A valley leak on a Victorian-era house in Edgewood, Cranston
What homeowners notice
A brown ring appears on the upstairs hall ceiling after a few days of steady rain and fades in dry weather. The house is one of the older homes with a complex roof of gables and dormers, and the stain sits well below the nearest window, nowhere near the shingles that look worn from the street.
What we do
The roofer follows the water uphill from the stain, checks the attic for damp rafters and finds the valley where two roof planes meet, where the old metal flashing has opened at a seam. The failed section is cut out, new valley flashing is laid under fresh shingles and the surrounding courses are sealed and nailed.
What to expect
The roofer gives the homeowner photos of the open valley and of the new flashing, and a written note of anything else seen on the roof that may need attention later.
A chimney leak on a colonial near Main Street, East Greenwich
What homeowners notice
A homeowner in an old house on the Hill sees damp plaster beside the chimney breast on the second floor each time wind drives rain from the northeast. The masonry looks sound from the lawn, but the strip of metal where the chimney meets the roof is lifted at one corner and the mortar line above it has gone dark.
What we do
The roofer inspects the step flashing and the counterflashing from a ladder and from the attic, removes the loose pieces and installs new flashing woven into the shingle courses, with new counterflashing set into the mortar joints. Any open joints are noted for a mason, since the roofer does not rebuild brickwork.
What to expect
The new flashing is photographed before the shingles close over it, and the homeowner is told in writing which masonry repairs, if any, belong to a separate trade.
After a snowfall and a cold week, a thick ridge of ice builds along the eaves of a mid-century cape, and water stains show on the ceiling of the room under the roof slope. Snow melts quickly on the roof above the living space, while the roof over the unheated garage stays covered.
What we do
The roofer checks the attic and finds thin, uneven insulation and no clear path for air from the eave vents to the ridge. The recommendation is to air-seal around ceiling penetrations, add insulation, keep the vent channels open and add venting where it is missing, with the ice itself dealt with by a roofer using methods that do not tear the shingles.
What to expect
The homeowner receives a written scope that separates the immediate ice removal from the attic work that prevents it coming back, along with photos of the attic.
A visit to look, then a separate day for attic work typical visit
A leaking flat section on a triple-decker in Providence
What homeowners notice
Tenants on the top floor of a three-family house report a drip in the rear bedroom whenever rain is heavy, and the landlord hears later that the floor below has a stain on its ceiling too. The front of the roof is shingled and looks fine, while the low-slope rear section sits behind a parapet and cannot be seen from the street.
What we do
The roofer goes up with access from the building, finds a split seam in the membrane near a drain and a gap where the membrane meets the parapet wall, and clears the drain. The damaged membrane is cut back and replaced, the seams are sealed, and the flashing at the wall is renewed.
What to expect
Because a leak on a shared roof reaches several households, the owner gets a written summary of the findings and photos of each repaired spot, ready to share with the tenants.
Slipped slates on an older house in the Newport Historic District
What homeowners notice
After a windy week a few slates have slid down on a steep roof facing the water, and a ceiling stain shows in the top-floor room. The owner knows the house is in a locally designated historic district, and wants to know whether fixing the roof needs approval before any work starts.
What we do
The roofer inspects the slates for cracks and corroded nails, and explains that the commission's policy treats slate as a significant material, so replacement should match the existing slate rather than use a synthetic substitute. The owner is advised to confirm with the Historic District Commission whether a Certificate of Appropriateness is needed before exterior work.
What to expect
The owner leaves with a written description of the damage, photos of the slipped slates, and a list of the questions to put to the commission before ordering any material.
A day or two, plus time for approvals typical visit
Wind-lifted shingles after a nor'easter in Portsmouth
What homeowners notice
A strong nor'easter blows across Aquidneck Island, and in the morning a homeowner finds a patch of shingles missing from the side of the roof facing the bay, a ridge cap hanging loose and a wet stain starting on the ceiling below. Rain is still forecast for the next day.
What we do
The roofer, when free, tarps the exposed section to keep water out and photographs the damage before anything is removed. A repair visit follows: damaged shingles are replaced, the ridge cap is refastened and the flashing is checked for lifted edges.
What to expect
The homeowner keeps the dated photos and the roofer's written description of the damage, which can be given to an insurer, who alone decides what is covered under the policy.
A tarp first, then a repair visit typical visit
Have the same problem?
Call and tell us what you see. We will tell you what it likely is and what it usually costs before anyone drives out.
