How long will patched up roof last?

Question

We had a leak in our kitchen ceiling..we tried several times to find the leak in the roof, but we could not locate it....finally we got a bucket of roofing repair tar and covered the entire area of where it was leaking.....so far it has not leaked. I am curious how long this repair would usually last.....as we had an estimate of about 4500.00 to replace the entire roof....we don't quite have that much right now and need to save further.....so thus the reason for the question about how long this type of repair usually will last?

I would appreciate a professional opinion from a "roofer" or someone who is in the business.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Answer 1

It depends on the quality of the work, I've replaced roofs where the patches were in better shape than the actual roofing.  

When it come to home repairs its about the references, not the cost, always ask for references, anyone of actual integrity will be more than happy to give you 3 or 4 references, and always check with the BBB, you don't want to hire a cheat!

Answer 2

The climate that you live in will weigh heavily for anyone who answers.

I give it 2 - 3 years, depending upon climate, where the leak in the roof was, condition of remaining shingles, what you used to patch it and the underlying cause of the leak.

Need more info.

Answer 3

I’m a roof consultant, I have worked as an inspector for a manufacturer and am accredited through RCI. My expertise is in singleply design and installation- but I think I can help a little here too.

Hopefully this in an asphalt shingle or modified bitumen roof? If not, you just destroyed your roof. Just about every flashing cement or ‘Tar’ as people always seem to confuse it with, is utterly worthless as a ‘waterproofer’ or leak stopper. Flashing cements are designed to act as adhesives, they are intended to stick one thing to another. So dumping a bucket on your roof really hasn’t done anything of any lasing value. In addition, most flashing cements are asphaltic in nature, which chemically makes them very prone to what’s called UV degradation- or better put, the sun eats asphalt alive! Absolutely destroys it… Shingles have a coating of ceramic granules specifically to protect the asphalt, they reflect the UV away from the shingle protecting it and making it last longer. Without the granules, shingles get really hot, lose their dimensional stability, and begin the process of literally slowly disintegrating. In a way all you have done with your coating of flashing cement is speed up the process of your roof heating up and breaking down…  I couldn’t estimate how long you have before you will need a total re-roof, but I can tell you, anywhere you put flashing cement will be an area that needs to be re-roofed.

I have seen cases where ‘patchwork’ like this has been done and has lasted for 3 years, I’ve also seen where its lasted 6 months… it depends on several factors, your exposure, the temperature, weather conditions, attic ventilation, etc.

I would recommend putting away some money, you are going to need a new roof. Take bids, interview several contractors- there are some out there right now who are slow and are very fairly priced…  and just as a response to the person who posted saying you could get 50 years out of a bucket of Tar… No Way, No How, If you know of a bucket of goo that lasts 50 years I want to hear about it!

Answer 4

Depending on how thick you poured the tar, it could basically last a good 50 years.  Roofing shingles are basically made from tar, so what you put up there to patch the leak is basically the same thing.

Answer 5

Provided you did not spread the tar TOO thin it should last you a coulpe of years.