Roof repair that finds the leak instead of guessing at it
Water rarely comes in where the stain is. It runs along a rafter, follows the decking and drops through the drywall a few feet from the real hole. We trace it back, fix the cause and show you what we did.
Most repair calls in the metro fall into a handful of patterns. A south or west wind during a thunderstorm peels a few tabs off the windward slope and leaves the nail line open to rain. A rubber pipe boot cracks after ten or twelve summers of sun and lets water run down the vent stack into a bathroom ceiling. Chimney flashing on an older brick foursquare was sealed with caulk instead of counter-flashed into the mortar joints, and the caulk let go. A valley that collects maple seeds and oak leaves holds water against the shingles until it finds a seam. And the January call: meltwater backing up behind an ice dam and coming through at the top of the wall.
Each of those has a different fix, which is why we don't quote over the phone. The repair visit starts in the attic when we can get there, because a flashlight on the underside of the deck shows where water has been running and how long. Then we go up, match the attic to the outside, and look at the rest of the roof while we're there, so you hear about the second weak spot before it becomes the next call.
What a proper repair includes
- Shingles matched as closely as the market allows. Colors and profiles change; when we can't find a close match, we tell you before we start and suggest pulling replacements from a hidden slope.
- Hand-sealed tabs. Replacement shingles in cool weather won't self-seal for weeks, so we seal them by hand to keep the next wind from lifting them.
- Flashing done the long way. Step flashing woven into each course at walls and dormers, counter-flashing ground into brick, and new boots on every vent we touch.
- Soft decking replaced. If the plywood under a leak has gone spongy, we cut it out and replace it rather than shingling over rot.
Repairs make sense on a roof with life left in it. If your shingles are curling, bald of granules, or the same leak has been patched three times, we'll say so, and show you what a replacement would cost next to the repair so you can decide with both numbers in front of you.
Roof repair prices around Des Moines
| Work | Typical range | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| A few missing or lifted shingles, hand-sealed | $250 – $600 | Roof pitch, height, shingle match |
| Pipe boot or vent flashing replaced | $200 – $450 | Number of vents, access |
| Chimney reflashed with counter-flashing | $600 – $1,500 | Chimney size, mortar condition |
| Valley repair | $450 – $1,200 | Length of the valley, open or closed style |
| Leak tracing and repair, one area | $350 – $950 | How far the water travelled, decking damage |
| Decking sheet replaced under a leak | $90 – $160 per sheet | Added only when the wood is soft |
| Free inspection with photos | $0 | No charge, no obligation |
Ranges are typical for Des Moines-area homes in 2026 and are here to help you plan. Your real price comes after the free inspection, written down, before any work starts.
On the roof
Questions about roof repair
Can you match my shingles?
Usually close, sometimes not exactly. Shingle colors are reformulated every few years and weathered shingles fade. If the match will be visible, we'll show you samples first, and on some roofs we take shingles from a back slope for the front and put the new ones out of sight.
Why does my roof only leak in certain storms?
Wind-driven rain gets in where ordinary rain can't: under a lifted tab, behind a wall flashing, or through a vent from the side. If it only leaks when the storm comes out of the southwest, tell us; it narrows the search a lot.
Is a repair worth it on an old roof?
On a roof past about 20 years with widespread granule loss, a repair buys time rather than solves the problem. We'll tell you how much time and what a replacement would cost, and you decide.
Do you repair roofs in winter?
Yes, when the deck is dry and the shingles can be worked. We seal tabs by hand in the cold. Big replacements wait for a stretch of workable days; leaks and tarps don't wait.
Will a repair void my shingle warranty?
A correct repair with compatible materials shouldn't. If your roof is under a manufacturer's enhanced warranty, give us the paperwork and we'll check what it requires before we touch it.
Do I need a permit for a repair?
Small repairs generally don't. The City of Des Moines requires a permit for replacements and structural work, and if a repair turns structural we tell you before it does.
