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I've got a big roof. There's a small section that is flat. Over the summer I retarred it. We've had some high winds and rain over the last few days. The roof is leaking into the room below it. There's nothing I'm going to be able to do to fix it at this moment due to freezing temperatures, high winds, and incoming snow. Not to mention the roof is wet anyways so there's not much I'd be able to do to it to seal it. I'm thinking for the time that I need to throw a tarp over it and throw some stones on top of the tarp. Horrible time of year for this to be happening. I'm most likely not going to be able to get up onto the roof to permanently fix it until spring. So here's my question. How would you guys go about doing so to prevent further damage? Trying to file a claim through insurance most likely is not most intelligent way to go. Because as soon as you mention water damage most insurance companies will drop you. The area of the flat part of the roof is maybe 12 by 12. The leaky part is only about a 2X 2 foot section.

I've got a big roof. There's a small section that is flat. Over the summer I retarred it. We've had some high winds and rain over the last few days. The roof is leaking into the room below it. There's nothing I'm going to be able to do to fix it at this moment due to freezing temperatures, high winds, and incoming snow. Not to mention the roof is wet anyways so there's not much I'd be able to do to it to seal it. I'm thinking for the time that I need to throw a tarp over it and throw some stones on top of the tarp. Horrible time of year for this to be happening. I'm most likely not going to be able to get up onto the roof to permanently fix it until spring. So here's my question. How would you guys go about doing so to prevent further damage? Trying to file a claim through insurance most likely is not most intelligent way to go. Because as soon as you mention water damage most insurance companies will drop you. The area of the flat part of the roof is maybe 12 by 12. The leaky part is only about a 2X 2 foot section.
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[–] • 1 pt

> Where is the leaky section?

On the corner of the room, so the corner of the roof. Possible flashing. I haven't climbed up on the roof yet. I'm going to be doing that in the next hour or so.

[–] • 1 pt

If that's the case I don't see a tarp helping, though I don't really know how this leaky corner is situated... A picture of the situation would help.

[–] • 1 pt

I think I found the problem. Do you think there's anything I can do to cover it until winter is over without causing more damage?

[–] • 2 pts

I'd try to caulk some new flashing up under those old flaps.

[–] • 1 pt

I would get some roofing cement and a trowel and pack that fucker full of tar while trying to hold it down. If it were my house

  1. Clean and dry the best I can, specially under the flashing
  2. screw it down tight with some screws, make sure seams work in a way you don't see water getting into it
  3. Coat the fucker with roofing cement/tar, make sure you don't make a big hump where water will sit, try and get the edges and corner. Cover all your screws up with tar.

If you do that you probably won't need a proper fix if you don't mind how it looks.

[–] • 1 pt

I'll take a pic when I climb up there here in a few.