Find Licensed Help for a Roof Leak in Reno

Found a ceiling stain or an active drip in Reno? Reno Nevada Roofs is a referral service. We connect you with independent, Nevada-licensed roofers who diagnose the leak path and repair it if you hire them. We do not perform the work.

Signs of a leak

Ceiling spots, bubbling paint, damp insulation, a musty attic, rusted fixtures, or water at a skylight, chimney, or pipe boot after wind-driven rain are common signals.

Why the wet spot is often not the entry point

In high-desert roofs, leaks often start at penetrations, dead valleys, and wind-driven rain under a loose edge — then travel before they drip. Chasing only the stain misses the opening.

What to do in the first hour

Stay off the roof. Catch water, move belongings, cut power if a fixture is wet, and take photos. Temporary indoor protection is reasonable; improvised roof repairs by an unlicensed person can make things worse and may affect a later claim.

What a licensed leak diagnosis should include

An attic or underside look where it is safe, flashings, boots, valleys, and gutters or overflow. Ask for photos. If the leak is really a system at end of life, see repair vs. replace.

When a leak is really a replacement problem

Multiple leak sites, soaked decking, or a two-layer roof that cannot be recovered again (Reno’s two-layer rule) often push the conversation toward replacement. A second licensed opinion is fair.

Leak patterns we hear about in Reno

Leaks in the Truckee Meadows tend to follow the weather. Wind-driven rain pushes water sideways under a lifted shingle edge or past a loose flashing, so a roof that is dry in a calm storm can leak in a windy one. Snowmelt can back water up at cold eaves. Summer thunderstorms drop a lot of water fast, which tests valleys and gutters. If you can tell the roofer which of these conditions brings the leak, you shorten the diagnosis. The after-storm guide explains what to photograph after a wind or hail event.

Leaks that are not the roof covering

Not every ceiling stain is a roofing problem. Condensation from a poorly vented attic, a bathroom fan that dumps moist air into the attic instead of outside, an HVAC condensate line, a plumbing leak, or a failed skylight seal can all look like a roof leak. A licensed roofer who checks the attic and the penetrations should tell you if the source is something else — and if it is, you may need a different trade. That is part of why we ask for notes and photos on the form.

Protecting the inside while you wait

• Put a bucket or tote under the drip and lay towels around it.
• If water is pooling in a bulging ceiling, keep people and pets away from it.
• Turn off power to any light fixture or outlet that is wet, and do not touch wet electrical parts.
• Move electronics, documents, rugs, and furniture out of the area.
• Photograph the stain and the drip with a date, then keep photographing if it grows.

Do not climb onto the roof, especially when it is wet, icy, or windy. If the roof is open after a storm, ask for licensed temporary dry-in; see emergency tarping referrals.

What to ask after the diagnosis

• Where exactly did the water get in, and can you show me a photo?
• Is the decking or insulation wet, and does any of it need to be replaced?
• Is this a one-time repair, or are there other spots likely to fail soon?
• Does the repair need a permit here? (Washoe County’s work-exempt rules list roofing repair under 100 square feet as exempt — confirm the current text; City of Reno and other jurisdictions should be confirmed separately.)
• What is the workmanship warranty on the repair?

Compare the answers from two licensed roofers if the diagnoses disagree. The roof inspection page explains what a photo-documented inspection should include, and the repair vs. replace guide covers when repeated leaks point to a new roof.

Leaks at skylights, chimneys, and walls

Skylights leak at the curb flashing or at a failed seal in the unit itself; a roofer can tell which. Chimneys leak where step and counter flashing meet masonry, and sometimes through the masonry or the crown. Where a roof meets a wall (common at second-story transitions and additions), a missing kick-out flashing can send water behind siding or stucco. If the stain is near one of these features, mention it on the form.

Interior damage is a separate job

Once the roof is repaired, wet drywall and insulation may need to dry or be replaced. That is usually a different contractor. Ask the roofer to tell you if they saw wet insulation, and photograph it before it is removed if an insurance claim is involved.

Frequently asked questions

If this is an active leak, use the form and choose urgency “active leak / emergency.” Related: emergency tarping referrals.