Roof or window? Match the stain to its source
Find your wall below.
| What you see | Likely source | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Stain at the top corners of the header | Step or counter flashing | Flashing repair |
| Drip at the frame in wind-driven rain | Missing kickout or failed window seal | Kickout or reseal |
| Stain spreading down from the ceiling | Shingles or drip edge above | Shingle and drip edge repair |
| Wet drywall or bubbling plaster below a roof-to-wall line | Water behind the siding | Flashing repair, dry-out |
| Leak only in a winter thaw | Ice dam or clogged gutter | Gutter clearing or repair |
How we trace it with a hose
-
01
Interior check
The stain, frame and trim show where water appears first.
-
02
Roof inspection
We check the flashing, dormer and drip edge above that window.
-
03
Hose test
Starting low, the roof gets wet section by section until water shows inside.
-
04
Repair and re-test
After the fix, the hose runs again to prove the wall is dry.
Sources that hide deeper get our full leak detection service.
What fixing it this month saves you
Water from a roof leak above window framing soaks the header and rots the wood. Mold grows behind the drywall. Paint peels and the room smells musty. Let it run lower and it becomes water inside the wall cavity, a far bigger job.
Stopped early, the window and its trim stay sound, and so does the plaster. The repair is smaller. So is the bill.
Dry
Header, trim and plaster
Six ways water above a window gets stopped
The hose test picks one, sometimes two.
Step and counter flashing repair
New metal at the roof-to-wall line. Rusted pieces call for replacing the worn flashing outright.
Kickout flashing
It sends water into the gutter, not down your siding. Many houses lack one.
Dormer leak repair
Reflashing the dormer sides and their valleys.
Shingle repair
Cracked or lifted shingles over the window get replaced.
Gutter repair or clearing
Clogged gutters overflow onto the wall, so we clear or re-pitch them.
When the window is the problem, we will tell you
If the test points to a failed window seal or caulk line, we say so and sell you no roof work.
Ask the installer about the warranty and the sill pan.
Three window leak answers
Yes. Call and say water is coming in, and someone comes that day to tarp and trace it.
Yes. The roof inspection and hose test are part of it, and you get the repair price in writing first.
Yes. Water can enter at a neighbor's flashing, so we test both sides and tell you whose roof it is.
Stop the stain before the next rain
Tell us where the stain sits on your window wall, or call (347) 835-5040.
Call (347) 835-5040
- Open 24/7
- All of Queens