Patch Screw Holes In Roof (Things You Must Know)

You may encounter many challenges with the roof of your house from time to time. Issues may arise from the roof wearing out, from climatic conditions such as heavy winds and rainfall.

Or from you carrying out some activities, like pulling satellite dishes off your roof, resulting in a hole in that part of the roof. 

If you’ve found yourself in this situation and you’re looking for ways to have that screw hole fixed, then this article is for you.

Screw holes in the roof resulting from removing a satellite dish, antennas, or any other reason are easy to patch. To patch the holes, all you need is a roof sealant. Using silicone, neoprene, or tar sealant will perfectly cover those holes in your roof without you having to change the entire roof.

Patch Screw Holes in Metal Roof

Before you patch the screw holes in your metal roof, the first thing to do is to identify the cause of the holes in the roof before you look for ways to get rid of the screw holes.

Holes in your metal roof can result from removing antennas or satellite dishes from the roof. 

It could also result from improper fixing of the screw. Under-driving screws, over-driving screws, or screws fixed at the wrong angle of the framing member can contribute to holes and leakages in your roof.

Further, such holes can expand over time and result in water leaking into your interiors or the holes serving as an entrance for critters and other small animals. Thus, you want to get that screw-hole roof patched.

You need roofing sealants to patch those screw holes in the roof and avoid these troubles. Below are good examples of sealants you can use.

#1. Silicon-Based Sealant

You can use silicon-based glue for filling screw holes. All you need to do is fill the screw holes roof with silicon glue. Then, cover the holes properly to allow them to dry firmly. 

You need to cover after application because of the weather. You don’t want it removed by water or allow it to melt from too much exposure to heat. 

However, when the glue dries, it is weather resistant and entirely waterproof. And so, you can be sure of its longevity.

#2. Black Roofing Tar

It is one of the best materials for filling screw holes. The reason is that it is durable, waterproof, very flexible, and easy to apply.

You apply it to the screw holes roof the same way you apply the silicon glue.

Other sealants you can use in filling screw holes include roof patching cement, black neoprene roof sealant, and urethane sealant.

These sealants effectively cover the screw holes roof and protect your interiors from damage.

Though metal roofs are durable and strong, they still leak from the formation of holes by screw.

And these holes can get bigger when the metal roof expands during the heat seasons and the cold that moves over the roof.

For this reason, fixing the holes in your metal roof needs to be done as soon as possible.

How to Fix Screw Holes in Roofs?

The surest way to fix the screw holes in the roof, especially the ones that are too large to patch, is by removing the shingles with holes from the roof.

This method is more effective than when you use sealants which may only last for some time and will require renewal from time to time.

Removing the roofing sheet and replacing them will help you save a lot of money and uncertainties.

So, to fix your screw holes roof by replacing the sheet with holes, here is how to go about it.

• First, locate the area with the screw hole on your roof.

• Clean the area before you commence anything on the roof.

• Remove the shingles with a screw hole carefully to avoid affecting the others.

• Cut out the damaged wood underneath the shingles, if any. Be careful when doing this so you don’t damage the rafter.

• Fix new wood on the area you cut out the damaged wood.

• Apply roofing cement between the seam of new wood and that of the existing wood from which you cut out the damaged wood.

• Attach new large shingles to cover the entire area of the hole. 

• Use a new roofing screw to screw down the shingles to the wood. Preferably, use a screw with a rubber gasket to cover the little holes around the nail.

• Secure the nail with roofing cement to prevent future leakage and looseness.

To perform this task, you need to have some carpentry skills because you’ll need to climb a ladder up to the roof to do some work up there.

So, having some carpentry experience or skill is vital before you attempt climbing up to the roof to repair screw holes.

If you fear heights or have no carpentry skills, getting a professional to do the work for you is the best option.

Also, note that if you attempt fixing the roof yourself and any other issue arises, your warranty on the roof may be at stake, which your insurance claims may not also cover.

So, before you attempt your metal roof repair, consider the consequences. How Much Weight Can An 8-32 Screw Hold? 

How to Patch Screw Holes in Tin Roofs?

Tin roof expands and contracts from weather changes. Constant expansion and contraction of the roof can cause the screw to loosen up, which may result in holes around the screw.

To patch these holes formed in your tin roof. Here are some helpful tips for you.

Suppose you’re using sealant to patch the screw hole. First, you locate the screw hole on the roof.

Then apply roofing tar, silicone glue, or any other sealant of your choice into the holes using a caulking gun. 

Depending on the size of the hole, about 3-4 pumps from the caulking gun should fill the hole.

However, note that when next you want to screw in an item around that area, ensure to place it a few inches above or below the screw holes that you patched.

And for holes that result from old and rusty screws in the roof, replace the nail with newer ones.

Replace the screw with a rubber gasket screw. The rubber gasket seals better and is firmer than the regular screw.

What Do You Use to Patch Screw Holes in Roofs?

There are some materials and tools you can use to repair screw holes in your roof. Here are the tools and their different uses.

The table below shows the tools you need to patch that screw hole in your roof.

Tools	Uses
Ladder	To climb up the roof
Rope	For tying the ladder to the fascia of your roof for security
Rubber shoes	To serve as a slip-resistant for your feet.
Pry bar	To remove damaged shingles from the roof.
Hand gloves	To protect the hands from glue and roofing cement.
Caulk gun	To squeeze glue gum and roof sealant into roof holes.
Putty knife	To smoothen and flatten the filled hole area.
Circular saw	To cut off damaged wood from the roof.

It would be best to get materials like matching roofing sheets and some rubber gasket nails.

And in getting these materials, you should get only quality materials that would have the hole properly sealed and last for a long time.

Summary

Metal roofs are durable and strong. However, they still leak when holes are formed on the roof by screws.

And because these holes get bigger with time, they need to be patched immediately.

And to fix these holes, roof sealants such as roof tar, silicon-based sealant, or black neoprene are used for filling screw holes.