How do you fix a leaking flat roof?

To fix a leaking flat roof, clean the area, remove the damaged part, add a patch and attach new roofing to the space. Use roofing cement and nails to attach patches and roofing.

To repair a flat roof with a leak, run through the following steps:

1. Clean the area

Sweep dirt and particles away from the roof to create a clear working space.

2. Inspect the roof

Inspect the roof carefully to look out for leaks. Even if there is one obvious leak in the roof, there may be multiple leaks in the roofing.

3. Mark the leaks

As leaks appear, mark them with chalk to make them clear and easy to find.

4. Remove damaged areas

Pry off damaged flashing pieces with a chisel. Cut out damaged areas of roofing. To remove roofing, cut out the affected piece with a razor knife.

5. Patch the roof

Apply roofing cement to any loose areas of roofing. Add cement around the edges of the empty space where the leak was cut out. Cut a patch out of roofing material to fit inside the space. Add roofing cement to the back of the patch and place it in the space.

6. Replace flashing

To replace the flashing over the area, cut out a piece of flashing that is larger than the roofing patch. Secure it into place with long nails.