Does a roof leak mean you need a new roof?
Usually not. Here’s how to tell.

A water stain on the ceiling is scary, and a lot of homeowners assume it means a whole new roof. Most of the time, it doesn't.

Request a free assessment → Call 717-598-2410 →

A leak repair in Steelton: new membrane across one failed joint

The short answer

Most leaks come from one spot that failed, not the whole roof. Fix that spot right and the leak stops. A new roof only makes sense when the roof is worn out across the board, or when repairs keep failing.

Where most leaks really come from

Pipe boots. The rubber collar around plumbing vents cracks long before the shingles wear out.
Flashing. Where the roof meets a wall, a chimney or the house next door, the metal has to be lapped right.
Seams on flat roofs. Rubber roofs leak where seams open up or edges pull loose.
A few damaged shingles. Wind lifts and creases shingles, and water gets under them.
Old patches. Tar covers a problem for a while. Then it cracks.

Every one of these is usually a repair, not a new roof.

A real example: one joint, no new roof

On a Steelton twin, water was coming into the ceiling right below where a metal roof slope met the flat roof. We pulled the old membrane back, ran new membrane across the joint, patched one failed spot and sealed it. That was it. See the pics from that job.

When it really is time for a new roof

The shingles are worn out everywhere, not just in one spot.
The deck under the roof is soft or rotted in a lot of places.
The flat roof has patches on top of patches, and seams are opening all over.
Repairs have been tried and the leak keeps coming back.

That last one happened on an older Harrisburg home. We tried repairs first. When the leak came back, we said so plainly and replaced it. Here's that job.

What to do if it’s leaking right now

Move anything valuable out of the way and catch the drip with a bucket. Take a few photos of the stain and of the roof from the ground. Then call or text 717-598-2410. You can text the photos, and the owner answers.

Questions worth answering up front

Roof leak questions we hear a lot.

Can one leak really be fixed without replacing the roof?

Yes, most of the time. Most leaks come from one failed spot like a pipe boot, flashing, a seam or a few shingles. We find it, show you pics and fix that spot.

How do I know if my roof is worn out?

If the shingles are worn everywhere, the deck is soft in a lot of places, or repairs keep failing, replacement is usually the better money. We'll show you pics so you can see it yourself.

Do you warranty roof repairs?

Yes. Repairs come with a 1-year written workmanship warranty. Manufacturer warranties on materials apply separately.

Keep reading

A straight answer · Work done right · Support after the job

Your home is your haven.
Feel safe with who's working on it.

Call or text and tell us what’s going on. If a small repair is all your roof needs, that’s all we’ll recommend. And all we’ll charge.