Roof repair & leak diagnosis

Finding where the water actually gets in — not patching the stain on your ceiling and hoping.

Water does not fall straight down once it is inside a roof. It runs along rafters, follows the underside of the deck, and shows up on a ceiling several feet from where it got in. That is why so many "repaired" leaks come back.

How we trace a leak

Start inside. The attic tells you more than the roof does — staining on the sheathing, wet insulation and rusted nail points map backwards to the entry.
Check the penetrations first. Pipe boots, vents, chimneys, skylights and sidewall flashing account for the large majority of leaks on roofs that are otherwise fine.
Then the valleys and transitions, where volume concentrates and ice backs up.
Field shingles last. A leak in the open field of a roof is comparatively rare and usually means something else has already failed.
Water-test if needed. On a stubborn leak we will run water on the roof in sections while someone watches from the attic.

You get photographs of what we found and a written explanation of the cause, not just the fix.

Emergency

Active leak right now?

Call us — but do these three things first, because they cost you nothing and can save a ceiling.

Get a container under the drip and move anything valuable out from underneath
If the ceiling is bulging, poke a small hole at the lowest point to let the water out. It sounds wrong. It stops the whole ceiling coming down.
Photograph everything before you clean up — your insurer will want it

We tarp roofs as an emergency measure to stop the damage getting worse while a proper repair is scheduled.

Call (609) 975-9763

What we fix

The repairs we get called out for most

Most of these are a half-day job. Left alone, most of them become a decking job instead.

Failed pipe boots — the rubber collar around a plumbing vent perishes and splits, usually within ten to fifteen years
Chimney and sidewall flashing — old metal, failed sealant, or flashing that was never stepped in properly to begin with
Wind-lifted or missing shingles — common after a storm, and quick to fix before the exposed deck takes water
Skylight seals — the glass is rarely the problem; the flashing kit around it usually is
Valley leaks — where two roof planes meet and volume concentrates, especially with ice
Nail pops — fasteners backing out and lifting the shingle above them, letting water under
Ice dam damage — water backing up under the shingles at the eaves, which is a ventilation and insulation problem as much as a roofing one

Roof repair

Questions about repairs

Is it worth repairing an old roof?

Sometimes, and we will tell you when it is not. If the field of the roof still has years left and the problem is a flashing or a boot, repair is clearly the right call. If the shingles are brittle and you are patching your third leak in two years, you are spending money twice.

How fast can you get out to a leak?

Call and we will tell you honestly. Active leaks get priority, and emergency tarping is usually same or next day depending on weather and how many storms have just come through.

Will a repair match my existing shingles?

We get as close as we can. Color lots change over time and sun-faded shingles never match new ones exactly. On a visible slope we will tell you what it will look like before we start.

Do you warranty repairs?

Yes, in writing. The terms differ from a full replacement because we are working on a roof whose overall condition we did not control, and we will explain exactly what is and is not covered before you agree to anything.

Can a repair be covered by insurance?

If the cause was a sudden event like a storm, often yes. Wear and age, generally not. We document the cause either way so you have what you need if you decide to file.

Also from us

The rest of what we do

Get the leak found properly

We trace it to the actual entry point and show you photographs of the cause before we quote the fix.

Get a free inspection Call (609) 975-9763

Fully licensed, bonded and insured · Free inspections · Quotes valid 12 months