Why does the leak only show up in certain storms?

Wind direction. A lifted tab or a gap in wall flashing may only take in water when rain is driven from one side. Tell the contractor which storms produced the leak and which way the wind came from.

Can a leak come from the AC instead of the roof?

Yes. In Cypress attics the air handler and its condensate drain sit above the ceiling, and a clogged drain line leaves a stain that looks just like a roof leak. If the stain appears on dry summer days, check the AC first.

Will a repair void the shingle warranty?

Repairs with matching materials done to the maker's instructions normally do not. Ask the contractor to note the materials used, and keep that note with the original warranty paperwork.

Roofing · Repair

Roof and Leak Repair in Cypress

Water on an upstairs ceiling almost never enters the roof directly above the stain. It runs along the decking or a rafter first. Most of a leak repair is working out where it actually got in.

The Usual Suspects, Roughly in Order

Pipe boots. The rubber collar around each plumbing vent pipe dries and cracks in Gulf Coast sun long before the shingles around it wear out. On many houses from the 2000s and 2010s, the boots are the first thing to fail.

Step flashing where a roof meets a wall. Two-story houses with a lower roof over the garage or a front porch have long runs of wall flashing, often tucked behind siding. When the siding is later painted or patched, the flashing gets sealed shut or bent, and water runs behind it.

Valleys. Two slopes meeting carry the most water on the roof. A valley cut too short, or debris piled in it from the oaks and pines, sends water sideways under the shingles.

Wind-lifted tabs. A shingle with a broken seal strip lets wind-driven rain in at an angle during a storm and stays dry the rest of the time, which makes these leaks come and go. What a wind damage check looks for

When a Repair Is the Honest Answer

A single cracked pipe boot, a lifted ridge cap or a short run of bad flashing is a repair, and a decent contractor should say so. The job is small, and you should get photos of the problem and the fix.

The answer changes when the shingles themselves are the problem: brittle, creased across whole slopes, losing granules into the gutters, or on the third leak in three years. Then each repair buys less time than the last, and patched areas stop matching the roof around them, which some Cypress ACCs object to on a visible slope.

Inside the House While You Wait

If a stain is spreading, move what you can, put a container under any drip, and take dated photos of the ceiling. If the drywall is bulging with water, a small hole at the low point releases it in a controlled way rather than letting the whole panel come down. Then get the roof looked at before the next rain.

Asked About This in Cypress

Why does the leak only show up in certain storms?: Wind direction. A lifted tab or a gap in wall flashing may only take in water when rain is driven from one side. Tell the contractor which storms produced the leak and which way the wind came from.
Can a leak come from the AC instead of the roof?: Yes. In Cypress attics the air handler and its condensate drain sit above the ceiling, and a clogged drain line leaves a stain that looks just like a roof leak. If the stain appears on dry summer days, check the AC first.
Will a repair void the shingle warranty?: Repairs with matching materials done to the maker's instructions normally do not. Ask the contractor to note the materials used, and keep that note with the original warranty paperwork.

Find Where the Water Gets In

Describe where the stain is and when it appears. The contractor you are connected with can trace it from the attic and the roof.

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