Commercial Roof Repair & Leak Investigation

On a low-slope roof, water enters at a defect, travels along the deck or through the insulation, and appears somewhere else entirely. That is why chasing stains produces contractors who have "fixed" the same leak four times.

We investigate first. If we cannot show you where the water is getting in, we have not earned the repair.

How a leak actually gets found

• Interior mapping — where the water shows, when it shows, and what weather brings it. Wind-driven-only leaks point somewhere very different than steady-rain leaks.
• Roof survey — seams, laps, flashings, curbs, penetrations, drains and edge metal, working uphill from the suspected area.
• Moisture survey — infrared or capacitance scanning to map wet insulation, which shows the extent of the damage rather than just the entry point.
• Water testing — controlled flooding of suspect areas in sequence when the survey is inconclusive.
• Core cut — the definitive answer about what is in the assembly and how wet it is.

Repair or symptom

A single defect with dry insulation around it is a repair, and it should be cheap. Multiple defects across the field, or wet insulation spreading well beyond the visible problem, means the roof is failing rather than damaged.

The honest version of that conversation is worth more to you than another patch. If we think you are spending good money on a roof that needs replacing, we will say so and show you the survey that says why.

Emergency response and temporary dry-in

Active leaks get triaged ahead of assessments. The first move is stopping water entering the building — temporary dry-in, tarping, plugging — followed by a permanent repair once conditions allow.

What you can do before we arrive: move what you can out from under it, put containment down, photograph everything for your insurer, and do not send anyone onto a wet roof.

What it costs

Code & compliance

The requirements below apply throughout the DMV. Jurisdiction specifics are on each service area page.

Ordinary repair is generally permit-exempt

Codes carve out ordinary repair, which is why a patch does not normally need a permit. Where the "repair" becomes a partial replacement or changes the assembly, it does.

Repeated repair has a code endpoint

Once a roof needs recovering or replacing, IBC §1511 governs — and if there are already two layers up there, patching is delaying an inevitable tear-off.

Document for insurance

Storm-related damage has to be documented at the time to be claimable later. Photographs, dates and a written condition assessment are what an adjuster will ask for.

Inspections & quality control

• Post-repair water test on the repaired area where practical.
• Follow-up inspection after the next significant rain event.
• Documentation of the defect found, the repair made, and the condition of the surrounding field.

Important things to know

• Get a written report with photographs, not a verbal "we found it." If a leak recurs, that document is what settles the argument.
• Wet insulation does not dry out under a membrane. It stays wet, loses its R-value, and corrodes a steel deck from above.
• If you have paid for the same leak more than twice, stop buying repairs and buy a moisture survey.
• Repairs on a warranted roof should be done by an approved contractor or you risk voiding coverage. Check before you call anyone.

Questions we get