ServicesRoof Leak Repair
Hawaiian Gardens Roof Leak Repair
The stain on your ceiling usually begins at a different spot on the roof. We trace the water to where it enters and repair that spot. Your rooms and yard stay covered during the work, and we tell you what we found before we change anything.
Find the Leak First, Then Fix It
Water rarely drips straight down. It slips under a cracked shingle or a loose piece of flashing, runs along the decking or a rafter, and shows up a few feet away. That is why a dab of sealant over the stain often fails at the next rain.
We check the roof from the top, then go into the attic if we can reach it. We match what we see outside with the wet wood or insulation inside. Once we know the entry point, we explain it to you in plain words, show you the photos and give you a free written estimate.
Most leaks are a repair, not a new roof. If the whole roof is worn out, we will say so and walk you through roof replacement instead. Many leaks show up with the first winter rains after a long dry summer, when sun-baked sealant and rubber finally give.
What Our Leak Repair Covers
Tracing the leak
We look at the roof surface, the flashing and the attic side together. Photos of each spot go to you, so you can see the problem yourself.
Flashing repair
Metal flashing around chimneys, walls, skylights and valleys is a common leak point. We reseat, reseal or replace it, depending on its condition.
Pipe boots and vents
The rubber collar around a plumbing vent cracks after years of sun. We replace the boot and check the vent around it.
Shingle and tile fixes
We replace cracked or missing shingles. On tile roofs we lift and reset slipped tiles and check the underlayment under them, since that layer is what actually keeps the water out.
Soft decking replaced
Plywood that has soaked up water turns soft and won't hold a nail. That part comes out, and a fresh piece is fitted in its place so the new roofing sits on solid wood.
Protection and cleanup
Tarps go over plants and walkways. If we need your attic hatch, a drop cloth goes down in the room below. We sweep the yard with a magnet for nails before we leave.
Clues That Water Is Getting In
- Rings on the ceiling
- Brown or yellow marks on a ceiling or near the top of a wall mean water has been getting in, even if you've never seen a drip.
- An attic that smells or feels damp
- Wet insulation, darkened wood or a musty smell up there often points to a slow leak.
- Peeling paint near the ceiling
- Bubbling paint or drywall tape coming loose high on a wall usually means water is running down behind it.
- Daylight in the attic
- If light can get through a gap into the attic, so can water.
- Leaks only in certain storms
- A leak that only shows when wind pushes rain from one side usually traces back to flashing or a vent on that side.
How We Fix a Leak, Step by Step
- 1
Call and tell us about it
Tell us where the water shows up and when it happens. We set a visit around your household's schedule, in Spanish or English.
- 2
A look with photos
We go over the roof and into the attic, with the floor under the hatch covered. Then we sit down with you and walk through our findings.
- 3
Your estimate on paper
The written estimate lists every part of the repair. If a storm did the damage, we work directly with your insurance claim. Financing is available through Service Finance Company, subject to credit approval.
- 4
Fixing the leak
We cover the plants and set ladders on pads, then make the repair and test it. Before we go, we clean up, sweep for nails and show you the finished work.
What Sets the Cost of Fixing a Leak
Cost comes down to what's causing the leak and how far the water has already spread. You get the price in writing before work begins. If opening the roof reveals more, we pause and talk with you first.
- Type of roofing
- Tile takes longer than shingles, since each tile is lifted, set aside and put back by hand.
- Location of the leak
- Swapping a pipe boot goes fast. A valley or a chimney with aging flashing needs more time and material.
- Hidden water damage
- Rotted wood or wet decking must be replaced, and we may not see it until the roofing is lifted.
- Several leak points
- Some roofs let water in at two or three spots. Each gets a separate line on your estimate.
- Steepness and reach
- Steep roofs or ones that are tough to reach safely take more setup.
Roof Leak Questions
- Is a repair enough, or is it time for a new roof?
- For most leaks, a repair is all it takes. When the roof is tired from end to end and new drips keep popping up, patching only buys a little time, and we will be honest about that. You see the photos and make the choice.
- Will you need to come inside my home?
- Only if the attic hatch is inside. When it is, we lay a drop cloth under it and keep the trip short. We tell you before we go in and where we will be walking.
- Will my insurance pay for a roof leak?
- It depends on the cause. Damage from a storm is often covered, while a leak from old age usually is not. We document what we find and work directly with your claim, but your adjuster makes the call.
- What should I do until you get here?
- Put a bucket under the drip and move furniture and anything else that can get wet. If the ceiling is bulging with water, keep people clear of it. Do not climb on a wet roof yourself.
- My tile roof leaks but the tiles look fine. Why?
- On a tile roof the tiles shed most of the water, but the underlayment beneath them does the real sealing. When that layer dries out and cracks, water gets through even with every tile in place. We lift tiles in the area to check it.
Let's Stop That Leak
Tell us where you see water and we will set a time to come look. You get photos, a plain answer and a written estimate before any work starts.