Our work · Roof leak
Roof leak and a hallway ceiling stain
Find the path of the water. Quote the stopgap and the replacement. Patch the ceiling after the roof is quiet.
Most of these calls start the same way. A brown mark on the hallway ceiling. A drip after wind and rain. A property manager who needs the water stopped before the next storm. You do not always need a new roof the same week. You need someone to say which it is, in writing, before anyone sells you the bigger ticket.
What we look at
The stain is the last place the water sat. We walk the roof for the path: flashing at a wall or chimney, a pipe boot that cracked in the sun, a vent, a broken tile, failed shingles, or a gutter that is soaking the edge. Then we look at the room under it. If the drywall is soft, it comes off after the leak is quiet, not before.
On a lot of Anaheim tract houses the roof is tile over underlayment that is older than the tile looks. The tile is still there. The paper under it is not doing its job. That is why a patch on one tile can fail again two storms later.
The two quotes
Budget: contain it
Find the active and likely paths. Repair flashing, boots, and the failed run. Dry the interior. Patch and paint the ceiling after the roof is quiet. This is the number if the rest of the roof still has life.
Longer term: replace
If the underlayment is spent, or leaks keep moving, the second number is a replacement. That quote lives on our roofing page. We still show the containment price when it is possible. We do not hide it to force the bigger job.
What we actually do
We write the path of the water on the report. We do not price the neighborhood from the street. If siding below the leak is open, paint will not close it. That line goes to siding on the same visit. The drywall and interior paint sit on drywall and repairs when you want one crew.
No deposit to get on the calendar. Half when we arrive. The rest after you confirm the leak is addressed and you approve the work. Details on that payment order are on Why Choose FixMate.
What you should check on any bid
- Did they name the path of the water, or just say “roof leak”?
- Is there a contain option and a replace option, or only a replacement?
- Does the interior repair wait until the roof is quiet?
- What material goes back on the flashing, boot, or underlayment?
Questions people ask
Will you only quote a new roof?
No. If a repair will hold, that is the budget quote. If it will not, we say why and still show the containment price when it is possible.
Can you do the ceiling on the same job?
Yes, after the leak is addressed. We will not paint a wet stain and call it finished.
How fast can you come after a leak?
Call or text. Active water is the first item on the report. Timing depends on weather and the queue. We will say what we can do, not what sounds good.
Related
Call or text
Free roof inspection and two written quotes. No deposit to get on the calendar.
Or send this
Name, mobile, and city. We text to set the free inspection. Quotes after we walk the job.