You may wonder, how much does a leaky roof cost to fix? Learn why waiting to fix even a small leak can considerably increase the final cost.
Who to Call for a Leaky Roof
There’s really only one person for this kind of job
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Roof leaks happen for many reasons, from storm damage to worn shingles, and finding the right professional to call for a roof leak starts with a roofer.
Roofers can pinpoint whether your leak comes from the roof or interior plumbing, helping you avoid hiring the wrong person and wasting time on misdiagnosed problems.
DIY roof repairs put you at risk of falls and structural mistakes, so locating the leak inside your home before the pro arrives gives them a helpful head start.
Hiring a local roof leak repair professional provides expert diagnosis and safe repairs, handling everything from broken shingles to hidden vulnerabilities that could cause future leaks.
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Discovering a leaky roof brings up a lot of questions. How did it happen? Where’s the nearest bucket? And, most importantly, who can I hire to fix it? Despite its watery nature, a roofer—not a plumber—is always going to be the best person for the job when it comes to who to call for a leaky roof. Here’s why and what exactly they’ll do to restore order in your home.
Benefits of Hiring a Roofer to Fix a Leaky Roof
There are many potential reasons your roof is suddenly leaking: Maybe your roof is leaking in winter because of a snow buildup that went unattended, or a summer storm broke through fragile paneling. Roofers are the only people qualified for a job like this because they have the certifications, necessary tools, and skills to assess the damage and fix it according to local building codes and regulations.
Not sure if the leak is actually coming from your roof or somewhere in your plumbing? It’s still a good idea to hire a roofing company near you, because they tell you whether the problem is coming from the top of your home or somewhere inside. They’ll also inspect for and repair any damage that could lead to a leak down the line.
"Using a roofing material that either has no horizontal overlaps or has actual interlocks running horizontally rather than overlaps will be very beneficial at keeping that ice and melted snow from backing up into the structure."
— Todd Miller, President of Isaiah Industries, Piqua, OH
Can I Fix a Roof Leak Myself?
Just because you can technically do this job yourself doesn’t mean that you should. Performing roof repairs comes with a lot of risks—like falling off or through the roof as well as potential structural damage from any mistakes you may make. That’s why it’s always a good idea to leave this task to a pro instead.
One thing you can do to give your pro a head start is locate the leak within your home. Making a note of where the water ends up will help them more easily find the source of the roof leak.
Can I Hire a Plumber to Fix a Leaky Roof?
While plumbers can help solve leaks that are coming from inside your home, they aren’t equipped to handle problems on the roof. If you hire a roofer to fix the problem and they find no leak in the roof, you’re likely dealing with an interior issue and that’s when you’ll want to seek out a plumber instead.
How Do Pros Fix Leaky Roofs?
Photo: Alphotographic / E+ / Getty Images
These are the major steps that a professional roofer will take to fix a leaky roof.
Find the leak: Even if you can show your pro exactly where the leak is inside your home, it’s going to be harder to locate on top of the roof. They’ll look in the most vulnerable places, like ridges and vents.
Clear the area: Once they’ve found the problem area, they’ll remove debris to make their work easier.
Tear off old or broken shingles: Shingles will likely be damaged wherever there’s a leak, and the pros will need to remove them to be able to patch up any holes beneath.
Patch up holes: After removing old shingles and roof paper, a roofer will seal any holes with caulk and line them with new roof paper.
Remove, repair, and replace damaged roof deck: Even if the leak isn’t directly on the roof deck, water runoff can also cause harm to these areas. Pros will assess the damage and make removals, repairs, and replacements as necessary.
Install new shingles: Finally, they’ll install new shingles. This is the last step to ensure that your roof looks and performs as good as new.
Roofing services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.3★ avg. • 120 total reviews
- Chance R.
D1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLC - Jeremy P.
This place took $25,000 for a flat roof job with a five-year warranty and never returned to fix the leaks that were caused by their work. These people are not professionals and should not be doing this type of work. They incorrectly changed the pitch of the roof, and caused more damage than...
- David B.
The technician was very professional and friendly. He answered all my questions and was very thorough. He left the fireplace area very clean . He inspected from the roof and advised me as to other work that might need to be done. There was no pressure there. I was very satisfied with the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Kevin S.
I am really impressed with their timeliness and turnaround. Mitchell came out, and we decided to move forward with their pricing. Our roof was on within a week, and we could not be happier with their team! Amazing company, great prices and honest, dependable craftsmanship. I highly recommend...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Rob B.
Manuel Calvillo is the best option in the area for roofing and you won't be disappointed.
- Julie K.
They damaged multiple items on my property, including a marble slab used as a table top, tried to hide it, and refused to pay or replace. Arrived day one without a ladder to access roof & delayed a day. Left a mess in back yard; didn't wear face masks; no show by owner to property to see damages
Grants Tree Service - Marcia L.
I've hired Gary/Cherokee Roofing for two different homes, work quality, responsiveness, and completion have been great both times. And the prices quoted were very competitive. I would definitely hire again.
- Paul F.
Lyle did a great job removing asbestos shingles from our front porch roof. They worked together with our roofer to make sure that the new roof was able to be installed on the same day that Lyle removed the asbestos shingles.
Lyle Environmental - Paul F.
Bradley Builders did a good job replacing the roof on our front porch. They color-matched the existing shingles on the rest of the house and installed a metal ridge roll since we live in a historical neighborhood. They did the job while we were out of town. When we got back, everything was...
Bradley Builders, Inc. - Madison B.
I would absolutely recommend this business. They offer a variety of services, including: painting, roofing, and refinishing wood flooring. I hired them to refinish the original hardwood flooring in my home built in 1874. The job was quite challenging, as the floors were extremely aged and...
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