Roof & Leak Repair: what to expect
What a repair actually involves
The hard part of a roof repair is finding the entry point, not fixing it. Water enters high, travels along sheathing or down a rafter, and appears somewhere else entirely, so a competent repair starts in the attic with a flashlight rather than on the roof. Once the path is traced, the fix is usually localised: re-flash the chimney, replace the boot, rebuild the valley, replace a few courses of shingle and re-seal the surrounding ones.
In an emergency, expect two stages. A mechanically fastened tarp stops the water tonight; the permanent repair happens in daylight when the deck can be opened and assessed. Ask for both to be priced separately and in writing, and ask for photographs of whatever the contractor finds under the shingles.
When repair stops making sense
Repairs are the right answer for isolated damage on a roof with life left in it. They stop being the right answer when shingles are curling or shedding granules across every slope, when there are already two layers on the deck, or when the same roof keeps leaking in a new place every season. At that point you are buying time at increasing cost.
Typically included
- Attic-side leak tracing before anyone gets on the roof
- Chimney, skylight, sidewall and step flashing
- Pipe boots, vents and penetration seals
- Valley rebuilds and eave repairs
- Emergency tarping and temporary weatherproofing
- Photographed findings and written scope