Roof Repair near you

Natural Resources Canada names poor flashing at hips, valleys and chimneys, along with ice-dam leaks, among the typical trouble spots. They are also the first places a roofer should check.

Look from the ground or with binoculars, and from inside the attic if you can move safely on the joists. Don't climb onto the roof to check: wet, icy or steep roofs are dangerous, and walking on them can cause more damage.

A careful roofer starts inside, following water stains and wet insulation in the attic back uphill to where the water first gets in. Outside, they examine the flashing, fasteners and seals in that area, and may run water over one section at a time to confirm the entry point before opening anything up.

The repair should fix the cause, not just cover it. That can mean lifting shingles to replace a length of flashing properly, rebuilding a valley or replacing a vent boot rather than smearing sealant over the surface. Ask for photos of the damage and of the finished repair, and make sure any wet insulation or rotten decking they uncover is replaced.

There is no single rule, but a few questions usually settle it. A roofer who does both kinds of work should be able to tell you which way they lean and why.

Many leaks show up in the middle of winter, and not all of them are the roof's fault. When warm, moist air from the house leaks into the attic, it can condense and freeze on the underside of the deck and on nail tips, then melt and drip on a mild day. Natural Resources Canada notes that vents alone won't prevent this condensation; the air leaks themselves have to be sealed.

Ice-dam leaks happen when snow melts over a warm attic and refreezes at the cold eaves, backing water up under the shingles. A roofer can repair the damage and confirm that an eave membrane is in place, but lasting relief usually comes from air sealing and insulation in the attic, work often done by an insulation contractor alongside the roof repair.