Greetings!
I’m renovating a house with a tin roof. There’s several empty nail holes which need to be patched to prevent leaking. What’s the best way to do this?
Thanks,
Frank
Making mitered head casings is a breeze with this simple system.
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial NowDig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial NowGet instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now© 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.
Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox
Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.
Start Your Free TrialGet complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.
Already a member? Log in
We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.
Replies
You can try to find a supplier of the old lead roofing washers to slip onto some 1¾" roofing nails, but good luck on that one. I can't find them here at all. So I think your best bet is going to be to run some roofing screws into those holes. Use the kind of screw that comes with a rubber washer already on it. Any supplier who sells metal roofing will have these. They're available in colours to match the roof colour.
If the nail hole in the wood under the tin is blown out or otherwise too big for the screw to bite, shove a few toothpicks into the hole first.
If the nail holes in the metal are too big for the screwhead and washer to cover, you'll have to squirt some butyl caulking into each hole. This is a silver-coloured product and won't be very visible on a galvanized roof as would black roof patching compounds. It also stretches better so the expansion of the metal on hot days won't break the bond. It should be available from metal-roofing suppliers, too.
Dinosaur
A day may come when the courage of men fails,when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship...
But it is not this day.
Thanks for your help!
I've had good success using Geocel 2310 or 2315 brushable in conjuntion with 2300 caulk to fill larger holes. If the hole is too large for the caulk to fill, rivet a small piece of similar metal over the hole and coat with the brushable. Geocel products are normally availabe thru roofing supply houses.
Birth, school, work, death.....................
Thanks a bunch!