How to temporarily waterproof a damaged roof until replacement
Finding short-term waterproofing methods prevents interior mold growth and further water damage while waiting months for a full roof replacement. Improvised fixes like adding new concrete layers often fail to stop leaks completely, making reliable temporary patches essential without risking worse damage.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- People have been saying this in most months since September 2026.
- This comes up 47.7× more often in r/Roofing than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Applying roofing cement to the leak sourceDid this help you?
- 2Installing ice and water shield as a sticky asphalt tarpDid this help you?
- 3Using a heavy-duty tarpDid this help you?
- 4Painting tar over the tilesDid this help you?
- 5Putting a new load of concrete with tiles on topDid this help you?
- 6Using specialized penetrating paint to seal the cracksDid this help you?
- 7Applying a mixture of hydrated lime, tile glue, and oilDid this help you?
- 8Using asphalt rolls across the roofDid this help you?
- 9Using caulkDid this help you?
- 10Using blue tarpsDid this help you?
- 11Extending the tarp up and lipping over the ridgeDid this help you?
- 12waiting for rain to test the repairDid this help you?
- 13applying tar to gapsDid this help you?
- 14doing a water test with a hoseDid this help you?
- 15Taking pictures of the other side of the roofDid this help you?
- 16Sending an email to the roofing company to demand a fixDid this help you?
- 17Putting a tarp on the roof immediatelyDid this help you?
- 18Getting an emergency repair or patch while waiting for full replacement approvalDid this help you?
- 19Checking CC&Rs to see if the HOA is actually responsible for the roofDid this help you?
- 20Applying patch products like Henry's Wet PatchDid this help you?
- 21Applying an acrylic or silicone coating directly over the existing roofDid this help you?
- 22Hiring roofers for a professional repairDid this help you?
- 23Trying to find affordable materials and DIY installation methods like fully adhering EPDM membrane.Did this help you?
- 24Using GeocelDid this help you?
- 25Using Thru-the-roof sealantDid this help you?
- 26Waiting for funds to call a rooferDid this help you?
- 27Trying to diagnose the exterior source or look for popped nails near the seamDid this help you?
- 28Using temporary sealingDid this help you?
- 29Hiring a professional roofing companyDid this help you?
- 30Accepting the contractor's explanation and minor patch repairsDid this help you?
- 31Inspecting underlayment and installation details yourselfDid this help you?
- 32replacing the roof vent with a different typeDid this help you?
- 33adding wood to make the gap smallerDid this help you?
- 34Getting multiple quotes from different roofing contractorsDid this help you?
- 35Applying elastomeric caulking to seal cracks in the transition areaDid this help you?
- 36Using a specialized temporary stop leak repair sealantDid this help you?
- 37Performing a water test with a hose to pinpoint the exact source of the leakDid this help you?
- 38Using roofing cement or wet patch in a caulking tube to cover exposed nail holesDid this help you?
- 39Installing a self-adhered membrane over the problematic area to get by temporarilyDid this help you?
- 40Applying sealant over the damage until a full roof replacement can be budgetedDid this help you?
- 41Applying massive amounts of asphalt sealant or cement to suspected leak areasDid this help you?
- 42Nailing down a tarp over the leaking sectionDid this help you?
- 43Coating the roof in paint-on foundation coating as a temporary stopgapDid this help you?
- 44Trying to re-adhere the original shingles or lay down new underlaymentDid this help you?
- 45Replacing just a single facet of the roof to buy timeDid this help you?
- 46tarp the roofDid this help you?
- 47use a blueskin water membraneDid this help you?
- 48Posting photos of the roof online to ask professionals for longevity estimatesDid this help you?
- 49Doing DIY patch jobs like installing a ridge vent or anchorDid this help you?
- 50Pounding down exposed nails and covering them with wet patch roof sealantDid this help you?
- 51Relying on contractor warranties to repeatedly reapply sealant after bad storms.Did this help you?
- 52Performing a slow, bottom-up water test to isolate the exact point of failure.Did this help you?
- 53Addressing and sealing the flashing directly to the brick.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“An untraceable leak somewhere that has caused the plaster ceiling to sag and fail”source ↗
“I also am not sure how to lay down a tarp without it pulling up in the shingles”source ↗
“I tried re-adhering the original shingles, laying down new underlayment, using a tarp, and now this. Any roofer I have asked to hire will only do it if it is the entire roof. We bought this house from someone who paid off the inspector and sold it to us with so many other issues we cannot afford a new roof.”source ↗
“Tree branch fell on the roof leaving a small hole about the size of a softball. The tarp is only temporary till I get someone out here to repair it.”source ↗
“After getting home from a weeklong vacation. I noticed some bubbling paint on an exterior wall of my house. I went up to the roof and found these cap nails installed above the point of the apparent leak”source ↗
“I’m wondering what I should do now as these nails are all starting to corrode and the plastic caps are all dry rotted.”source ↗
“Also have some Nail popups that have come up through the above shingles I didn’t get pics of. Was curious how I should deal with that.”source ↗
“I'm trying to figure out the best options to start fixing a concrete roof that has been having leaks for almost 3 years and the mold is starting to take place inside of the house.”source ↗
“We tried fixing it putting a new load of concrete on it but it didn't completely fix the problem.”source ↗
“I would like to ask for advice about what kind of step take since I really dont want to mess it up again”source ↗
“2 weeks after the roof was replaced, it rained and there was a leak.”source ↗
“Does this seem like a half assed job to anyone else?”source ↗
“We had an especially bad windy storm and it leaked like crazy. All along the ridge. So rain entered in at least 6 different places.”source ↗
“Will the issue be fixed if i have them replace it with a different type of roof vent or is it possible that the gap is too large and I need to add some wood to make the gap smaller?”source ↗
“Now I wake up to this.”source ↗
“I’ll be sending an email to the roofing company that did the work; they’re obligated to comeback and fix this, right?”source ↗
“I’ll add video of the active leak in the comments.”source ↗
“Today, the roof leaked. Can I afford to wait a couple of days before repairing or replacing completely?”source ↗
“Is there anything out there that would work for a 6 month repair that could be installed on top of the shingles that are at the bottom of the valley and slid underneath the higher shingles?”source ↗
“I intend to get the roof replaced early next year. Can anyone recommend a way to keep it watertight until then?”source ↗
“I did this. But then we had a rain storm and the rain just collects where the hole was and then you're in some sort of pickle.”source ↗
“Until I can get it fixed properly, is there anything that is self stick that can provide a temporary waterproof seal?”source ↗
“Preferably something I can cut to fit the bad areas?”source ↗
“Curious to learn If I'm able to safely coat over this existing flat roof to prep for possible severe el nino rains?”source ↗
“Either way I'm trying to avoid something terrible with upcoming wet months.”source ↗
“i have a 600 sq ft mobile home roof (50x12) that I need to seal before winter but I need to do it as cheap as possible.”source ↗
“i have a baby due in 9 weeks, I have nothing ready yet and I am just financially drained. this year has sucked.”source ↗
“Need to seal some leaks above flashing that's leaking on side of brick wall. Is OSI still good stuff?”source ↗
“With all the rain we’ve been having I noticed a drip in my crawl space.”source ↗
“Is there anything I can do from the inside to stop it from leaking either temporarily or until I get the funds to call a roofer?”source ↗
“What’s the right way to water seal these new roof penetrations in a flat roof?”source ↗
“I have a torch down roof with aluminum coating. What’s the best product/materials for this? Is it DIY friendly or would you suggest hiring it out?”source ↗
“Call a roofing company. Don't do it yourself.”source ↗
“Crew chief claims it was caused by a popped nail. He is replacing nail and replacing shield and shingles.”source ↗
“Picture is from when roof was replaced and there is a torn section of the water and ice shield further up from where the leak appeared. Thoughts on this? He claims that isn’t the cause and not a big deal.”source ↗
“Bought a house a few months ago and it has rained on occasion with us not noticing anything entering the home. Recently, there was about a two week period where it was rainy/cloudy, and eventually we saw leaking in multiple rooms of the house at around the same time till the rain stopped (started about 1.5 weeks in).”source ↗
“The roofing guy quoted me ~$7500 for 303 feet to install reglet counter flashing (no stucco repair).”source ↗
“Installing flashing seems like far too much for me to do alone, so if that is the right action I will pay someone to do it, but if caulk or some sealant paint will work well too, I am happy to apply that myself and save a bit more money.”source ↗
“My goal was just to stop water intrusion and buy my self a little time before a new roof. Would you be able to estimate how much time I have based on some of the pictures?”source ↗
“That torn shield section is a future headache waiting to happen even if it isnt leaking now.”source ↗
“After we moved in, we experienced a link during rainstorms around the chimney (only on the sunroom side).”source ↗
“We have called multiple roofers in our area and received: no responses after visit, told they will only fix if we replaced the entire roof, told they just won't do it because they won't get enough money for it.”source ↗