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Roof Leaks Repair Cost
In this guide
CausesLocating leaks
Extent of damage
Labor
Materials
Enhancements
Additional Considerations
How much does it cost to repair roof leaks?
A leaking roof is more than just a nuisance: it’s a gateway to major home damage. That’s why it’s always best to repair roof leaks as soon as they’re discovered. In this guide, we examine the cost of repairing a roof leak in a 10'x10' area, which entails replacing the plywood, asphalt shingles, and flashing where the leak has occurred. The average cost of this is $630.
Causes
| Problem | Solution | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Missing shingles | Replace shingles | $100 |
| Vertical slits | Replace shingles Add sheet metal | $100 |
| Leaking gutters/flashing/valley | Clean gutters Replace flashing | $90 |
| Leaking chimney/skylight | Caulk chimney Replace chimney flashing Replace skylight flashing | $2-3 |
| Ice dams | Rake roof Apply ice melt substrate Install roof heat cable | $50 |
| Inadequate roof pitch | Apply roof sealant Replace roof | $850-$1000 |
Locating leaks
Inspect for leaks by entering your attic on a rainy day and looking for signs of dampness, mold, odor, or damage to the wood rafters. All of these are symptoms of a leak, the most obvious being standing puddles and water dripping through the roof. If it’s not raining, you can also run your hose over your roof and see if any of the water comes through.
The table below shows where leaks are most commonly located based on roof material type:
| Roof Material | Common Leak Location | Cost to Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Metal | Fasteners & seams | $300-$1500 |
| Asphalt | Vertical slits, cracks throughout | $100-$1000 |
| Composite | Shingles, near abutting walls, upstands, board joints & trim | $110-$1000 |
| Wood | Shingles, valleys | $500-$700 |
| Slate | Tile edges, edges of roof | $1000-$2000 |
| Tile | Shingles, underlayment | $100-$510 |
| Flat/foam | Cracks throughout, insulation board | $200-$1000 |
Some signs of a leak can be hard to spot. That’s why it’s suggested that you hire professionals to do a thorough inspection. They can help you confirm if you have a leak, and find other leaks that you might not have noticed. According to RoofKey.com, roof inspections cost $250-$450. Check with your local authorities to see if your city/county will cover the inspection fee.
Extent of damage
If your roof is too badly damaged, it may be useless to try to spot-repair the leaks and other issues. To ensure the structural safety of your home and prevent the need for additional repairs, it can be simpler to just replace the entire roof. The replacement of the roof costs an average of $6000.
Labor
A roofing contractor will usually charge around $3 per square foot for a leak repair project, or $45-$75 per hour. Roof leak repairs usually take one to two days (8-16 labor hours - $360-$1200) to complete.
Materials
Material costs are sometimes included in the package quote you receive from your roofer, but they can be charged separately as well. To repair a 10'x10' area, average material costs are as follows:
- Replacement plywood 1 (4 sheets) $80
- Bundle of shingles 2 $100
- Roof cement (1 gal.) $22
- Galvanized roofing nails $65
- Flashing 3 $10-$20 - new flashing 3 may or may not be necessary for your project.
Enhancement and improvement costs
Gutter cleaning
Having clogged gutters can put strain on your roof and make it more prone to leaks. The average cost of gutter cleaning services is $90 per visit, or $0.50-$1 per linear foot of gutter. Expect to pay $50-$100 per each additional story of your home.
Resealing roof
Applying a waterproof sealant to your roof can prevent future leaks from forming. This usually costs $850-$1000 for the roof of an average 1500 sq.ft. home.
Additional considerations and costs
Roof trusses 4
Trusses 4 are the main architecture that hold your roof up, and are prone to damage from leaks. Water that drips through your roof can fall down on the trusses 4, soaking them and causing damage such as mold, rot, and cracking. Costs depend on the extent of the damage and how much time your roofer will need for repair. You may need to have the damaged truss 4 completely replaced - the material cost of building one new truss 4 is around $80. Count on at least 4 hours of labor ($180-$300) to build a new truss 4.
Resulting damage
Minor leaks can lead to major damage, such as mold, rotted framing and sheathing, destroyed insulation and damaged ceilings. If this happens, you’ll have to not only repair the leak, but fix any other resulting issues. Check our cost guides to find the prices associated with whatever type of damage you’re dealing with.
Permits
If you are performing roof repairs or replacing your roof completely, you may need to get a permit from your county or homeowners association (HOA). You could be fined heavily if you don’t. Permit fees depend on your location, but average at $75.
Roof pitch
If your roof is steeper than average, you can expect your repair costs to increase by 20% or more. This is largely due to the increased time contractors will need to safely perform the repairs. You can expect the same rise in costs if your roof has many architectural details to work around (chimneys, awnings, etc.).
Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet
Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.
1 Plywood: An engineered construction material manufactured from thin slices of wood glued together in alternating grain patterns for strength
2 Shingles: A smooth, uniform, flat piece of construction material, available in a wide variety of materials and laid in a series of overlapping rows, used to cover the outside of roofs or walls to protect against weather damage and leaks.
3 Flashing: Pieces of sheet metal used on roofs to cover joints, such as where the roof meets the wall, or around a chimney or skylight, to protect them and prevent water leaking through
4 Trusses: Structural framework used to support a roof
How much does it cost to repair roof leaks in my city?
Cost to repair roof leaks varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
Labor cost by city and zip code
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Labor cost in your zip code
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Methodology and sources
