If your roof is leaking now, catch the water, move what can be damaged and call a roofer. The steps below limit the damage until the roof is fixed. Call (605) 273-7260.
What should I do right now if my roof is leaking?
Contain the water first, then call. Do these in order.
- Put a bucket under the drip and move furniture and electronics.
- If the ceiling is bulging, poke a small hole at the lowest point so the water drains into the bucket.
- Turn off power to any wet light fitting or outlet at the breaker.
- Take photos and a short video with the date.
- Do not go on the roof in rain, wind, snow or the dark.
- Call a roofer, and call your insurer if a storm caused it.
Why does my roof leak only in heavy rain or wind?
A roof that leaks only in heavy rain or wind usually has a gap that normal rain does not reach. Wind pushes water sideways and uphill, under lifted shingles, behind wall flashing and through vents. Heavy rain overfills valleys and backs up behind debris. The direction of the storm is a useful clue, so note which way the wind was blowing.
Why is there a water stain on my ceiling but no drip?
A stain on the ceiling with no drip means a small amount of water arrived and dried. It may be a slow roof leak, but in Sioux Falls winters it is often attic frost that melted on a warm day, or meltwater backed up behind an ice dam. A bath fan duct that drips condensation is another cause. Mark the edge of the stain with a pencil and see if it grows.
How do roofers find where a leak starts?
We find a leak by working uphill from the stain. Water runs along decking and rafters before it drops, so the entry point is rarely right above the wet spot. We check the attic for trails and damp insulation, then check the roof above: pipe boots, flashing, valleys, nail pops and anything that pierces the roof. If nothing shows, a controlled water test with a hose, one area at a time, finds it.
Can a roof be repaired in the rain or in winter?
A roof can be patched in the rain and repaired in winter, but with limits. In the rain we can tarp or seal a spot to stop water, and the permanent repair waits for a dry roof. In winter, shingles are brittle and their seal strips do not bond until warm weather, so they need careful handling and hand-sealing. Snow and ice have to be cleared from the work area first.
Do you do emergency roof repair?
Yes. Call us. We do our best to get a crew out quickly to stop the leak and protect the building. After a large hail or wind storm every roofer in the city is busy, so call early. HomeGuide lists an emergency fee of $200 to $300 on top of the repair as a national figure. It publishes no total for emergency repairs.
The leak came back after another roofer fixed it. Why?
A leak that came back was usually sealed at the surface and not fixed at the source. Caulk over a cracked boot or loose flashing lasts a season, then our cold splits it. It is also possible there were two entry points. We trace the water again from the attic and show you photos of the cause before we quote.
Is a small leak really urgent?
Yes. A small leak wets insulation, stains drywall and rots decking long before it drips much. In winter the water freezes, expands and widens the gap. A repair that is minor today can become decking and ceiling work in a few months.
Can a leaking roof cause mold?
Yes. Mold can grow on damp wood, insulation and drywall when they stay wet. Stopping the leak and drying the area quickly is what prevents it. We repair the roof. If mold is already established, a remediation company deals with the inside.
Why is my skylight leaking?
A skylight usually leaks at its flashing, not through the glass. Snow piles on the uphill side, melts and refreezes there, and that is where the seal fails first. Sometimes the drip is condensation on cold glass and not a leak at all. HomeGuide lists $225 to $800 for a skylight leak repair nationally.
Water is coming through a light fixture. Is that dangerous?
Yes. Water in a light fixture is a shock and fire risk. Turn off the breaker for that circuit, not just the wall switch, and do not touch the fixture while it is wet. Catch the water in a bucket. Leave the power off until the leak is stopped and an electrician has checked the fixture and the wiring above it. Then call a roofer to find where the water gets in.
Why is my ceiling leaking when it has not rained?
A ceiling that leaks when it has not rained is usually not a roof leak. In a Sioux Falls winter the common causes are attic frost melting on a mild day and meltwater held behind an ice dam. In summer look at the air conditioner drain line, a bath fan duct or a plumbing pipe that runs through the attic. Note the weather on the days it drips. That pattern tells a roofer where to look.
Why is the attic dry right above the stain?
The attic is often dry right above the stain because water does not fall straight down. It runs along the underside of the decking, a rafter or a truss, and drops where something stops it. The entry point can be several feet uphill. Insulation also soaks up a slow leak and dries between storms. Follow the framing uphill from the stain with a flashlight and look for dark trails or rusty nails.
Can clogged gutters make a roof leak?
Yes. Clogged gutters hold water at the edge of the roof, and it backs up under the first row of shingles and into the fascia and soffit. In winter a full gutter freezes solid and adds to an ice dam. Clean them in late fall after the leaves are down, and again in spring. Clean gutters alone will not stop ice dams, because those start with heat from the attic.
Is it normal for a new roof to leak in the first year?
No. A new roof should not leak in the first year. When one does, the cause is nearly always the installation: flashing at a wall or chimney, a pipe boot, a missed nail or a valley. Call the roofer who installed it, in writing with photos, and ask for a repair under the workmanship warranty. In winter, check first that it is not attic frost or an ice dam.
There is a leak under a solar panel mount. The solar company and the roofer blame each other. What now?
Get the entry point documented before anyone argues. A leak at a solar mount or bracket is usually the mount flashing, which the solar installer put in. A leak a few feet away may be the roof. Ask for an inspection with photos taken with the panel lifted. Then read both contracts for who warrants roof penetrations. Put your request to each company in writing. We repair the roof. Panels are removed by the solar company.
A free roof inspection with photos and a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your roof. Call (605) 273-7260 or send the form on this page.