Roof repairs we handle

Most leaks come from a short list of places. We check all of them, not just the spot you can see from the ground.

• Flashing leaks at chimneys, sidewalls, dormers and skylights, one of the most common leak sources on any roof
• Pipe boots and vents, where rubber collars crack and let water run down the pipe
• Missing shingles blown off in wind storms, and shingles lifted by nails that have backed out
• Valleys, where two roof planes meet and carry the most water
• Ice dam damage at the eaves, where meltwater backs up under the shingles
• Soft spots in the decking from a slow leak that has been going on for a while
• Fascia, soffit and trim that has rotted behind a failing gutter or drip edge

Finding where the water is actually getting in

A water stain on the ceiling tells you water got in somewhere. It rarely tells you where. Water follows rafters, decking seams and pipes before it drips, so we work from the roof side: flashing first, then valleys and penetrations uphill of the stain, then the shingles themselves. When we find it, we photograph it so you can see the cause, not just the fix.

Emergency repairs and temporary protection

If water is coming in right now, call us at the number on this page. When a permanent repair can’t be done right away because of weather or damage size, we secure the area with a tarp or temporary cover so the inside of the house stays dry, then schedule the permanent repair.

Fascia and trim repair

Rotten fascia boards usually mean water has been getting behind the gutter or the drip edge is missing. We replace the damaged wood, add or correct the drip edge and make sure the gutter is pitched and fastened so it doesn’t happen again.

Flat roof and low-slope repairs

Porches, additions, garages and rowhouse roofs often have rubber or membrane roofing instead of shingles. Seams open up, flashing at walls pulls away and water ponds. We repair EPDM and TPO membranes and explain when a section is better off replaced. See flat roofing for more.

Repair or replace?

A repair makes sense when the problem is isolated and the rest of the roof has life left. When leaks keep coming back, shingles are failing across the roof or the decking is soft in several places, you’ll spend less over time on a roof replacement. We’ll tell you which one we’d choose if it were our house, and why.

What to do before we get there

• Move furniture and valuables away from the drip and put down a bucket or towels
• If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from underneath it
• Don’t climb onto a wet or icy roof; we’ll handle it
• Take photos of any interior damage for your records

Ice dam repairs

Ice dams are the most common winter leak around Albany. Snow melts over a warm attic, refreezes at the cold eave and backs water up under the shingles. After an ice dam leak we check the eaves for damaged shingles, soaked underlayment and rotted decking, and repair what the water reached. Then we look at why it happened: missing ice and water shield at the eaves, blocked soffit vents or warm air leaking into the attic. Fixing the cause is what keeps the same ceiling from staining again next winter.

Roof repair across the Capital Region

We handle roof repairs throughout Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga County and the surrounding towns, on single-family homes, rentals and commercial buildings. Every repair comes with photos of the problem and the finished work.

Repair, or replace

Not every failing roof needs replacing, and not every old roof is worth repairing twice. Repair or replace your roof walks through the signs that decide it, and how to choose a roofing contractor covers what to check before you let anyone on the roof.