A ceiling stain or a drip in the rain almost always traces to a small, findable failure. We locate the real source and close it.
The frustrating thing about a roof leak is that where it shows inside is rarely where it starts outside. Water enters at a gap in the roof, runs along the underside of the deck or down a rafter, and drips through the ceiling several feet from its real source. That is why chasing the stain instead of the source leads to repairs that do not hold.
In Los Angeles, the usual culprits are failed flashing at the chimney, walls, and valleys, slipped or cracked tiles, and, on tile roofs, underlayment that has aged out beneath tile that still looks fine. Clogged valleys and gutters that back water up under the roof edge are another frequent cause, especially in a heavy rain. The good news is that most leaks come from one of a handful of spots, so a proper diagnosis finds them.
We approach a leak by finding its true origin first, through leak detection, then closing it with a lasting roof repair. If the cause is the flashing, our flashing repair handles it, and if it is worn underlayment across a wide area, a reroof is the honest fix.
We find the source and close it before it reaches the wood. Call (310) 806-5959 or request an estimate.
Only in heavy rain points to flashing or valleys. With no rain at all points to condensation, plumbing, or HVAC, as our no-rain leak page covers.
Near a chimney or skylight points to flashing. A note of the spot inside helps us trace back to the source outside.
An active pour or a bulging ceiling is urgent, as our is it an emergency page explains. A slow drip can wait a few days.
A storm or fallen branch points to storm damage, which may be an insurance matter.
Once the source is found, the repair is straightforward: reset or replace the failed tiles, reflash the joints properly rather than smear on more caulk, and replace any underlayment that has aged out at that spot. If water has already reached the decking, that gets addressed too, before the new work goes on.
The reason to move on a leak is simple. Left alone, it keeps soaking the same wood, and a small gap becomes rot, ruined insulation, and stained drywall, as our page on delaying a repair lays out. It can also invite mold, covered on our roof leak and mold page. Catching it early keeps the fix small. A written roof inspection confirms the extent so nothing is missed.
Tell us what your roof is doing. We find the source and give you a written price, with no obligation.