A homeowner dealing with a leak they couldn't pin down — one that had already caused the ceiling to fail — asked whether piling on more patch material could finally solve it.
Instead, the post on Reddit's r/Roofing drew a wave of warnings that the budget-minded fix could spiral into a much bigger and more expensive problem.
Here's what to know
The discussion started after the original poster said they had an "untraceable leak."
In the thread, honestly titled "I don't know what I am doing," the user shared a photograph and sought opinions from people with knowledge of roofing issues.
"Will this help?" they asked. "Should I just go crazy and apply more?"
As is often the case on Reddit, the replies mixed caution with mockery.
TCD Picks » Quince Spotlight
💡These best-sellers from Quince deliver affordable, sustainable luxury for all
A commenter who said they had been in roofing "for quite a while" warned that the effort could backfire.
"Shingles are staggered to shed water as it moves downslope," they wrote. "By introducing all this asphalt and gluing them together, you are relying on hoping you did not miss any areas. If water finds a way behind any of your asphalt patch (like a dam), it can just allow water to build up and force itself behind the shingles anyways, which makes your repair here redundant."
Several users dropped any pretense of gentleness, including one who offered the OP a four-point plan.
"1. STOP. 2. Get off the roof. 3. Once you are on the ground, put your hands up. This is a crime scene. 4. Call a roofer," they half-joked. Someone else added: "4B. Tell roofer you fired the guy after looking at it. Don't confess it was you."
"You missed a spot," another person replied.
More background
The homeowner, grateful for the advice, explained in a comment that the improvised fix came after several earlier attempts.
"I tried re-adhering the original shingles, laying down new underlayment, using a tarp, and now this," they wrote.
They added that every roofer they contacted would only take a full-roof job. Cost was their primary obstacle.
"We bought this house from someone who paid off the inspector and sold it to us with so many other issues we cannot afford a new roof," they added.
In a separate reply, the OP said, "And this is after applying shingle patches and adhesive underneath last year as well."
As a possible compromise, the commenter with roofing experience noted that replacing just "the single facet" might "look hokey" but "can help you buy time to save for the rest of the roof."
What can be done?
The same commenter said that when full replacement "isn't in the cards," a partial fix can work.
Another user proposed a different temporary approach and acknowledged the OP's financial bind.
"OK, brother, since you have chosen this route out of necessity, get the Henry's paint-on foundation coating and use a roller and coat the entire roof," they wrote. "It will likely hold you until you can afford a new roof."
The same person applauded the initiative and suggested the homeowner "maybe check out products specific to roofing applications."
Tarps also got little support as a cost-saving tactic.
The commenter with roofing experience warned that tarping "doesn't help as much as people tend to think" since water can still get underneath and wind can rip holes that have to be repaired.
Many users were sympathetic.
"Don't feel bad. You are doing what you can do in a bad situation," the person who mentioned foundation coating told the homeowner.
Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.
