Roof Leak Checker
Water travels, so the stain is rarely right under the leak. Narrow down the likely source and decide what is safe to do from the ground. Something else? Check any home repair.
Question 1
What is going on?
General guidance, not an inspection. When something feels unsafe, stop and call a professional.
Every answer at a glance
Act now
A water-filled ceiling can come down
Keep people and pets out of the room.
Act now
Water and electricity: shut the power first
Do not touch wet fixtures or switches.
DIY if you are comfortable, otherwise call
Flashing is the most likely path
Cracked pipe boots and failed flashing cause many leaks. A pipe boot on a low, walkable roof is a modest repair. Chimneys, skylights, and steep or two-story roofs are for a roofer.
Flashing cheat sheetYou can likely fix this yourself
Start with the gutters
Clogged gutters can back water up under the roof edge and into the wall.
Gutter installation cheat sheetDIY if you are comfortable, otherwise call
A small shingle repair
Replacing a few shingles is manageable on a dry, low-slope roof if you are steady on a ladder and use fall protection.
Asphalt shingle cheat sheetCall a roofer
The roof may be near the end of its life
Patches rarely hold on a worn-out roof. Get a roofer's inspection and more than one written quote before you decide between repair and replacement.
Roofing calculatorCall a roofer
Have a roofer find the source
Falls are the real danger here. Put a bucket under the drip, photograph the stain with a date, and have a roofer trace the source.
Call a roofer
Document it before anything is repaired
Stay off a storm-damaged roof. Photograph damage from the ground, call your insurer, and have a roofer tarp the opening. Be wary of door-knocking contractors who ask for large deposits.
DIY if you are comfortable, otherwise call
Likely ice dams
Warm air melts snow, which refreezes at the cold eaves and backs up under the shingles. Do not chip the ice. Long-term fixes are air sealing, insulation and ventilation. Call a pro if water is actively coming in.
Attic ventilation cheat sheetDIY if you are comfortable, otherwise call
It may be condensation, not a leak
Bath fans venting into the attic and poor airflow leave frost or damp sheathing with no leak at all. Duct fans outside and check the vents. Mold covering more than about 10 sq ft needs a remediation pro.
Attic ventilation cheat sheet