What to do right now if your roof is leaking
If water is coming in while you read this, work through these steps in order. They take about ten minutes and can save you thousands in interior damage.
- Protect people and belongings. Move furniture and electronics away from the drip and set out a bucket or trash can. Lay towels around the area.
- Watch for electrical hazards. If water is near a ceiling light, fan or outlet, turn off power to that area at the breaker and do not touch wet fixtures.
- Relieve a bulging ceiling. A ceiling holding trapped water can collapse. If it is safe to stand under it, puncture the lowest point with a screwdriver over a bucket so the water drains in a controlled way.
- Document everything before you clean up. Take photos and video of the stain, the drip and any damaged belongings. Your insurance company will ask for them.
- Stay off the roof. Wet tile and shingles are slick, and wind and lightning make it worse. Leave roof access to a licensed contractor.
- Call us at (239) 398-2316. We will talk through what you are seeing and get someone out to look at it.
- Notify your insurance company. Most homeowners policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage and to report storm damage promptly.
How we find where a roof leak really starts
The wet spot on your ceiling is almost never right under the hole in your roof. Water runs along the decking, rafters and underlayment before it drops, so a stain in the living room can start twenty feet away at a chimney, a vent or a cracked tile. We work backward from the damage: we start with the interior stain and the attic, then trace the water uphill to the flashing, penetration, valley or damaged roofing that let it in. Then we repair the source, not just the symptom.
Roofer LLC started out doing leak repair and little else, so tracing water is the part of the job we know best.
Most common causes of roof leaks in Southwest Florida
- Failed or cracked flashing around chimneys, skylights, walls and roof-to-wall transitions.
- Worn pipe boots and vent seals. The rubber collars around plumbing vents crack in the Florida sun, often before the roofing around them shows any wear.
- Cracked, slipped or missing tile. On a tile roof the underlayment beneath the tile is the real waterproofing layer. When it ages, the roof can leak even though the tile looks fine.
- Wind-lifted or missing shingles. Storm winds break the seal on shingles and let rain get underneath.
- Valleys and ridge caps where heavy rain concentrates or wind has displaced the caps.
- Flat and low-slope roof problems such as open seams, ponding water and clogged drains on TPO and modified bitumen roofs.
- Clogged gutters that push water back up under the roof edge.
How much does roof leak repair cost?
The price depends on what failed, how many roof areas are affected, how steep and high the roof is, and whether water has damaged the decking or the inside of your home. As a general guide, HomeGuide’s 2026 national cost data shows these typical ranges:
- Minor leak repair: about $150 to $1,000
- Leak repair with water damage to decking or interior: about $1,000 to $6,000 or more
- Flashing repair: about $200 to $500
- Tile roof repair: about $500 to $2,500 on average
- Flat roof repair: about $250 to $1,000 per 100 square feet
Treat these as ballpark figures from national data, not a quote. We inspect your roof for free and tell you what the repair will cost before we start.
Repair or replace?
A targeted repair is usually the right call when the damage is limited to one area and the rest of the roof is in decent shape. Replacement starts to make sense when leaks keep coming back in different places, the decking is soft over a wide area, or the roof is near the end of its life. We do not recommend a replacement when a repair will solve the problem. If your damage came from a storm, Florida’s 25% rule can also affect what your insurer owes. Read what the 25% roof rule means for Florida homeowners before you accept a patch-only offer, and see our roof replacement page if the roof is at the end of its life.
Does insurance cover a roof leak?
It depends on your policy and what caused the leak. Sudden damage from a storm or wind event is often covered, while leaks from age or long-term wear usually are not. Our owner, David Samadnejad, is also a licensed Florida insurance adjuster, so we can look at your leak from both sides: what the roof needs and how to document it for a claim. See our roof insurance claim help page for how that works.
Roof leak repair FAQ
How much does it cost to repair a roof leak?
Minor leak repairs commonly run from about $150 to $1,000, while leaks that have damaged the decking or the inside of the home can run from $1,000 to $6,000 or more, according to HomeGuide’s 2026 national cost data. Your actual cost depends on the roof type, how hard it is to reach, and how much damage there is. Call (239) 398-2316 for a free inspection.
Is a leaking roof an emergency?
An active leak is urgent. Water can soak insulation, drywall and decking within hours and lead to mold, so contain the water and call a roofer the same day. If a storm has torn open part of your roof, treat it as an emergency and see our emergency roof repair page.
Can a handyman fix a roof leak in Florida?
Roofing work in Florida generally has to be done by a licensed roofing contractor. Ask for the license number and check it on the Florida DBPR license lookup. Roofer LLC’s roofing contractor license is CCC1330693.
How long does a roof leak repair take?
Most roof repairs are finished in one to two days, depending on how much damage there is and the weather. Larger jobs take longer.
Will my homeowners insurance pay for a roof leak?
It depends on your policy and the cause. Sudden storm or wind damage is often covered, while leaks from long-term wear or lack of maintenance usually are not. Document the damage before you clean up and report it to your insurer promptly.
What areas do you serve?
We repair roof leaks in Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Marco Island, Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers, across Collier and Lee County.