Temporary Roof Leak Fixes That Actually Work

7 min read

A roof leak during a Perth winter storm is stressful. Water is coming in, you’re worried about damage, and getting a roofer out immediately isn’t always possible. Here’s what you can do right now to limit the damage until a professional repair can be arranged.

Important safety note: Never get on a wet roof. These fixes are all done from inside the house or at ground level. Wet roof tiles and metal sheeting are extremely slippery, and a fall from a roof is potentially fatal.

Step 1: Control the Water Inside

Before worrying about the roof itself, manage the water that’s already getting through.

Contain the drip. Place a bucket, bin, or any waterproof container directly under the drip. Put a towel or old sheet in the bottom to stop splashing - a drip hitting the bottom of an empty bucket will splash water across the room.

Protect the floor. Lay towels or plastic sheeting around the container. Even well-aimed buckets overflow when you’re not watching.

Move furniture and valuables. Water travels. Even if the drip seems contained, water can run along ceiling joists and appear in unexpected places. Move anything valuable well clear of the affected area.

Check for bulging ceilings. If your ceiling is plasterboard and you can see it sagging or bulging with water weight, this is urgent. The plasterboard can collapse. Carefully puncture the lowest point of the bulge with a screwdriver over a bucket to drain the water in a controlled way. A small drain hole is better than a ceiling panel falling on you.

Step 2: Locate the Entry Point (If Accessible)

If you can safely access the roof cavity via a ceiling hatch, grab a torch and look for where the water is entering.

Trace the water path. Water inside the cavity doesn’t always drip straight down - it runs along timbers, following the grain and slope. The point where water drips onto the ceiling may be metres away from where it’s actually entering through the roof.

Look for daylight. During the day, a gap in the roof cladding may be visible as a point of light from inside the cavity. Mark the location relative to something you can find from outside later.

Mark the spot. If you can see the entry point, mark it by pushing a piece of wire or a nail up through the gap so you (or the roofer) can find it from the outside.

Step 3: Temporary Fixes from Inside the Cavity

If you can reach the leak source from inside the cavity, these temporary measures buy you time:

Roof Sealant or Silicone

Apply roofing sealant (not bathroom silicone - it won’t adhere to wet surfaces) to the underside of the leak point. Press it into the gap firmly. This won’t last long-term but can slow or stop an active drip during a storm.

Bucket and Redirect

If the water is running along a rafter, you can place a container on a stable surface to catch it, or use a length of plastic to redirect the flow toward a container. This sounds crude but it’s effective at preventing water from spreading across multiple ceiling areas.

Plastic Sheet Barrier

A piece of plastic or even a garbage bag stapled or taped above the ceiling insulation (between the leak and the ceiling) can redirect water toward a container instead of letting it soak through the insulation and plasterboard.

Step 4: Temporary Fixes from Outside (Dry Weather Only)

Once the rain stops, there are some external fixes you can do from ground level or a low ladder that can prevent the next rainfall from making things worse.

Tarp Cover

For a larger damaged area, a tarp secured over the affected section is the most reliable temporary fix.

• Use a tarp that extends at least 1 metre beyond the damaged area on all sides
• Weight the edges with sandbags, bricks, or timber - don’t nail or screw through the roof
• Tuck the top edge under tiles or sheeting above the damage so water flows over the tarp, not under it
• Ensure the tarp extends past the ridge if possible to prevent water flowing under it from above

A properly placed tarp will keep the area dry through multiple storms. It’s not pretty, but it works.

Single Tile Replacement

If you can identify a single cracked or broken tile from the ground, and you have a matching spare (many Perth homes have spare tiles left over from construction), a single tile swap is possible without getting on the roof.

This requires a roof ladder or safe access to the immediate area only. Tiles lift from the row above - push the overlapping tile up, slide the broken one out, slide the new one in.

If you’re not comfortable doing this, leave it for the professional.

Temporary Flashing Repair

Failed flashings (the metal strips where the roof meets a wall, chimney, or vent) are a common leak source. As a temporary measure, roof-grade sealant (sold at Bunnings as “roof and gutter sealant”) applied along the flashing edge can seal a gap until the flashing is properly reseated or replaced.

Apply the sealant to a dry, clean surface for best adhesion. It won’t stick well to wet or dirty metal.

What NOT to Do

Don’t get on a wet roof. Worth repeating. Every year people are seriously injured or killed falling from wet roofs. No temporary fix is worth the risk.

Don’t use a garden hose to “test” the leak. This doesn’t replicate real rain patterns and can force water into areas that weren’t leaking, making the problem worse.

Don’t apply cement or concrete patch to tiles. It seems logical but cement is rigid - it cracks with thermal movement and creates a worse leak than the original problem.

Don’t push insulation into the gap. Insulation absorbs water and holds it against the timber, accelerating rot. If anything, pull insulation away from the leak area to let the timber dry.

Don’t ignore a small leak. “It’s only a drip” becomes timber rot, mould growth, and a ceiling collapse if left for months. Even a small leak should be professionally assessed and repaired.

When to Call for Emergency Help

Most roof leaks are manageable with containment until a regular repair can be scheduled. But call for urgent help if:

• Water is near electrical fittings - downlights, junction boxes, or switches. Turn off the circuit at the switchboard immediately.
• The ceiling is sagging significantly - risk of collapse
• Multiple areas are leaking simultaneously - indicates widespread failure, possibly storm damage
• Water is entering in volume - not a drip but a steady flow, suggesting a major failure like a displaced sheet or multiple broken tiles

Getting the Permanent Fix

Once the immediate crisis is managed, book a professional leak repair. When you call, tell them:

• Where the leak appears inside (room, position relative to walls)
• When it started and what the weather was doing
• Whether you’ve identified the source from the cavity
• What temporary measures you’ve taken
• Any photos you’ve taken of the leak, the cavity, or the external roof

This helps the roofer prepare the right materials and go straight to the problem area, keeping your repair cost down and getting it fixed faster.

The Bottom Line

A leaking roof feels urgent, and it is - but it’s manageable. Contain the water, protect your home’s interior, and resist the urge to climb onto a wet roof. Every temporary fix described here buys you the time needed to get a proper roof repair done safely and correctly.