A few minutes now can limit the damage inside your home.
What To Do When Your Roof Is Leaking Right Now
Then call us, and we will tell you what to do next.
Do this now:
Move furniture and valuables away from the drip
Set a bucket under it and lay down a towel
Photograph the stain and the water for your records
Turn off power to that area if water is near a light or outlet
Call 587-839-1670
Do not:
Climb onto a wet, icy or snowy roof
Ignore a small stain, because leaks grow
Paint over a ceiling stain before the leak is fixed
Accept a quote that does not say where the water got in
Almost every leak starts at one of these points. Knowing them helps you describe what you see.
Where Roof Leaks Come From
01
Flashing
Metal flashing around chimneys, walls and skylights lifts or cracks as the roof moves with temperature swings.
01
Pipe boots and vents
Rubber pipe boots dry out and split in sun and cold, letting water run down the pipe.
01
Shingles and nails
Cracked, lifted or missing shingles and nails that have backed out give water a direct path.
01
Valleys
Where two roof planes meet, a lot of water funnels down one line, so any weakness shows up fast.
01
Ice dams
Meltwater backs up under the shingles at the eaves and leaks into the wall or ceiling below.
01
Skylights and chimneys
Seals and flashing around anything that goes through the roof age faster than the shingles around them.
Most roof leak repairs in Calgary cost between $300 and $1,500. The source of the leak and the condition of the deck decide where yours lands.
How Much Does Roof Leak Repair Cost in Calgary?
Pipe Boots and Vents
A cracked pipe boot or a loose vent is often a quick repair, usually a few hundred dollars.
Flashing Repairs
Flashing work around chimneys, walls and skylights typically falls between $500 and $1,500.
Shingles and Exposed Nails
Replacing damaged shingles and sealing nail heads usually costs less than flashing work.
Decking and Multiple Leaks
If water has rotted the deck, or the roof leaks in several places, the scope grows. At some point replacing the roof costs less than repeated repairs.
Roof Leaking? Tell Us What You See
Send a few details and a photo of the stain if you have one.
A leak repair that lasts starts with finding the cause, not covering the symptom.
How We Find and Fix a Roof Leak
Ask Where and When
We start with what you have seen: where the stain is, whether it leaks in rain, snowmelt or wind, and how long it has been happening.
Check the Attic
From inside, we follow the water trail on the underside of the deck, looking for stains, damp insulation, daylight and rusted nails.
Inspect the Roof
On the roof, we look at flashing, vents, pipe boots, valleys and shingles along the line the water travelled.
Isolate the Source
When the entry point is not obvious, we narrow it down by working through the likely spots one at a time.
Repair and Seal
We replace the failed part, not just seal it. A new pipe boot, new flashing or new shingles, installed and sealed to match your roof.
Show You What We Found
We photograph the cause and the repair so you can see what happened, and we note any damage inside that needs attention.
Emergency Roof Leak Repair in Calgary
If water is coming in during a storm or snowmelt, call us directly at 587-839-1670. We get a weatherproof covering over the damaged area first, then follow up with the permanent repair once the roof is dry and safe to work on. We respond the same day. Emergency work carries a premium for after-hours calls, and we tell you the cost before we start.
- Same-day response
- Temporary weatherproof cover
- Permanent repair to follow
- Cost explained before we start
A Common Source
Damaged Shingles and Exposed Nails
Shingles crack, curl and lose their granules as they age. Nails can also back out and push up through the shingle above, and the seal under the nail head dries and fails. Water then follows the nail into the deck. The photo shows torn shingles and exposed nails on a Calgary roof. The fix is to replace the damaged shingles, set or replace the nails and seal everything so it matches the rest of the roof.
- Cracked and lifted shingles replaced
- Backed-out nails reset or replaced
- Sealant under shingle tabs
- Repair matched to your roof
Hips and Ridges
Ridge Caps and Nail Heads
Ridge and hip caps take the most sun and wind on a roof, so they wear first. Cracked caps and exposed nail heads let water in at the highest point of the roof, where it can run in a long way before you see it. The photo shows hip and ridge shingles with nail heads showing. We replace worn caps, cover the nails and check the vents along the ridge.
- Worn ridge caps replaced
- Nail heads covered and sealed
- Ridge vents checked
- Hips and valleys inspected
Winter Leaks
Ice Dam Leaks and How to Stop Them
A leak that only shows up in winter or during snowmelt is often an ice dam. Heat escaping from the attic melts snow on the upper roof, and the water refreezes at the cold eave and backs up under the shingles. Chipping ice treats the symptom. The lasting fix is better attic insulation and ventilation, and ice and water membrane along the eaves. The photo shows ice barrier and underlayment going on a Calgary roof.
- Attic insulation and air sealing
- Ventilation sized to the roof
- Ice barrier at the eaves
- Damaged shingles and underlayment repaired
Book a Roof Leak Inspection
Some leaks need a closer look at parts of the roof other than the shingles.
Skylight, Chimney and Flat Roof Leaks
Skylight Leaks
Skylights leak at the flashing and the seal around the frame far more often than through the glass. We check the flashing, curb and seals before anything else.
Chimney Leaks
Chimney flashing, the cap and the mortar can all let water in. We look at each one and repair the point that failed.
Flat and Low-Slope Roofs
Ponding water, split seams and failed penetrations are the usual causes. Flat roofs need different materials from shingles, so we assess them separately.
Townhouse and Condo Roofs
Shared roofs and shared walls make leaks harder to trace. We document what we find so you can work with your neighbours and your condo board.
Why Call Blueprint for a Roof Leak?
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Source, not symptom
we trace the leak to where water gets in before we repair anything
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Photos of what we find
you see the cause and the repair, not just an invoice
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Matched repairs
new parts that match your roof so the repair lasts
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Direct line to the owner
you talk to the person responsible for the job
Frequently Asked Questions About Roof Leaks
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Q. How much will it cost to fix a leak in my roof?
Most roof leak repairs in Calgary cost between $300 and $1,500. A cracked pipe boot or loose vent is at the low end, flashing work is in the middle, and rotted decking or several leaks push the price up. We give you the price after we find the source.
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Q. How do I stop a leaking roof during heavy rain?
From inside, move belongings, set a bucket under the drip and photograph the damage. Do not climb onto a wet roof. Call a roofer, and we will cover the damaged area temporarily and fix it permanently when the weather allows.
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Q. Is it normal for a roof to leak in heavy rain?
No. A healthy roof sheds even heavy rain. A leak that only appears in wind-driven rain or after a long storm still means water is getting past the shingles, usually at flashing, a vent or a damaged shingle.
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Q. Can you fix a leaking roof without replacing it?
Usually yes. Most leaks come from one failed part, such as a pipe boot, flashing or a group of shingles, and replacing that part fixes it. If the roof is old and leaking in several places, replacement may cost less over time, and we will tell you honestly. See our roof repair page for the repairs we handle most.
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Q. Why does my roof only leak in winter?
Winter leaks are usually ice dams. Warm air escaping from the attic melts snow, the water refreezes at the eave and backs up under the shingles. The lasting fix is attic insulation and ventilation, with ice barrier on the roof.
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Q. Will my insurance cover a roof leak?
It depends on the cause. Sudden damage from hail, wind or a fallen branch is often covered, while wear and tear usually is not. We photograph the damage and the cause, which helps if you file a claim. Our hail damage page explains the claim steps for storm damage.
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Q. How long does a roof leak repair take?
Most leak repairs take a few hours to a day once we have found the source. Rain, snow or high wind can delay the work, and we cover the area temporarily if the weather will not allow a permanent fix.
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Q. How can I tell where my roof leak is coming from?
Start inside. Look in the attic for dark stains on the underside of the deck, wet insulation or rusted nail tips, and follow them uphill, because water travels along the rafters before it drips. The source is usually higher than the ceiling stain and in line with it. A roofer can then check the flashing, vents and shingles along that line.
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Q. Does a roof leak mean I need a new roof?
Not usually. Most leaks come from one failed part. A new roof makes sense when the shingles are near the end of their life, losing granules across the whole roof, or leaking in several places. We will tell you which applies after the inspection, and we will not sell a replacement when a repair will do. See our roof replacement page to compare.
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Q. What should I do about a stain on the ceiling?
A stain means water has been getting in. Photograph it, mark its edge with a pencil to see if it grows, and call us. Repair the roof first, then repaint the ceiling, since new paint over a live leak will stain again.