How to Fix a Hole in the Roof Without Climbing Up

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

"can this hole even be fixed or am I just screwed and need a new roof?"

A homeowner who started a thread on r/Roofing about a hole in their roof asked that.

Yes, a hole can be fixed, but you should not be the one up there. Whether it takes a small patch or a larger job depends on how far the damage goes¹, and a roofer judges that. From the ground and the attic you can keep water out of the house and see what is under the hole.

Quick answer:

Stay on the ground or inside: a fall off or through the roof can cause severe injury².
Water coming in: set a bucket under the drip and move belongings out of the way.
Look in the attic for a drip trail or a spot of light³ where the hole is.
Plan to have a roofer you choose put a cover on the hole and decide how big the repair is.

On this page

Can a hole in the roof be fixed, or is it a new roof?
What to do tonight from the ground and inside
Go into the attic to check instead of climbing onto the roof
Why can the repair be bigger than the hole?
Can I patch it myself?
Insurance and who to call, if a storm or a tree made the hole
What to get in writing
Checklist before you call a roofer
Quick questions

Can a hole in the roof be fixed, or is it a new roof?

A hole can be fixed. How much work it takes depends on the wood under it, not on the hole you can see. The two outcomes people fear, a quick patch that fails or a full new roof, both come after one step: a quick structural check before spending time and money¹. That check is the roofer's job, and your part is to bring the roofer good information.

What to do tonight from the ground and inside

With an open hole or water coming in, protect the house first. The temporary cover is a tarp, put on by a roofer you choose, so you don't go up yourself. In Texas, that roofer can cover holes to keep rain out⁴. In California, a policy may not cover ensuing damage if you have not taken reasonable steps to secure the property⁵, so this part is in your hands.

If the roofer can't come today, ask another roofer you choose whether they can put on just the cover. Until one can, protect your house and belongings⁶ from inside. Keep doing three things:

Keep catching the water and dry water-damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth⁷.
Photograph or video the damage before any temporary fix, and in Texas save all receipts⁴ for temporary repairs.
After the next rain, look again from the attic for a new drip trail or light coming through³.

Need a crew to cover the hole and unsure what to sign? Tarping service: what to ask and what not to sign.

Go into the attic to check instead of climbing onto the roof

In the attic, a drip trail or a spot of light coming through³ marks where a hole is. Then look at the boards under the shingles, called the sheathing: the wood deck the shingles sit on. Note any wood that looks wet or rotted, and photograph it so the roofer sees what you saw.

Why can the repair be bigger than the hole?

Water that gets in can reach the wood around the hole. One commenter in an r/DIY thread on tracing a leak wrote, "Found a hole and some rot." That pair is why the wood matters: the sheathing and the flashing should be inspected, and damaged materials replaced⁸. Flashing is the metal that seals the joints and edges of a roof. So the repair can be bigger than the hole, and a roofer can tell you how far it goes.

Wondering what rotted wood under the hole would mean for the repair? What roof rot means and what to get in writing.

Can I patch it myself?

Leave the patch to a roofer. Improper roofing techniques can damage the roof, and falling off or through it can severely injure you². One commenter replying to a homeowner's first roof patch wrote, "I don't get this because, you made a bigger hole." A bigger hole is the outcome you are trying to avoid.

Insurance and who to call, if a storm or a tree made the hole

If an animal or old age made the hole, skip this section. If a storm or a fallen branch did it, this order keeps you prepared:

Stay safe and document. Keep your photos and receipts together, and make only temporary repairs.
Prepare. Read your policy to see your exact responsibilities⁹. Check your deductible, the amount you pay before insurance pays: a wind and hail deductible can be set as a percentage, typically from 1 to 5 percent¹⁰. In Texas, getting repair estimates and comparing them with your deductible¹¹ can show a claim is not worth filing. If you doubt the damage is above your deductible, a written estimate from a roofer you choose helps you decide.
Make the call with questions ready. Contact your insurance company, or a roofer you choose, not one who shows up uninvited¹².
If you file a claim, let the adjuster see the damage. In Texas, don't make permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster sees the damage¹³, and keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them⁶. Wherever you live, ask your insurer whether it needs to see the damage before any permanent repair.

Curious what the claim itself looks like, step by step? Roof insurance claim process, in order.

What to get in writing

Ask the roofer to put in the estimate how the hole will be covered, what is found under it, and what happens if the wood is damaged. Ask for a price per sheet of sheathing, and for a signed change order before any extra work. You can send this:

Please write in your estimate how you will cover the hole now, what you find under it, and the price per sheet to replace any damaged sheathing. Please stop and get my signed OK before any extra work, and send photos of any damaged wood.

If a roofer won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the bids that do.

Checklist before you call a roofer

Your photos and attic notes, ready to show.
If a storm did it and you may claim, your policy and which deductible applies, the standard one or a separate wind and hail one¹⁰.
Your questions for the roofer: how far the damage goes, what is under the hole, and the estimate in writing.
A list of what you have done so far, such as covers, buckets and receipts.

Quick questions

What can cause a hole in the roof? People describe a branch or a tree that fell on the house, a storm, or an animal. Whatever the cause, tell the roofer what you think happened and show your photos.

Does homeowners insurance cover roof repair? Read your policy to see your exact responsibilities⁹, because its wording, not an article, decides what applies to you. Then ask your insurer which repairs it would accept as temporary and which as permanent, and who does the inspection.

How do I fix a hole in a corrugated or metal roof? Do not improvise on it. Ask any roofer whether they work on your roof type, what they would use to close the hole, and to put it in writing.

Is a small hole safe to patch myself? No: hire a professional roofer³. A small hole still lets water in, so have the roofer cover it and check the wood under it.