Emergency Roof Leak Repair: How to Stop a Leak in the Rain
There are few things more stressful than hearing water drip inside your home during a heavy storm. A roof leak often feels like it comes out of nowhere. Suddenly you’re pulling out buckets, moving furniture, and wondering how long it will take a roofer to arrive.
The truth is, even the best roofing companies can take an hour or two to get to you in severe weather — and in that time, a lot of water can find its way inside. That’s why knowing how to make a quick emergency roof leak repair can save you money, frustration, and damage to your home. These temporary steps aren’t a replacement for professional repairs, but they’re a reliable way to protect your house until help arrives.
In this video, John demonstrates how to temporarily patch a leaky shingle roof step by step:
Why Roof Leaks Happen in the Rain
Shingles and roofing materials are designed to shed water, not resist it standing still. Heavy rain, strong winds, or storm debris can push water into places it doesn’t belong. Sometimes shingles lift. Other times flashing comes loose, or a tree branch leaves behind a small puncture. No matter the cause, water always looks for the easiest path down — and if that path is into your living room, you’ll know it quickly.
Understanding this “water always runs down” rule is the foundation for every temporary repair.
Step 1: Find the Leak from Inside
Before climbing on the roof, start indoors. Go into your attic or crawl space and look for obvious signs of water: dripping spots, shiny wet boards, or water trails. Shine a flashlight along the rafters if needed. Locating where the water is entering on the inside makes it much easier to patch the right spot outside.
You may even see insulation that looks darker or heavy from moisture. Tracing that back usually leads to the leak point.
Step 2: Get Safely to the Roof
Set up a ladder on stable ground and have someone nearby if possible. Roofs in the rain are slippery, so only climb up if it’s safe to do so.
Pro tip: Take a bungie cord along up the ladder, and secure the ladder to the gutter so it stays in place.
Go to the spot on the roof that corresponds with where you saw the water coming in underneath, in the attic.
Look for:
- Missing or cracked shingles
- Missing or loose flashing – Wherever there’s a wall or a chimney intersecting the roof, there’s flashing.
- Pipe boots – Sometimes the rubber seal around the pipe is deteriorated, allowing water in
- Missing ridge cap shingles or ridge vent – sometimes these blow off in strong winds
Take a look at my blog post on the Most Vulnerable Parts of a Roof for more context on where to look.
Here are the steps to take if you find missing or cracked shingles:
Step 3: Slide in a Patch
Take a hammer or flat pry-bar and carefully loosen the shingle directly ABOVE the problem spot. Asphalt shingles are usually sealed with a tar strip, but they can be lifted with gentle pressure. Once it’s loose, slide a piece of flat, waterproof material under it. That could be flashing, sheet metal, or even heavy plastic in a pinch.
The important part is placement: the patch must go under the shingle above the leak so rain runs down across it, not behind it.
Think of it like siding or shingles themselves — every piece overlaps downward so water flows away.
If you have a caulking gun and caulk, or a bucket of tar, you may be able to slow the leak with this as well. The risk is that tar and caulk don’t stick well to wet surfaces, so this may not hold up for long.
Step 4: Secure the Temporary Fix
Use a couple of nails to hold your patch in place. If possible, tuck them beneath a shingle. If not, nail directly into the surface for now. This won’t cause additional leaking right away and will keep your patch steady until the weather clears and a permanent repair is made.
Step 5: Cover Bigger Storm Damage
Not every leak is a pinhole. If a tree branch punched through your roof or shingles were torn away by wind, you’ll need a larger cover. Plastic sheeting or a tarp works best. Lay it over the damaged section, making sure the top edge slides under a shingle so water runs off. Secure the bottom and sides with wood strips, nails, or heavy objects to prevent the wind from lifting it.
This type of emergency roof leak repair won’t look pretty, but it will keep gallons of rainwater from pouring into your house.
Why These Repairs Work
The whole method comes back to one principle: water runs down. Every patch or cover you add needs to overlap in that direction. If water has to “climb” to get under your repair, it usually won’t. That’s why sliding materials under shingles works — it mimics the way roofs are built in the first place.
Mistakes to Avoid During an Emergency Roof Leak Repair
- Never place a patch without putting it under what’s above. Water will run right under it if you do.
- Don’t rely on buckets alone. Buckets catch drips but don’t stop the damage spreading in your attic or walls.
- Avoid walking on steep or unsafe roofs. If conditions aren’t safe, call for emergency service and focus on protecting your home inside instead.
- Don’t treat a temporary fix as permanent. Even the best DIY patch is just a short-term solution.
When to Call the Pros
A quick patch is useful, but it’s not a long-term answer. Water can still seep under plastic or around flashing after a few hours or days. If the leak is large, the roof is unsafe, or you simply don’t have the tools, call a professional immediately.
At Joyland Roofing, we provide 24-hour emergency service across Central PA. Depending on the severity of the storm and how many calls are coming in, it may take us an hour or two to reach you. These temporary steps can keep your home protected until our crew arrives and provides a permanent repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the fastest way to stop a roof leak in a storm?
Loosen the shingle directly above the leak and slide flashing or plastic under it so water runs across the patch instead of through the hole.
Is it safe to fix a leak myself?
For small leaks and if you’re comfortable on the roof, there’s a good chance you can find and patch the leak. For larger damage or unsafe roofs, call a professional right away.
How long does an emergency repair last?
Usually just long enough to get you through the storm — a few hours or days at most.
Can I just cover the roof with a tarp?
Yes, for bigger damage. Just make sure the top edge is tucked under shingles so water flows off the tarp, not under it – or take it all the way up across the ridge of the house.
Do I still need a roofer if my patch holds?
Yes. DIY patches are temporary. Only a permanent repair will stop leaks for good.
Need Help with Emergency Roof Leak Repair?
If you’ve got a leak in the middle of a storm, don’t wait until the damage spreads. Call Joyland Roofing at (717) 459-3499 for reliable 24-hour service. We’ll get your roof secured and provide the permanent fix you need.
