Roof Leak? What to Do Now, and Who Can Fix It

A roof leak rarely fixes itself, and the stain on your ceiling is often a long way from where the water gets in. We connect you with a local roofer who traces the leak to its source, and the inspection is free.

Call 1 (833) 435-4261 Book a free roof inspection

If it’s leaking right now: the first 30 minutes

Stay safe. Don’t go on the roof in rain, wind, snow or ice. If water is near light fixtures or outlets, turn off power to that area at the panel if you can do it safely.
Catch and contain. Put buckets and towels down. If the ceiling is bulging with water, a small hole at the lowest point lets it drain into a bucket instead of bringing the drywall down.
Take photos. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends photographing the damage and keeping receipts for cleanup. Your policy also expects you to act to limit further damage.
Call. If water is coming in fast or there’s storm damage, see emergency roof repair.

More stop-gap ideas: temporary roof leak fixes.

Where roof leaks usually come from

Flashing around chimneys, skylights, walls and in valleys.
Vent boots that have cracked around plumbing stacks.
Damaged or missing shingles after wind or hail.
Ice dams along the eaves in winter.
Skylights, both the unit’s seals and the flashing around it.
Flat-roof seams and edges (see flat roof repair).
Condensation that looks like a leak but starts in the attic.

Why Ontario leaks spike in winter

Ontario searches for leak repair peak in December and February, roughly twice July’s level. The usual culprit is ice damming. Natural Resources Canada explains it simply: if the attic is above freezing, it warms the roof deck and melts the snow sitting on it. The meltwater runs down to the overhang, which is colder, and freezes there. That ridge of ice then backs water up under the shingles.

How often this happens depends on where you live. Across Ontario’s weather stations, the number of days a year when the temperature swings across freezing ranges from about 55 in downtown Toronto to 94 around Kitchener-Waterloo.

The long-term fix is usually in the attic, not on the roof: NRCan notes that “a well-sealed and insulated attic results in a cool roof and generally will also not have ice dams.” A useful trick: after the first light snow, look for where it melts first. Whatever sits under that spot is losing heat. More on ice dams.

What the roofer will check

The roofer looks at the roof surface, flashing, vents and eaves, and inside the attic where safe: wet sheathing, damp insulation, daylight, and staining on rafters. You get an explanation of the source and the fix, and a quote if you want the work done.

Will insurance cover it?

It depends on the cause and your policy. Sudden damage (a storm, a fallen tree) is treated differently from wear and tear. We can’t tell you what your insurer will cover, but documenting everything and limiting further damage keeps your options open.

Find the source, fix it once. Call 1 (833) 435-4261 or book a free roof inspection.