What causes a roof leak?

Most leaks start where the roof is interrupted, not in the middle of a field of shingles:
- Chimneys. Failed step or counter flashing, or cracked mortar above the roofline. See chimney flashing.
- Skylights. Worn flashing or seals around the frame. See skylight repair.
- Plumbing vents and roof vents. Rubber pipe boots crack in the sun, and vent flanges work loose.
- Valleys and walls. Water concentrates where two slopes meet or where a roof meets a wall.
- Missing or damaged shingles after wind and storms.
- Ice dams and clogged gutters. Water backs up under the shingles at the eaves.
Clogged or sagging gutters are an easy cause to miss. When water can’t drain off the edge, it backs up under the first rows of shingles and into the eaves. If that’s the source, gutter repair is part of the fix. We repair leaks on asphalt shingle, tile, metal and flat roofs.






