Do i need a new lean to roof or can a 'patch' job work? (pics)

[reoreborn85]

Hi.


We purchased a house last year and the house has a brick lean to with a corrugated (?) roof attached.
The people we bought it from took us into the lean to and said "That roof will need replacing. We've done everything we can to it and it leaks". We couldn't really see the 'leaks' as they had blue tarp covering the whole ceiling and the 'leaks' were leaking out the dip in the tarp at the centre. We believed them at first, however, they also said a number of things that have turned out to be true/seen through an amateurs eyes. For e.g they said "the stairs need replacing as it creaks. I think the steps are broken." Which they weren't. They just needed to be nailed down and They also said the plugs downstairs didn't work because the whole house needed rewiring.. Which it didn't it was just the wires had become loose on the back of the plugs. So, they're not the most reliable source.

Anyway, when we moved in i popped a few buckets under the centre. Well, a lot happened since we moved in (Wife becoming ill etc) so I've only just really had a chance to go and look at it properly. I have tipped 5-6 buckets over the roof plus had a hose pipe running water over every inch and I can only see two small poles about the size of a nail. even after it rained it's just those two spots.

As you can see they've tried to patch it up before but looking at it it doesn't look like they've used the correct material. This stuff looks like clay and is still slightly spongey.
I can't see anywhere else where it leaks and have wiped down the whole ceiling (after the cobwebs and spiders were removed) with a paper kitchen towel and no water was showing. I had originally budgeted £200 for the roof but that was when we first moved in and money has become even tighter since so i'm kind of hoping this is an easy fix and not a whole new roof lol.

Now, this is the question. From what you've seen/i've said does that look like it needs a new roof?

The plan (down the line) is to turn to room into a utility room with dot and dab/stud walls. Would you say we need a WHOLE new roof or would this be somewhat of an easy fix? Maybe using a sealant of some sort? I currently have a tube of this. Would this be much good?


I've also added some more pics etc. Sorry for the quality.

Any advice/tips would be welcome <3

Additional: Any idea if that roof is strong enough to get up onto? Lol not sure if you'd be able to tell..my guess is it isn't.

 

[jj4091]

It's no use trying to seal it from the inside. Use one of these products and seal the 2 leaks you mention and around the fixings from the outside

Google Search

 

[Scally-Ho]

Stop faffing about with iffy patching and replace the lot. Be careful, because that 'Big Six' profile could be asbestos cement.

 

[reoreborn85]

Stop faffing about with iffy patching and replace the lot. Be careful, because that 'Big Six' profile could be asbestos cement.

Which is another reason i really don't want to touch it lol
As I say the whole this is solid and waterproof. Replacing the whole thing would be quite expensive and a big job, Spesh if it was asbestos. I'd rather just 'seal' it up, board it up and forget about it for now until things are a little better this end (Wife is better and I can return to work). Especially if it a very quick fix like using some liquid rubber/Roof sealer.

 

[reoreborn85]

It's no use trying to seal it from the inside. Use one of these products and seal the 2 leaks you mention and around the fixings from the outside

Google Search

thank you! I just have to try and work out if I can climb on it lol
A small question: Quite a few of those say "Not for long term use". Will that still be okay to use? or would I be better off with say a liquid rubber type paint?

 

[jj4091]

Put a couple of planks across it to walk on if you are unsure about it's strength. Any of those products will last a good fiew years as they just skin over and stay flexible.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Spesh if it was asbestos.

The dark colour, suggest to me it might be Onduline. If it is rigid, it could be asbestos, if it's a bit soft and flexible - Onduline.

 

[stevie888]

I agree with Harry: looks too small to be big 6

 

[ree]

OP,
If the roof is no longer leaking then leave it alone - & dont go on the roof or allow anyone else to go on the roof.
Think insurance?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

We've done everything we can to it and it leaks". We couldn't really see the 'leaks' as they had blue tarp covering the whole ceiling and the 'leaks' were leaking out the dip in the tarp at the centre.

Nothing you try applied to the underside, will prevent the leaks - where the water exits, as someone has attempted in those photos.

If it is sealable at all, it needs to be sealed from above, where the water enters.

 

[reoreborn85]

Nothing you try applied to the underside, will prevent the leaks - where the water exits, as someone has attempted in those photos.

If it is sealable at all, it needs to be sealed from above, where the water enters.

Yeah, going by everything I think you're right.


I'm going to TRY and seal it as best i can from inside for now and then in a month or two buy some proper sealant for the roof (outside) which should fix it for a year or two till I get get back to work and get some money to do it properly.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'm going to TRY and seal it as best i can from inside for now and then in a month or two buy some proper sealant for the roof (outside) which should fix it for a year or two till I get get back to work and get some money to do it properly.

As I said, trying to seal from the inside, is just a waste of effort. Hydraulic pressure, will simply push the sealant out of the way. Sealed on the outside, the pressure is working to help provide a seal.

 

[reoreborn85]

As I said, trying to seal from the inside, is just a waste of effort. Hydraulic pressure, will simply push the sealant out of the way. Sealed on the outside, the pressure is working to help provide a seal.

You're most likely right about the inside BUT as i say "try" lol .
If not then i'll stick with the bucket under it for now until I can 'patch' the top of it around november-ish. I can't climb onto the roof (I don't think boards would work and i'm not sure how strong the roof actually is) SO i'll have to 'try' and use a VERY long handled roller to paint on the liquid rubber onto the top... VERY Chuckle brother esc.