Roof Leak Repair in Calgary

Where the water gets in, and what we do about it

The middle of a shingle roof is rarely where it fails. Leaks usually start where something interrupts the roof, and each place has its own fix:

• Around a chimney or where the roof meets a wall. We check the flashing and replace or re-seal it where it has failed.
• Around a vent pipe. We replace the rubber boot when it has split.
• In a valley. We repair or replace the worn material where two slopes drain together.
• Around a skylight. We rework the flashing at the frame. The glass is rarely the problem.
• Where shingles have lifted. A lifted shingle can settle back down and look fine from the ground while it no longer sheds water. We replace the ones that have lost their seal.
• At the eaves in winter. Snow that melts and refreezes at the roof edge forms an ice dam that pushes water back under the shingles. We repair the damage and look at why heat is escaping from the attic.

Signs you have a leaking roof

A leaky roof does not always drip. Here is what to look for:

• A brown or yellow stain on a ceiling or wall.
• Ceiling paint that bubbles or bulges.
• A drip from a bathroom fan or a light fixture.
• Insulation in the attic that is damp or matted down.
• Flashing around a chimney or vent that is loose or missing.
• Stains that show up after rain or a snow melt.

Not every ceiling stain is a roof leak. In the middle of a cold winter, with no rain, a stain can come from attic condensation instead. Our guide to condensation versus a roof leak shows how to tell them apart.

Why we trace the leak before we fix it

Water runs along the framing and the underside of the deck before it drips. It can show up on your ceiling a long way from the hole in the roof. A patch over the stain, or over the first damaged shingle you can see, often fixes nothing.

So the visit starts with a diagnostic. A roofer goes over the roof and then into the attic, where stains on the deck, wet insulation and daylight show where the roof is open. You see the photos before you decide anything.

Repair or replace?

If one spot is leaking on a roof with life left in it, a repair is usually the right answer. If you have leaks in more than one room, or the shingles are worn across whole slopes, patches only buy time on a roof that is failing everywhere. We tell you which case you are in, and we put it in writing. Our guide to repairing or replacing a roof in Calgary goes through the signs.

What roof leak repair costs

The diagnostic inspection is $160. If you go ahead with the repair, we credit the $160 in full. You get the repair price in writing after the inspection and before any work starts. A leak cannot be priced from the ground or from a photo, which is why the visit comes first.

How long the leak has been running matters. If water has soaked the decking under the shingles, that wood has to be cut out and replaced before new shingles go on. That adds to the job.

If hail or wind caused the damage, your homeowner policy may cover it, and your insurer decides. See roof insurance claims in Calgary.

Water coming in right now?

Call the 24/7 line at (587) 969-2720. If the roof needs a tarp before it can be repaired, that comes first. See emergency roof repair in Calgary.