Few things are more immediately distressing to a homeowner than a leaking roof, especially when rain is still coming down. You may not have ever needed to know how to stop a roof leak in the rain, but now you do.

How to Stop a Roof Leak in the Rain Steps

1. Enter your attic and inspect the area where the ceiling is wet.
2. Remove wet insulation and sponge up water into a bucket.
3. Set a piece of plywood or other boards across the ceiling joists beneath where water is dripping.
4. Put the bucket on the board to catch water.
5. Use your flashlight to examine the roof to locate exactly where water is coming in.
6. Apply roofing tar to the leaking area with a putty knife.
7. Stick a spare shingle or piece of plywood onto the roofing tar to build an emergency roof patch.
8. Put more roofing tar around the patch to make it stay in place.
9. Now take measurements inside the attic to determine where the leak is on the roof’s exterior.
   1. Measure vertically from the roof’s ridge down to the leak.
   2. Measure horizontally from the gable to the leak.
10. If you’re willing and able to get on your roof, you may now build an emergency roof covering.
11. Put on rubber-soled shoes and climb on to the roof.
12. With the measuring tape, use the vertical and horizontal measurements obtained in the attic to find the leak’s approximate exterior position.
13. Unroll enough 6-mil polyethylene sheeting to reach from the eave to the ridge plus 4 extra feet.
    1. Cut the piece with a utility knife.
14. Unfold the cut piece of sheeting to reveal an 8-foot-wide strip.
15. Roll one end of sheeting around a 2 x 4 and secure it with staples.
16. Nail a second 2 x 4 over the first 2 x 4 to sandwich the plastic between the boards.
17. On the roof, set the 2 x 4 plastic sandwich along the eave.
18. Pull the remaining plastic over the leak and over the ridge.
19. Sandwich the loose end of sheeting with 2 x 4 lumber to weigh it down.