Roof Valley Leak: What to Check and What to Ask a Roofer
A valley is a likely spot, but the stain on your ceiling is rarely right under the leak1. Valleys are among the most vulnerable areas for water getting in2, and a valley leak may still be a repair, because roofs can often be repaired rather than replaced3. Start with a safe look through binoculars and in the attic, then put the questions below to a roofer.
Quick answer:
- Look from the ground with binoculars and check the attic for a drip trail1, and stay off the roof.
- Photograph the damage, with the date, before you clean up4.
- Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used5, to rule out plumbing.
- Ask any roofer which kind of valley you have and what sits under it before you agree to any work.
On this page
You can do the first three today without going on the roof.
Is the stain right under the leak?
Probably not. The stain shows that water got in, not where. A valley is still a fair first suspect, but treat it as a guess until the attic or a close look points the same way.
Not sure the water comes from the valley at all, or who should trace it? Who to call when a roof leaks.
Open and closed valleys, in plain words
A valley is the seam where two roof slopes meet, so it carries water from both. In Bloomington, Minnesota, an open valley has the valley lining exposed, and a closed valley has the valley covered6. In new work, a self-sealing membrane is meant to sit directly on the roof sheathing, beneath the roofing felt2. Sheathing is the layer of boards or panels under the roofing.
A reply in a thread about a budget roofer was blunt: "Also not a fan of closed valleys they clog up and can leak more easily." That is one person's view, not a rule. What matters for you is which type you have and what sits under it, and that does not show from the ground.
What can make a valley leak?
Several things, and a roofer has to see which. Debris packed in a valley can make water wick under the shingles3, which means soak up under them. Curling or splitting shingles are evidence of deterioration, and dislodged or missing tabs should be repaired7.
In a thread about a fairly new roof leaking near a valley, one reply said: "Water coming off the upper part can collect in whatever is in the valley." Whether any of this is your case is for someone who has seen the valley up close to say.
Steps to take before you call
Do these in order, so you know what to ask.
- Find where the water comes from. From the ground, look near the valley for curling, splitting or missing shingle tabs7 and for debris packed into the valley3. Then check the attic for the drip trail, and run the meter check above if you can't tie the water to the roof.
- Document before cleanup. Photograph or videotape the damage4 with the date. If you think you may file a claim, keep damaged items until the adjuster has visited4 if you can, so the adjuster can see them.
- Ask a roofer you pick yourself to look at the valley, with the questions below in hand.
While you wait if the roofer can't come today
Until someone can look, these keep the damage from growing:
- Keep catching the water and move belongings away from it. Taking reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage4 is the part that is in your hands.
- If you may file a claim, save receipts for what you spend4 on that protection; you may be able to submit them to your insurer later.
- After the next rain, look again from the ground and the attic1 and note whether the drip trail has moved or grown.
Wondering how insurance looks at a leak like this one? Whether insurance pays for a roof leak.
Is it a repair or a bigger job?
Only a roofer who has seen the valley can say, and a repair is a real option. Opinions jump to replacement fast. A reply in a repair-or-replace thread said: "Replace, and regardless of where your located valley metal!" That is one opinion about someone else's roof, so ask the roofer to show you what a repair cannot fix.
Take these questions to the roofer:
- Is my valley open or closed, and what is under the shingles there?
- Could a repair fix this? If not, which problem can't a repair fix?
- What did you see that tells you it’s in the valley and not somewhere else?
- What exactly will you replace in the valley, and what stays? Is it a new lining, or only sealant over the old one?
Whatever the answers, get the scope in writing, with exactly what the contractor will and will not do3. You can send this:
Please write in your estimate what you will repair in the valley, what you will not touch, and the price of each item. If you recommend replacing more than the valley, please send photos of each problem and tell me why a repair would not be enough. Please also write what warranty you give on the work if the valley leaks again.
If a roofer pushes you to sign today or won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the bids that do.
Wondering what failed flashing looks like, and why a sealant fix can leak again? Repairing or replacing roof flashing.
Quick questions
How much does it cost to repair a valley on a roof?
It depends on what the roofer finds under the shingles and how far the damage goes, so a number given before anyone looks would be a guess. Ask which findings would change the price and which items on the quote cover them.
Is it normal for roofs to leak?
A leak is a sign something needs a look, not a normal state for a roof. A properly installed roof can last many years3, so start with the checks above.
Does homeowners insurance pay for a leaky roof?
Your policy and the cause of the leak decide that; in Texas, for one, an insurer won't pay for a new roof just because it is old or worn out8. Wherever you live, ask your insurer what your policy says about this kind of leak, and keep your photos handy.
Can I fix a roof valley leak myself?
Repairs on the roof are a job for a roofer: don't risk serious injury trying to inspect or repair it1. What you can do yourself is the ground and attic checks, the photos and the meter test.
Sources
4. Triple-I (Insurance Information Institute), "How to file a homeowners claim
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (WaterSense), "Fix a Leak Week
6. City of Bloomington, MN, Building and Inspection, "Asphalt Roofing Shingles Information Sheet
7. National Roofing Contractors Association, "Maintaining residential roof systems (Tech Today)
8. Texas Department of Insurance, "Insurance and your roof
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