Why does my roof only leak in heavy rain?

Because most roof leaks are not holes — they are places where water is designed to run past and only overtops or blows back when the volume or the wind is high enough. That is why gutters, valleys and flashings account for the great majority of leaks, and why a roofer who goes straight to those is not taking a shortcut.

Is a roof leak covered by insurance?

Policies commonly cover damage from a storm event and commonly exclude leaks caused by wear, rust, poor maintenance or lack of maintenance. In practice the assessment turns on the roofer's report, so the report is worth paying for and worth having say specifically what failed and why.

Can a roof be repaired in the rain?

A temporary make-safe can be, and reputable roofers do it after storms. A permanent repair usually cannot — sealants and membranes need dry substrate, and a roofer who promises a permanent fix on a wet roof is promising a second visit.

Who to hire for a leaking roof

Short answer

A roofer — but confirm it is the roof first. A ceiling stain that only appears in rain is a roof leak; one that appears in dry weather is plumbing; one under a bathroom is usually the shower; and one that appears in winter with no rain is often condensation. Each of those is a different trade and a different price.

Soon, not tonightIt will not usually get cheaper by waiting, and it is rarely worth an after-hours rate.

When it is someone else

Calling the wrong trade costs an attendance fee to be told so. These are the cases where this problem belongs to someone other than a Roofer.

a plumber
the ceiling is wet in dry weather, or the stain is under a bathroom or a kitchen.
an air conditioning technician
the stain is near a ducted outlet or under an indoor head. Condensate drains block and the water goes into the ceiling.
a builder
the ceiling has sagged or plaster is falling. At that point the water has been there a while and the lining is the job.

What to do before anyone arrives

Note exactly when it leaks: only in heavy rain, only in wind-driven rain from one direction, or all the time. Wind direction is genuinely diagnostic and roofers ask.
Put a container under it and, if the ceiling is bulging with water, pierce it deliberately at the low point to let it drain in one place. A saturated plasterboard ceiling comes down all at once.
Photograph the stain, dated, and photograph it again after the next rain. Growth tells you it is still active.
Get into the roof space with a torch during or just after rain if it is safe to. Seeing where the water enters saves hours of paid searching — but do not walk on the ceiling joists' infill, only on the joists themselves.
Clear the gutters if you can do it safely from a ladder. Overflowing gutters back water up under the roof sheeting and are the single most common cause of a 'roof leak' that is not a hole.

What to ask when you book

Will you find and photograph the entry point, or are you quoting a repair blind?
Is this a repair, or is the roof at the end of its life? What is the evidence either way?
Is the flashing at the fault, and if so is it being replaced or resealed? Sealant on a failed flashing is a temporary fix sold as a repair.
What warranty is on the repair, and does it cover the same leak returning?

What changes the price

No dollar figures here: this directory holds no price data and an invented range is worse than none. What follows is what makes one of these jobs cost more than the same job next door, which is the part you can actually use when comparing quotes.

Roof type. Tile repairs are localised; metal roof repairs often mean replacing a sheet or a flashing run.
Pitch, height and access. Two storeys or a steep pitch means scaffolding or harness work.
Whether the cause is a discrete failure or a roof that has reached its service life.
Damage below — a ceiling that has to come down and go back is a plasterer's job on top of the roofer's.

What you can do yourself

Is this licensed work?

Roofing sits inside building work licensing in most states, with thresholds that vary, and roof plumbing — gutters, downpipes, flashings and metal roofing — is separately licensed plumbing work in several. Working at height is regulated work health and safety territory regardless.

There is no national register. Search the licence number with the regulator for the state the work is happening in.

NSWNSW Fair Tradingbuilders, electricians, plumbers and specialist trades
VICBuilding and Plumbing Commission, and Energy Safe Victoria for electricalbuilding practitioners and plumbers; electricians are Energy Safe Victoria
QLDQueensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)building and most trade contractor licences
WABuilding and Energybuilders, electricians, plumbers and gas fitters
SAConsumer and Business Servicesbuilding work contractors and supervisors
TASConsumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS)building and occupational licences
ACTAccess Canberraconstruction occupations licensing
NTNT Government building practitioner registrationbuilding practitioners and electrical workers

Licensing thresholds and certificate requirements differ by state and change with amending regulation, so this page describes the mechanism rather than quoting a figure. The regulator’s own page is the current answer.

Common questions

Who should I hire for a leaking roof: A roofer — but confirm it is the roof first. A ceiling stain that only appears in rain is a roof leak; one that appears in dry weather is plumbing; one under a bathroom is usually the shower; and one that appears in winter with no rain is often condensation. Each of those is a different trade and a different price.
Why does my roof only leak in heavy rain?: Because most roof leaks are not holes — they are places where water is designed to run past and only overtops or blows back when the volume or the wind is high enough. That is why gutters, valleys and flashings account for the great majority of leaks, and why a roofer who goes straight to those is not taking a shortcut.
Is a roof leak covered by insurance?: Policies commonly cover damage from a storm event and commonly exclude leaks caused by wear, rust, poor maintenance or lack of maintenance. In practice the assessment turns on the roofer's report, so the report is worth paying for and worth having say specifically what failed and why.
Can a roof be repaired in the rain?: A temporary make-safe can be, and reputable roofers do it after storms. A permanent repair usually cannot — sealants and membranes need dry substrate, and a roofer who promises a permanent fix on a wet roof is promising a second visit.

Find a Roofer near you

1,369 roofers in this directory, ranked on published evidence rather than on advertising.

Who to hire for

General information about who does what, not advice about your specific job. Licensing, consumer law and council rules differ by state and change; the regulator for your state is the current source. More guides to hiring a tradesperson.