Those “quick fixes” always seem to fail once the freeze/thaw cycle kicks in.
Yeah, I ran into the same thing this winter. I tried one of those “waterproof” roof patch sprays on a small leak over my porch—looked fine at first, but after a couple of snowstorms and a few warm days, it just cracked and flaked off. What actually worked for me (temporarily) was: 1) clearing off as much snow/ice as possible, 2) laying down a thick plastic sheeting, and 3) sandwiching it with some old deck boards and bricks. Not pretty, but it held until I could get a roofer out in April. Those tapes and sprays just don’t seem to cut it once things start thawing and refreezing.
I’ve had similar luck with those sprays—seems like they’re fine for a dry, warm day but once the weather swings, they just peel right off. Last year, I tried using roofing cement and some mesh tape on a shingle seam (asphalt roof, Midwest winters). It held up better than the spray, but still started to crack by March. Honestly, the only thing that really kept water out was tarping it down tight with 2x4s screwed into the eaves. Not ideal, but it got me through until I could budget for a proper repair. Quick fixes are just that… quick.
Yeah, I’ve tried those sprays too and honestly, they’re kind of a joke once the weather goes sideways. Last fall, we had a surprise storm and I ended up using some old peel-and-stick flashing I found in the garage. It worked for a couple months, but by winter it started curling at the edges. Tarping with 2x4s is ugly but it’s about the only thing that actually kept water out until spring. Midwest winters just chew through anything temporary, it seems.
- Sprays are like putting a Band-Aid on a busted pipe—looks good for a minute, then you’re back to buckets in the living room.
- Peel-and-stick flashing is hit or miss. If it’s cold, forget it. Stuff peels faster than old wallpaper.
- Tarping with 2x4s is ugly, but hey, ugly and dry beats stylish and soggy every time.
- Midwest winters are brutal on temp fixes. I’ve seen tarps freeze solid to the roof, then rip right off in a wind gust.
Ever tried that black roofing cement? The kind that comes in a tub and smells like regret? I’ve had mixed luck with it—sometimes it holds till spring, other times it just cracks when things get real cold. Wondering if anyone’s found something that survives both ice and those random 50-degree thaws we get...
Black roofing cement—yeah, that stuff's a double-edged sword. I used it on a shingle roof last December after a windstorm peeled up a corner. Worked decently for about three weeks, then the first deep freeze hit and it shrank up, cracked, and let water through again. Not great.
If you’re dealing with those wild Midwest temperature swings, I’ve had the best luck with heavy-duty tarps (the kind with reinforced edges), but only if you can anchor them really well. I use furring strips or old 2x4s screwed right into the sheathing along the edges. Looks rough, but it’s kept the attic dry until I could get proper repairs done in spring.
I’ve tried that peel-and-stick flashing too—total waste of money in the cold. Never sticks right unless it’s above 40°F. For short-term, ugly but functional seems to be the theme. Haven’t found anything “temporary” that survives both ice and a freak warm-up. Maybe someone’s got a secret trick, but for me, it’s just about bracing for the mess until real repairs are possible.