Shingles, Nails, and Beyond

Your roof can potentially leak in a number of places. A common place for leaks to occur is around a pipe that extends through your roof. Plumbing vents are necessary to help your plumbing operate properly, and these exit your home through the attic and stick through your roof. The pipes usually have flashing and rubber boots around them so rain can't leak through, but leaks can still sometimes happen. Here's a look at the way roof repair might be done for this type of roof leak.

Put On A New Rubber Boot

If the boot is cracked or falling apart, and the roofer is sure the leak is at the point where the boot is against the pipe, the roofer might just put a new boot on top of the old one. If they do this, they'll clean the old caulk off and then cover the top of the old boot in a couple rows of thick caulk. Then when they pull the new boot down the pipe, it will bond to the old boot and provide double protection.

The roofer can end this roof repair by adding caulk to the top of the new boot to make sure it's fully sealed. They may not need to replace the flashing if it's still in good shape.

Pull Off The Old Boot

Your roofer may prefer to pull off the damaged boot to get rid of it. They will also remove any old caulk that's clinging to the pipe. The roofer can then pull the new boot on and caulk it to block water leaks. If your roofing contractor does this roof repair with a boot that's attached to the flashing, the old flashing has to come off along with the boot so the roofer can put the new flashing on along with the new boot.

Put On New Flashing With A Boot

The roofer will probably have to lift up and remove some shingles around the pipe vent to get the old flashing out and slide the new flashing in place. When the shingles are gone, the roofer can check the deck to see if it has any moisture damage from the leak. There may not be any damage to the shingles or deck since a pipe vent leak often occurs where the rubber boot and pipe meet and the water rolls down the side of the pipe and falls into your attic.

However, if the flashing had holes or is damaged, it's possible the deck could have damage, and if it does, the wet area may need to be cut out and replaced. To put on the new flashing, the roofer pulls it over the pipe. The rubber boot has a snug fit so water can't leak around it. It's already attached to the flashing so all the roofer has to do is secure the flashing with nails and caulk. Then the shingles can be replaced and the roof repair completed.

Reach out to a roofing repair service near you to learn more.