Roof Repair
A water stain on the ceiling or a few shingles in the yard tells you something is wrong, but not where the problem begins. Roof damage often starts somewhere other than where it shows up, and a repair aimed at the wrong spot won't hold.
Our roof repair services start with a careful inspection to find the actual source. From there, we repair the damaged area with materials suited to your roof. If the roof needs more than a repair, we'll explain why, so you can decide with the full picture.
Water coming in right now?
Our 24/7 emergency service can help limit the damage.
Get Emergency Help Call (630) 541-4998Damage after hail or high winds?
Storm damage often affects more than the roof and may involve an insurance claim.
Storm Damage RestorationHow Roof Leaks Work
Water rarely drips straight down. Once it gets past the roofing, it follows the slope of the roof and the framing beneath it until it finds a place to collect. That's why roof leak repair starts with tracing the path, not patching the stain.
A lifted shingle, a cracked pipe boot, or a gap in the flashing lets water past the surface.
Water runs along the underlayment, the roof deck, or the rafters, sometimes several feet from where it entered.
It pools on insulation or the top of the ceiling until it soaks through.
The stain shows up where the water stopped, not where it started.
Common Roof Repairs
Most roof problems start at a handful of predictable points. Here's what we look for, what you might notice, and what the repair involves.
Wind can break the seal strip that holds shingles down, leaving them lifted, creased, or missing. Age makes shingles brittle and prone to cracking.
You may notice: shingles in the yard, visible gaps, or edges that look raised.
The repair: we replace damaged shingles and make sure the surrounding shingles are seated and sealed.
Metal flashing seals the joints where a roof meets a wall, a dormer, or a second story. It can loosen or corrode over time, or it may have been sealed with caulk instead of installed properly.
You may notice: stains on interior walls below a roof-to-wall joint.
The repair: we reseat or replace the flashing and integrate it with the surrounding shingles.
The rubber collars around plumbing vent pipes crack with age and sun exposure, and vents can loosen or lose their seal. These are among the most common sources of small, persistent leaks.
You may notice: a stain near a bathroom or kitchen ceiling.
The repair: we replace the failed boot or reseal the vent.
Valleys carry more water than any other part of the roof, so they wear faster and hold debris.
You may notice: leaks during heavy rain that stop in light rain.
The repair: we replace worn valley shingles and the underlayment beneath them when needed.
The shingles along the peak take the most wind exposure and can crack or blow off.
You may notice: missing pieces along the roof peak.
The repair: we replace the damaged ridge cap shingles.
Porches, additions, and other low-slope areas drain slowly, so open seams, punctures, and blisters lead to leaks quickly.
You may notice: standing water that lingers after rain.
The repair: we repair the damaged section of the roofing membrane and the seams around it.
Not sure which one you're dealing with? Schedule a Free Inspection
Illinois Winters
If your roof only leaks in winter, ice dams are a likely cause. Heat escaping from the house warms the roof deck and melts the snow above it. The meltwater runs down to the colder eaves and refreezes, building a ridge of ice that traps the water behind it. With nowhere to drain, that water works its way under the shingles.
Repairing ice dam damage means replacing affected shingles and underlayment at the eaves and checking the decking beneath. The conditions that create ice dams usually come from the attic, through heat loss and ventilation, so we'll tell you if we see signs that the problem is likely to return.
How to prepare your roof for winterRepair or Replace
Not every roof problem calls for a new roof, and not every roof is worth repairing again. After the inspection, we'll recommend what your roof's condition supports.
Our Process
We inspect your roof and the signs you've noticed inside to find where the problem starts.
We explain what we found, what's causing it, and what we recommend: a repair, or replacement if the roof's condition calls for it.
We remove the damaged materials and repair the area with materials matched as closely as possible to your roof.
We review the repaired area before we leave.
Roof Repair Cost
Repair costs vary because the problems vary. These are the factors that shape a repair quote.
The most reliable way to know what your repair will cost is an inspection. Ours are free.
A cracked pipe boot is a smaller job than a failing valley or a damaged section of the roof.
Steep or high roofs require more safety equipment and time.
Asphalt shingle, flat, and low-slope roofs each require different materials and methods.
If water has damaged the underlayment or decking, that has to be repaired too, and it isn't always visible until the area is opened.
Older or discontinued shingles can take more effort to match.
Questions
Yes. When damage is confined to one area and the rest of the roof is in good condition, repairing that section is usually the practical choice. When the problem is more widespread, we'll explain why a larger repair or replacement may be the better investment.
On a newer roof, a close match is usually possible. On older roofs, sun and weather fade shingles over time, and some styles are discontinued, so an exact match isn't always achievable. We'll use the closest available match and tell you before the work starts how close it's likely to be.
It depends on the size of the repair, the roof's pitch, the materials needed, and the weather. Many smaller repairs can be completed in a single visit, while larger repairs or those that require special-order materials take longer.
It depends on your policy and the cause of the damage. Sudden damage, such as from a storm, is often treated differently than wear and age. Your insurer makes the coverage decision. We can inspect the roof and document what we find.
Learn more about insurance claims and storm damage restoration.
Temporary measures like tarping can limit water entry until a proper repair is made, but they aren't permanent. Sealant applied over a failed shingle or flashing joint tends to fail again, often after the leak has done more damage.
Yes. We inspect the roof, explain what we find, and give you our recommendation at no cost.
Schedule a free roof inspection and get a clear answer on what your roof needs.
Serving homeowners throughout Chicago's western suburbs. View our service areas
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