Any way to fix a roof from the inside?

[badmouse]

I live in a really cheap apartment and can't afford anything more expensive. The landlord is going to tear the building down soon & I don't have a lease or anything, so if I complain I'll just get thrown out - I want to stay here as long as I can.

The roof used to leak a little bit, no problem really. Then it was hot & dry all summer, then it rained like crazy. Lots of leaks. I'm on the top floor, of course. We're the only people left in the building.

The worst part is that it leaked into the bathroom & bedroom light fixtures. That can't be good.

Anyway, i don't have access to the roof.

Is there any way to patch things up a bit? Heavy rain is in the forecast . . .

Update: Roofing caulk on the ceiling helped. Also I took out the light fixtures and put more insulation around them. Stayed dry during inch+ of heavy rain overnight. Chance of Wilma remnants in a few days, any more help?

 

[sixone]

You get what you pay for.

No way to patch from the inside, they'll just spring more leaks.

 

[xSauronx]

sounds like youd be better off staying in a shelter or something, if you cant get a better place now, what are you going to do when you get kicked out and the place is demolished?

 

[ThisIsMatt]

Not really, and chances are you'll start growing mold if you haven't already. Mold loves wet drywall...

 

[badmouse]

Originally posted by: xSauronx
sounds like youd be better off staying in a shelter or something, if you cant get a better place now, what are you going to do when you get kicked out and the place is demolished?

Other than the leaks it's a good place.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

HAHAHA ... I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing about the situation.
I was renovating a house a year ago and the leak kept on leaking.
We thought we had fixed it only to have water trickle through when it rained.
We figured out what the problem was but didnt want to keep messing with the roof.
We caulked it from the inside and it's been good ever since!

Go to home depot and buy roofing caulk. They come in different color but just get the one made by GE. It should stop the leak in its track.

 

[Brazen]

Is there an attic? Mabye just put down some plastic sheeting so all the water runs to the next apartment over.

You can get big sheets of plastic at home improvement stores for like $2. Then all you need is some duct tape.

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: Brazen
Is there an attic? Mabye just put down some plastic sheeting so all the water runs to the next apartment over.

You can get big sheets of plastic at home improvement stores for like $2. Then all you need is some duct tape.

ya, your best bet is going to be to try and redirect the water away from your apartment. Since nobody else lives there it should be fine. There is no real way to "patch" the roof form the inside, you'd need to go to the outside of the roof, find the leak, and patch it there.

 

[MAME]

there's one way - you can use a phone from the inside to call someone to fix it

 

[Ornery]

You have access to the attic? Cover it in visqueen and route the water it catches into containers you can empty.

Edit: Sorry, James already mentioned that!

 

[badmouse]

Originally posted by: lilcam

Go to home depot and buy roofing caulk. They come in different color but just get the one made by GE. It should stop the leak in its track.

THANKS! Caulked like crazy, got an inch of rain last nite, it did leak a bit from the place I forgot about (right above the bathroom tub, so who cares) but otherwise dry!

We have a very funny-looking ceiling but it stayed dry. I'm not all that coordinated so the caulk looks pretty funny.

Chance of much rain from Wilma in a day or so, another test.

Welcome any more suggestions!!!