A leak that showed up in the rain
It will do the same in the next rain. Whatever got wet needs drying within the EPA's 24 to 48 hour window.
What is probably happening
- Shingles cracked, lifted or missing, letting water under them.
- A nail popped through the shingle, or an exposed nail head in the field of the roof.
- A valley where two slopes meet, or the ridge, where water volume is highest.
- The drip point is often well downhill of the entry point, because water runs along the deck and rafters first.
Do this in the next five minutes
- Photograph the ceiling stain now and again after the next rain.
- In the attic, with a flashlight, follow any water trail uphill to its highest wet point and photograph it.
- From the ground, photograph the roof above that area with your phone zoom. Look for lifted tabs, missing pieces, or shiny nail heads.
- Book a roofer for a leak repair. Ask for a written note of what they found and what they did.
- If insulation or drywall is soaked, call a water damage company as well.
Do not
- Do not get on the roof to look. NRCA's own guidance says inspecting a storm-damaged roof involves climbing a ladder onto a potentially unsound structure.
- Do not accept a replacement quote for a single leak without seeing the roofer's reason in writing.
- Do not pay in full before the next rain has proved the repair.
Who to call
A licensed roofing contractor
Only a roofer can find and close the entry point. Restoration and drywall come after.
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What it should cost
$360 to $1,550
Roof leak repair, national range. Overall roof repair averages $1,173, typically $395 to $1,967.
Source: Angi, roof repair cost, updated August 2026. View source
National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the roofing page.
Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out
Tap each one as you ask it.
- Where exactly is the water entering, and can you show me a photo?
- Is this a repair or are you already talking replacement, and what on my roof makes the difference?
- What happens if it leaks again in the next rain?
- Will you go into the attic, or only look from outside?
End the call if
- A replacement quote on the first visit with no attic inspection.
- A quote far below the others. NRCA: 'Keep a healthy skepticism about the lowest bid.'