Roof leak detection & repairs in Auckland

Why tile roof leaks are hard to find

Water rarely comes through the ceiling directly under the problem. On a tile roof it can get past a cracked tile or a gap at the ridge, run down the underlay or along a batten or rafter, and show up metres away. That's why so many leaks get "fixed" two or three times without ever stopping.

We work back from where the water appears to where it gets in. That means checking the roof space where we can, and then getting on the roof and looking closely at every likely entry point above it.

The usual suspects

• Cracked or slipped tiles. A hairline crack is enough in wind-driven rain. Tiles also crack when people walk on them the wrong way.
• Ridge and hip caps. When the bedding mortar under the ridge breaks down, gaps open up and water gets in at the top of the roof.
• Blocked valleys and gutters. Leaves and moss dam the water, so it backs up and runs under the tiles.
• Around penetrations. Chimneys, vents, skylights and aerial brackets are common entry points.
• Tiles disturbed by other trades. Solar, aerial, satellite and painting crews often lift or crack tiles without realising.

A recent job: ten years of leaks, fixed in an hour

One customer had been dealing with a persistent leak for ten years. Several roofers had been up over the years and none of them found it. Rex traced it to the source and had it fixed within an hour. Finding the cause is the job; the repair is usually the easy part.

What you get

• The leak traced to its actual source, not just the patch above the stain
• Photos of what we found, before and after the repair
• A repair that suits your roof: matched tiles, rebedded ridges, cleared valleys
• An honest heads-up about anything else on the roof that's close to causing trouble

What it costs

Quotes are free and come with photos. If you just want a small repair done on the spot, the repair call-out is $175 + GST plus materials. Bigger jobs get a written quote before any work starts. See all prices.