By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Roof hole repair means physically closing an opening in the roof surface, not just chasing a leak. The fix follows two measurements: how big the hole is and what the roof is made of. A nail-sized puncture in an asphalt shingle takes 1/8 to 1/4 in of roof cement and a flashing or shingle patch. A hole big enough to see daylight through usually means the plywood or OSB decking underneath is cut or rotted, which turns a patch into a small structural repair with new sheathing nailed at 6 in on center. Below: the fix by hole size and material (shingle, metal, and flat membrane), the named sealants and their maker limits, when the decking has to come out, and 2026 costs from named sources.
Can you patch a hole in a roof yourself?
You can patch a small hole yourself when it is under about 12 inches, the decking around it is firm, the roof is dry, and you can work safely at height. Nail holes, small punctures, and a single cracked or missing shingle are realistic DIY jobs. Anything larger, anything where the deck is soft, or any hole on a steep or two-story roof is a contractor job. Our breakdown of the cost to patch a roof compares DIY and professional prices.
The dividing line is what is under the hole. Press the deck around the opening: if the wood flexes or feels spongy, the fasteners have nothing to bite. IRC R905.2.5 wants roofing nails to reach 3/4 in into sound sheathing, or fully through thinner sheathing, so soft wood means the decking section, not a patch. For a leak with no visible hole, start with roof leak repair instead, because tracing the water source comes before patching anything.
Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, which is why OSHA 29 CFR 1926.501 requires fall protection for residential roof work 6 feet or more above a lower level. Our rule of thumb for homeowners: if the roof is wet, steeper than 6:12, or you have no harness and anchor, stop and hire a roofer. Review basic roof safety practices before you go up.
| If | DIY or pro? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hole under 1/2 in, firm deck, roof 6:12 or flatter, dry day | DIY | Cement plus a flashing patch; Henry 208R spec covers it |
| Hole 1/2 in to about 6 in, firm deck | DIY if you can lift shingles without breaking the seal strips in cold weather | Needs a metal patch tucked under the course above |
| Hole over about 12 in, or deck flexes | Pro, or experienced DIY | Deck cut-out, blocking and nailing to IRC Table R602.3(1) |
| Roof steeper than 6:12, two stories, or wet | Pro | OSHA fall protection applies at 6 ft for workers |
| Storm, tree or hail caused the hole | Photograph first, then call your insurer and a roofer | Patching first can complicate a claim |
Match the fix to the hole: size and material
The fastest way to pick a roof hole repair is to cross hole size against roof material. A pinhole in a steel panel is a dab of sealant under a washered screw; the same-sized void in a rotted shingle deck is a full patch over new sheathing. Henry’s 208R data sheet draws one useful line: any hole over 1/4 in wide or 2 in long needs fabric reinforcement between two layers of cement.
| Hole size | Asphalt shingle | Metal roof | Flat / membrane roof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinhole to nail hole (under 1/2 in) | Roofing cement or polyurethane sealant, or replace the one shingle | Butyl or polyurethane sealant; oversize screw with EPDM washer | Clean, dry, then a butyl cover patch such as EternaBond RoofSeal (EPDM, TPO) |
| Small (1/2 in to ~6 in) | Cut-in shingle patch or galvanized flashing patch under shingles | Same-metal patch bedded in sealant, or a riveted repair patch | Peel-and-stick patch from the membrane maker or a heat-welded patch on TPO and PVC |
| Large (6 in and up, or deck damage) | Cut out decking, block, re-deck, underlayment, reshingle | Replace the affected panel; patch only as a stopgap | Cut out wet insulation and deck, re-deck, new membrane |
Two rules hold across every material. First, a patch is only as good as the deck beneath it, so probe for rot before you seal. Second, water runs downhill under shingles and panels, so every patch tucks under the course above it by at least the 2 in of overlap Henry’s sheet calls for around a cement repair, never on top where it dams water.
Which sealant or patch product should you use?
Product choice comes down to the roof material and whether the surface is wet. Each row below quotes the maker’s own data sheet.
| Product (maker) | Best for | Maker spec | Do not use on | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry 208R Rubberized Wet Patch (asphalt roof cement) | Shingle, cap sheet, SBS modified, metal and masonry holes, wet or dry | ASTM D4586 Type I; 100% wet-surface adhesion per ASTM D3409; adheres 5 to 120 F; apply 1/8 to 1/4 in thick, 2 in past the hole; 12.5 sq ft per gallon at 1/8 in | Gravel, rubber or PVC sheet roofing, wood shingles | Henry TDS, rev. 03/11/2015 |
| Gardner-Gibson Black Jack 2172 All-Weather Roof Cement | Shingle and flashing patches, small holes, wet or dry | Surface temperature 50 to 120 F; 1/8 to 1/2 in thick, 2 to 3 in past the damage; 25 linear ft of 1/4 in bead per tube; 3-year product warranty | EPDM, Hypalon, PVC, any single-ply | Black Jack TDS |
| EternaBond RoofSeal (butyl MicroSealant tape) | EPDM, TPO, Hypalon, aluminum, galvanized steel seams and small holes | 35 mil total thickness; apply at 40 to 150 F ambient (primer below 40 F); flexible to -70 F; service -40 to 212 F; surface must be clean and dry | Wet or dirty surfaces | EternaBond TDS |
| Galvanized or aluminum flashing | The rigid backer under a 1 to 6 in shingle patch | Spans the void so cement is not the only thing holding water back | Mixing with copper roofing (galvanic corrosion) | IRC R905.10.4 fastener metals |
Bare caulk alone is the most common DIY mistake: a bead with nothing rigid behind it cracks as the roof moves. Both cement makers above tell you to spread the material flat, at least 2 in past the damage, and to embed polyester or glass fabric on larger holes. Henry’s sheet also ties its 10-year warranty to using Henry roof repair fabric and tells you to coat the patch after 30 days to extend its life.
How to fix a small hole in an asphalt shingle roof
A small hole in an asphalt roof, including a nail hole or a spot where an old antenna or vent was removed, is patched by sealing the opening and integrating a new shingle or metal patch so water sheds over it. Plan on 30 to 60 minutes. Materials listed on Google Shopping on October 19, 2026 include Henry 208R at $22.99 a gallon (Agri Supply) and Henry HE181195 roof patch fabric at $16.97 (Home Depot).
- Confirm the deck is sound. Lift the shingles with a flat bar and press the sheathing; if it is soft, go to the decking section.
- Seal a true nail hole. For an opening under about 1/2 inch, work roof cement in 1/8 to 1/4 in thick and spread it at least 2 in past the hole (Henry 208R spec), press a piece of aluminum flashing over it, then cement the flashing edges.
- Cut in a replacement shingle for a missing or torn one. Slide a flat bar under the shingle above, break the sealant strip, and pull the roofing nails. Slide the new ASTM D3462 shingle up into place and fasten it with at least 4 nails per strip shingle (IRC R905.2.6), using 12-gauge roofing nails with 3/8 in heads long enough to reach 3/4 in into the sheathing or through it (IRC R905.2.5).
- Use a metal patch for a 1 to 6 inch hole. Cut galvanized flashing larger than the hole, bed it in roofing cement on the deck, embed fabric if the hole is over 1/4 in wide or 2 in long, then re-lay shingles over it so the top and sides tuck under the course above.
- Seal the perimeter. Run a 3/8 in bead along exposed patch edges; a 29 fl oz cartridge of 208R covers about 39 linear feet at that size. Avoid face-nailing through the exposed part of a shingle, because an exposed nail head is a future leak.
If the hole came from a backed-out nail, read nail pops on shingles first; the same failure often repeats across the roof.
How to fix a small hole in a roof from inside the attic
From inside you can only slow water; the roof is sealed from outside. Use these steps the same day, then patch outside.
- Find the hole. With attic lights off, look for daylight and push a 16d nail up through it to mark the spot for the roof.
- Catch the water. Set a bucket and tarp under the drip, and move stored boxes off insulation that is getting wet.
- Bridge the hole. Cut a piece of plywood larger than the hole and screw it to the underside of the deck, keeping screws shorter than the deck thickness (commonly 7/16 to 5/8 in) so they do not poke through the shingles. Our temporary roof repair guide covers exterior tarping, which stops more water than any inside patch.
- Dry the insulation. Pull back wet cellulose or fiberglass; wet insulation loses most of its R-value and can grow mold.
How to patch a hole in a metal roof
A hole in a metal roof is patched by cleaning bare metal, bedding a same-metal patch in sealant, and mechanically fastening or riveting it, with size deciding between a sealant fix and a full panel swap. Matching metals matters: IRC R905.10.4 calls for galvanized fasteners on steel roofs and copper, brass, bronze or 300-series stainless on copper roofs, because mixing metals invites galvanic corrosion around your repair.
- Pinholes and screw holes: Clean the area, then fill with butyl or polyurethane roof sealant. For a leaking fastener, back it out and drive the next size up (for example a #12 in place of a #10, or a #14 in place of a #12) with a fresh EPDM-backed washer rather than over-tightening the old one.
- Small holes (up to a few inches): Cut a patch from the same metal larger than the hole, round the corners, bed it in a compatible sealant, and pop-rivet or screw it down with sealant under every fastener. Clean, dry aluminum and galvanized steel also take EternaBond RoofSeal tape (35 mil), per its data sheet, which recommends cleaning with acetone first.
- Rust-through or large holes: A patch is a stopgap. The durable fix is replacing the affected panel, because corrosion spreads under the coating beyond what you can see. Lapped, non-soldered panels without lap sealant need at least a 3:12 slope under IRC R905.10.2, so do not reset a panel on a flatter section without sealant.
To find where metal-roof water enters before you patch, see metal roof leak repair, organized by fasteners, seams, flashing and penetrations.
When the hole means replacing the roof decking
If the hole is larger than about 12 inches, if the plywood or OSB around it is soft, dark, or crumbling, or if you can flex the deck by hand, you are past patching and into decking replacement. Surface patches over rotted sheathing fail because the fasteners have nothing solid to bite. HomeWyse prices storm-damaged roofing repair, including deck replacement and mid-grade shingles, at $9.01 to $11.39 per sq ft in its January 2026 estimate.
- Expose and mark. Remove shingles or panels at least one full course past the damage. Snap chalk lines centered over rafters, typically 16 or 24 in on center, so the new panel has framing to land on.
- Cut out the bad deck. Set a circular saw to the deck thickness (commonly 7/16 to 5/8 inch) and cut out the damaged section, keeping cuts clear of the rafters.
- Frame the opening. Add 2×4 blocking between rafters at the top and bottom edges so all four sides of the new panel bear on framing. Toe-nail blocking with 2 8d common nails at each end, per IRC Table R602.3(1).
- Install new sheathing. Cut plywood or OSB of matching thickness, graded to DOC PS 1 or PS 2 (IRC R803.2.1), leave the edge gap printed on the panel stamp, and nail with 8d common (2-1/2 in x 0.131 in) nails at 6 in on center at edges and intermediate supports, per IRC Table R602.3(1). Where the ultimate design wind speed tops 130 mph in Exposure B or 110 mph in Exposure C, the same table tightens nailing to 4 in at gable-end framing and at supports within 48 in of roof edges and ridges.
- Rebuild the roof. Cover with underlayment that carries an ASTM D226, D4869 or D1970 label (IRC R905.1.1), lap it under the existing courses above, then reshingle or reset panels so everything sheds downhill.
Full details on identifying and pricing bad sheathing are in rotted roof decking.
If the hole is leaking now and you cannot re-deck today, a tarp buys time; see temporary roof repair.
What roof hole repair costs in 2026
A small DIY patch costs the price of a gallon of cement and a roll of fabric, about $40 in October 19, 2026 listings. A contracted small repair starts near HomeWyse’s $361 to $439 per repair (January 2026), which assumes underlayment repair and up to 4 replaced shingles with a 2-hour minimum labor charge. Decking work is priced by area.
| Scenario | 2026 cost | Source and what is included |
|---|---|---|
| DIY nail-hole or small patch | About $40 | Henry 208R gallon $22.99 (Agri Supply) plus Henry HE181195 fabric $16.97 (Home Depot), Google Shopping, Oct 19, 2026 |
| Pro small repair, up to 4 shingles | $361 to $439 per repair | HomeWyse roof repair estimate, January 2026; 2-hour labor minimum |
| Deck and shingle repair after storm or water damage | $9.01 to $11.39 per sq ft | HomeWyse storm damage estimate, January 2026; excludes framing repairs and permits |
| Decking replacement on a reroof | $2 to $5 per sq ft | HomeGuide 2026 roof decking guide, as shown in Google results Oct 19, 2026 |
Worked example. One rotted 4×8 sheet is 32 sq ft. At HomeWyse’s $9.01 to $11.39 per sq ft, deck plus shingles over that area prices at about $288 to $364 before any minimum job charge (Roofing Brief arithmetic: 32 x $9.01 and 32 x $11.39). Two adjacent sheets, 64 sq ft, come to about $577 to $729. Because roofers charge minimums, bundling nearby repairs into one visit lowers the cost per hole. For a broader cost picture, see roof leak repair pricing, since most hole repairs are billed the same way.
When to call a professional
Call a roofer when the hole is over about 12 inches, the deck flexes, the roof is steeper than 6:12 or two stories, the cause is unclear, or the damage may be covered by insurance. Ask the roofer three things: whether the decking needs replacing and how many sheets, which underlayment (ASTM D226, D4869 or D1970) goes under the patch, and whether the fix carries a written workmanship warranty.
If a branch, storm, or hail caused the opening, photograph it before you touch anything; patching first can complicate a claim.
Policies generally expect reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so a temporary tarp is usually appropriate. Keep the receipts.
Frequently asked questions
Can you patch a hole in a roof?
Yes. Holes up to roughly 12 inches with firm decking can be patched by sealing the opening and integrating a shingle, metal, or membrane patch that sheds water. Henry’s 208R sheet calls for 1/8 to 1/4 in of cement spread 2 in past the hole, with fabric on anything over 1/4 in wide or 2 in long. Larger holes, or any hole over soft decking, need the sheathing cut out and replaced.
What can I use to fill a hole in my roof?
For a nail hole or pinhole on shingles, asphalt roof cement such as Henry 208R or Black Jack 2172, reinforced with a small metal or fabric patch. For a larger shingle hole, galvanized flashing bedded in roofing cement and covered by shingles. On EPDM, TPO or metal, a butyl tape such as EternaBond RoofSeal, applied clean and dry at 40 F or warmer. Bare caulk alone tends to crack as the roof moves.
How much does it cost to fix a hole in a roof?
A DIY small patch costs about $40 in materials at October 2026 prices. A contractor’s small repair runs about $361 to $439 per repair in HomeWyse’s January 2026 estimate. If decking has to be replaced along with shingles, HomeWyse puts storm-damage repair at $9.01 to $11.39 per sq ft, or about $288 to $364 for one 32 sq ft sheet before minimum charges.
Will roofing cement stop a leak through a hole?
Roofing cement can seal a small hole or nail puncture, but on its own it is a short-term fix. It holds much longer when it beds a metal flashing patch or fabric over the opening. Henry’s 208R data sheet says to reinforce any hole over 1/4 in wide or 2 in long with roof repair fabric between two layers of cement, and to coat the patch after 30 days.
How do you cover a hole in a roof from the inside?
Covering from inside the attic is only an emergency stopgap, not a repair. Catch the water with a bucket and tarp, screw a piece of plywood larger than the hole to the underside of the deck with screws shorter than the 7/16 to 5/8 in deck, and pull back wet insulation. The leak must still be sealed from outside, where shingles and flashing shed water.
Does homeowners insurance cover a hole in the roof?
Sudden accidental damage, such as a hole from a fallen tree, storm, or hail, is often covered by homeowners insurance, while holes from age, wear, or neglected maintenance usually are not. We cover claims for a hole from a fallen tree separately. Photograph the damage before any repair and keep receipts for a temporary tarp. Compare the estimate with your deductible first: a small repair at HomeWyse’s $361 to $439 may cost less than the deductible.