Shingle and tile failures
Shingles that have lifted or cracked, or tile that has slipped and exposed the underlayment. Water goes under the course above and runs down the decking, and the leak can show in a room far from the damaged area.
Serving Orange County
Roof Leak Water Damage in Orlando, FL
Tracing storm rain through damaged shingles, tile and flashing into attics and ceilings, then drying and documenting the loss in Orlando.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Storm flooding, slab leaks, A/C condensate
- Price confirmed on site before any work
- Drying tracked to dry-standard readings
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
Roof Leaks
Roof Leak Water Damage: what it covers
Quick answer
Roof leak water damage is water that enters through damaged shingles, tile, flashing or a roof penetration and reaches the attic, the ceiling and the walls below. In Orlando storm-driven rain is the usual cause in the wet season. The roof repair is a roofing job, and the restoration dries the interior and documents the loss.
A roof leak is hard to find because the water rarely drips straight down. It enters at one point, runs along a rafter, a truss or a sheet of decking and drops somewhere else, often well away from the stain. The homeowner sees the ceiling first, while the entry point may be several feet away on the roof.
Orlando's storms are a particular test for a roof. Heavy rain driven by wind goes under tile and shingle edges, into the gap at a chimney or a vent pipe and around flashing that has lifted over several seasons. A roof that kept out light rain for years can fail in one hard storm, and the water then travels into the attic before anyone checks.
The roof itself is a roofing trade, and the interior damage is a restoration job. The restoration crew can find where the water went inside the house, dry the framing and insulation and document the path, but the entry point has to be closed by a roofer before the drying can be trusted.
- Service area
- Orlando & Orange County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, hurricane season included
- Phone
- (833) 490-5225
Warning signs
Signs you need roof leak water damage
Do not go onto a roof during or after rain, and do not climb onto a wet roof or a steep pitch. Stay out of attic areas where the ceiling below is sagging, and step only on the joists if you must enter. Keep out of rooms where water is dripping near a light fixture, and turn off the circuit at the panel if the fixture is wet. Call (833) 490-5225 for a technician, and arrange a roofer for the entry point.
- A ceiling stain that appears or grows during or right after a storm, often in an upstairs room or under a vaulted area
- Wet insulation or a dark line on the underside of the roof decking when you look into the attic with a light
- Shingles that are curled, cracked, missing or lifting at the edges, especially on the side the storm came from
- Tile that has slipped, cracked or shifted, exposing the underlayment beneath
- Stains or rust streaks around a vent pipe, a skylight or a chimney, or a flashing that has lifted
- Water dripping from a light fixture or a ceiling fan after a storm, with the attic above it damp
- A musty smell in the top floor or the attic that does not clear with ventilation
Our process
How our roof leak water damage visit works
Trace the path from the attic
The attic is checked first, because it shows the path the water took. Wet insulation, staining on the decking and water marks on the rafters point to the entry, and a moisture meter follows the trail from the ceiling back to the roof opening.
Protect the interior
Water that is still coming in is caught in containers, the ceiling below is relieved if it is holding water, and the furniture and floor under the leak are moved. The crew then covers what cannot be moved.
Remove the wet material
Insulation that is saturated is removed from the affected area, and any ceiling drywall or plaster holding water is cut back. The decking and framing are dried, not closed in, until the readings allow.
Coordinate the roof repair
The roof opening is repaired by a roofer, and the restoration crew confirms with the readings that the roof is closed before the drying equipment is placed. A temporary cover on the roof may be needed for the drying period.
Dry, rebuild and document
Once the framing and the ceiling match their reference readings, the insulation is replaced and the ceiling is rebuilt. The photographs, the attic readings and the roof repair invoice are kept together for the insurer.
How do I find a roof leak when the stain is in the ceiling?
Go into the attic on a dry day and follow the wet path back toward the roof. The entry point is usually uphill from the stain, and the wet decking and insulation show the way. Use a flashlight and look for dark wood, water marks and matted insulation.
A crew uses a moisture meter and a thermal camera to trace the path, because the water often runs along a rafter for several feet before it drops. A stain on the ceiling is therefore a clue to the area, not the exact spot.
Do not walk on the attic insulation or on the ceiling joists, because the ceiling below can give way. If you need to go into the attic, step only on the joists and keep your weight on the lower chord.
Should I call a roofer or a restoration crew first?
Both, and in that order if the water is still coming in. The roofer closes the entry point, and the restoration crew then dries and documents the interior once the leak has stopped. In a storm, a temporary cover is often placed first so the interior can be dried.
Ask the roofer to put the repair in writing, with the location of the entry point, the materials used and the date of the work. That record helps the insurer decide the cause and the scope of the roof claim.
The restoration crew can tell you where the water went inside, which is useful to the roofer as well. A roof repair that does not match the interior path has often missed the real entry.
Does a roof leak claim depend on the age of the roof?
It can. The insurer may consider the roof's age, its condition and whether the leak came from a sudden storm or from wear that had been building for a long time, and the answer decides what is paid for the roof and what is paid for the interior.
Keep photographs of the roof and the attic, and any earlier repair invoice that shows the roof's history. A roof that was repaired recently and then failed in a storm is different from one that was never maintained, and the paperwork shows which applies.
The insurance claims guide explains the common questions about roof claims and how to respond to a request for more information.
What should a tile roof leak look like in the attic?
Tile roofs usually have an underlayment beneath the tile, and that layer is what holds back water once the tile shifts. The attic shows wet underlayment, stained decking and wet insulation below the broken or displaced tile. A roofer will check the underlayment on the first visit.
Because tile is heavy and often hides the underlayment, a leak under a tile roof can take a long time to show in the ceiling. Check the attic after every heavy storm, not only when the ceiling has stained.
A roofer who repairs tile will also check the flashing around vents and the chimney, since those are the other common entry points on tile roofs.
Why do roof leaks spread into several rooms?
Because water runs along the framing and the decking until it finds a low point, and a single entry can reach several ceilings through the same attic. The attic is the path, and the path is what the readings must follow.
Large single-story homes with big attics, such as some lakeview homes in the Dr. Phillips area, can have several ceilings wet from one leak. Each ceiling is checked against its own reference reading, and the drying is planned for the whole path rather than one room.
Two-story homes can have the water running down a wall cavity to a lower ceiling, so the lower rooms should be checked even when the stain is far from the roof.
Options
Types and options for roof leak water damage
Flashing and penetration leaks
A leak at a vent pipe, a chimney, a skylight or a valley flashing where the sealant has failed. These leaks are often intermittent, appearing only in wind-driven rain, so the stain can take a few storms to show.
Attic-side and ventilation leaks
Condensation or water that enters through a ridge vent, a soffit or a gap at the attic hatch rather than through the roof covering. The water is less obvious, but the insulation and the decking below the vent can be wet for a long time.
Orange County
Why roof leak water damage is different in Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties
Storm-driven rain is the main roof threat in Orlando. The June through September normals run about 6 to 7.5 inches of rain a month, and the wind that comes with summer thunderstorms and hurricanes drives water under shingle and tile edges. The Orlando wet season roof leaks guide covers the seasonal pattern.
Dr. Phillips has large lakeview homes with big roof and attic areas, where one storm-driven leak can spread across several ceilings. Windermere has many large footprint homes with long roof runs, and the attic is often the only place to see the full path.
Newer homes in Lake Nona and Winter Garden more often show roof leaks at flashing and penetrations than at the field of the roof. The check should include every vent and the edge of every valley, not only the main slope.
Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what roof leak water damage should cost.
Where we work
Roof Leak Water Damage across Orange County
- Roof Leaks in College Park
- Roof Leaks in Conway
- Roof Leaks in Azalea Park
- Roof Leaks in Orlo Vista
- Roof Leaks in Winter Park
- Roof Leaks in Belle Isle
- Roof Leaks in Pine Hills
- Roof Leaks in MetroWest
- Roof Leaks in Maitland
- Roof Leaks in Lockhart
- Roof Leaks in Lake Nona
- Roof Leaks in Gotha
- Roof Leaks in Altamonte Springs
- Roof Leaks in Casselberry
- Roof Leaks in Clarcona
- Roof Leaks in Goldenrod
- Roof Leaks in Ocoee
- Roof Leaks in Windermere
- Roof Leaks in Meadow Woods
- Roof Leaks in Hunter's Creek
- Roof Leaks in Dr. Phillips
- Roof Leaks in Winter Springs
- Roof Leaks in Apopka
- Roof Leaks in Longwood
- Roof Leaks in Alafaya
- Roof Leaks in Oviedo
- Roof Leaks in Winter Garden
- Roof Leaks in Kissimmee
- Roof Leaks in Lake Mary
- Roof Leaks in Oakland
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Ceiling Water Damage Repair
Dealing with sagging, stained and wet ceilings in Orlando homes and condos: safe removal, the leak above, drying and a rebuilt finish.
Storm Water Damage Restoration
Drying the rooms that wind-driven rain reached through doors, windows, roof openings and garage gaps across Orlando and Orange County.
AC Condensate Water Damage
Drying the ceilings, closets and walls wet by an air conditioner's condensate overflow in Orlando homes and condos.
Water Damage Restoration
Stopping the source, removing the water, drying to a measured target and documenting it, for homes across Orlando and Orange County.
Guides
Read before you book
Mold After Water Damage in Orlando Homes
Mold after water damage is mostly a drying problem first.
Wet Season Storms and Roof Leaks in Orlando
Orlando's wet season runs through the summer, and its heaviest rain often arrives in short, intense storms.
FAQ
Roof Leak Water Damage FAQs
Can you tell where the roof leak is from inside?
Often, from the attic. The wet decking, insulation and water marks show the path, and a moisture meter follows it back toward the roof. The exact spot still has to be confirmed by a roofer on the roof.
Should I put a bucket under a dripping ceiling?
Yes, to catch the water and keep it off the floor, and move anything under the leak. Empty the bucket often, and check the ceiling for a bulge. A bulging ceiling should be left alone until someone has looked at it.
Is a roof leak always a roof problem?
Usually, but not always. A condensate line, a plumbing vent or a bathroom above the ceiling can produce a similar stain. The attic shows which it is, and the crew checks the other sources before the roofer is booked.
How long does the attic take to dry?
It depends on the amount of water and the insulation. Wet insulation is removed, and the decking and framing dry over several days with the attic ventilated. The readings decide when the ceiling can be rebuilt.
Will the restoration crew fix the roof?
No. The restoration crew dries the interior and documents the path. The roof repair is a roofing job, and it should be done by a roofer who can confirm the entry point and the materials. Ask the roofer for the repair in writing.
Does a roof leak always mean the roof has to be replaced?
No. Many leaks come from a single failed flashing, a few lifted shingles or a cracked tile. A roofer can say whether the repair is local or the roof is near the end of its life, and that answer decides the claim and the budget.