Roof repair in Mundelein, IL

Most leaks start at the places where something passes through the roof or meets it: chimneys, walls, vents and plumbing pipes. We find the spot and repair it properly.

Book a free roof inspection (224) 481-3109

New brown metal flashing wrapped around the base of a brick chimney on a newly shingled roof

Where roofs leak

Chimneys. Step flashing along the sides and counter flashing set into the mortar. Caulk over old flashing holds for a season, not more.
Walls. Where a lower roof runs into a wall, every shingle course needs its own step flashing, and a kick-out at the bottom so water goes into the gutter, not behind the siding.
Plumbing vents. The rubber boot around a vent pipe cracks in the sun long before the shingles wear out.
Box vents and exhaust caps. Hail dents them and the seals under them dry out.
Lifted or missing shingles. Wind breaks the seal strip, the tab lifts, and the nails under it start to back out.

Close-up of a bent metal kick-out flashing where a roof edge meets tan siding and trim — The bottom of a roof-to-wall joint, where a kick-out flashing turns water away from the siding.

How we find the leak

We start in the attic if we can get to it, look for wet wood and daylight, and measure from there to a point on the roof. Then we go up and check every penetration and wall line above the stain. You get photos of the cause and of the finished repair.

New brown metal box vent nailed over shingles on a roof slope — A replacement box vent with its flange under the shingles above it.

Repair or replace

A repair makes sense when the rest of the roof has life left. If the shingles around the leak crack when we lift them, or the roof is leaking in several places, we tell you that a repair will not last and show you why. The roof replacement page explains what a full replacement involves.

Underside of a roof edge seen from below with white fascia and soffit against a cloudy sky — Soffit and fascia at the eave, where rot shows up when gutters overflow.

Questions about roof repair

Can you fix a leak in winter?

Yes, within limits. Shingles do not seal well below about 40 degrees, so a winter repair may be hand-sealed and checked again in spring. Flashing and pipe boot repairs can be done in cold weather.

Can you match my old shingles?

Often close, rarely exact. Colors change between production runs and old shingles fade. For a small repair on a back slope that is usually fine. On a front slope we show you the match before we install it.

Why does a leak show up far from where water gets in?

Water runs down the deck and the rafters before it drips onto the ceiling. A stain in the middle of a room often starts higher up at a vent, a chimney or a wall. That is why we look from the attic as well as from the roof.