. The valley flashing laid over the joint where the two roofs meet should overlap the step flashing at least 2 in. Follow these three preparatory steps to get ready to fix the valley leak.

Sometimes an older home s roof is more prone to leaking in the roof valleys because of old repairs. Move to the highest end of the valley and work your way down cleaning. Find them locally at hardware stores or home centers. Re shingle roof valleys install ice and water shield under shingles or install metal roof flashing and re shingle the valley.