Catch the water, protect what is below, take photos and call a roofer. Most Scottsdale leaks show up during a monsoon storm, so the steps below assume it may still be raining.
What should I do right now if my roof is leaking?
- Put a bucket under the drip and move furniture and electronics
- If the ceiling is bulging with water, poke a small hole at the lowest point so it drains into the bucket instead of spreading
- Switch off the circuit if water is near a light fitting or outlet
- Take photos and video of the leak and any damage
- Stay off the roof while it is wet, windy or there is lightning
- Call or text us at (480) 442-0926
Why does my roof leak only in heavy rain or wind?
A roof that leaks only in heavy rain or wind has a weak point that normal rain does not reach. Monsoon wind pushes rain sideways and uphill. It drives water under tiles and over the top of underlayment laps, behind wall flashing and through vents. On a flat roof, very heavy rain can rise above a low flashing or back up behind a blocked scupper. These leaks are real even if the ceiling stays dry in gentle winter rain.
Why is there a water stain on my ceiling but no drip?
A stain on the ceiling with no drip means a small amount of water got in, soaked the drywall and dried. In Scottsdale's dry air it dries fast, so the stain is often the only sign. It may come from the roof, from an air conditioning condensate line or drain pan in the attic, or from plumbing. Mark the edge of the stain in pencil with the date. If it grows after the next storm, it is the roof.
How do roofers find where a leak starts?
We find a leak by working uphill from the stain. Water runs along underlayment, decking and framing before it shows, so the entry point is often several feet from the mark on the ceiling. We check the attic where there is one, then the roof: penetrations, valleys, wall flashing and, on tile, the underlayment below the tiles above the stain. On a flat roof we look at seams, scuppers and equipment curbs. A controlled hose test can confirm it when the roof is dry.
Why is the attic dry right above the stain?
The attic can be dry directly above the stain because the water came in somewhere else and travelled. It runs down the underlayment or along a rafter, then drops onto the drywall at a low point or a seam. In Scottsdale's heat the attic also dries within hours, so by the time anyone looks, the trail is gone. Look for faint water marks or rust on nail tips uphill from the stain. Many flat roof homes here have no attic at all, so the search is done from above.
Can a roof be repaired in the rain or in winter?
In the rain, only a temporary repair is possible. Sealants, coatings and membranes need a dry surface to bond, so during a storm the job is a tarp or an emergency patch. Winter is no obstacle here. Scottsdale winters are mild and mostly dry, and they are a good season for roof work. The permanent repair is done once the roof has dried, which in this climate rarely takes long.
Do you do emergency roof repair?
Call us. We do our best to get a crew out quickly to stop the leak and protect the building. We do not promise a set response time, because a big monsoon storm can damage many roofs in one evening. The published national figure for emergency work is $200 to $300 on top of the repair itself. That is HomeGuide's 2026 figure, not our quote.
The leak came back after another roofer fixed it. Why?
A leak that came back was usually patched where the water showed, not where it got in. Common examples here are sealant smeared over a tile when the underlayment below is torn, a patch on a flat roof next to a failed seam, and roof cement around a pipe that needed a new boot. Start by asking the first roofer to return under their workmanship warranty. If you want a second look, we photograph the area so you can see what was done and what was missed.
Is a small leak really urgent?
Yes. A small leak is cheap to fix and expensive to leave. Each storm wets the same wood and insulation again, and a flat roof can hold water in the layers below the surface. The dry months hide the problem without fixing it. Book the repair before the next monsoon season if the leak is slow, and right away if it drips.
Can a leaking roof cause mold?
Yes. Mold can grow on wet drywall, wood and insulation that stay damp. Scottsdale's dry air helps materials dry out, but water trapped in a closed ceiling or wall, or under a flat roof membrane, can stay wet long enough. Stop the leak first, then dry or remove the wet materials. We repair the roof. For mold inside the house, a remediation company is the right trade.
Why is my skylight leaking?
A skylight usually leaks at the flashing around it, not through the glass or dome. Sealant and gaskets dry out in the sun, plastic domes crack with age, and on flat roofs the curb the skylight sits on can be too low for a heavy downpour. The national figure for a skylight leak repair is $225 to $800, and skylight replacement is published at $800 to $2,400. Those are HomeGuide's 2026 figures, not our quotes.
How do I stop a leak temporarily until the roofer gets here?
Work from inside. Catch the water, move what it can damage, and leave the roof alone during the storm. That temporary step is usually enough for a few hours. If a ceiling is filling, drain it into a bucket through a small hole. Once the weather has passed and the roof is dry, a tarp held down with weighted boards can cover the spot, but climbing on wet tile or a hot roof is how people get hurt. Do not smear roof cement over tile. It hides the entry point and makes the proper repair harder.
Water is coming through a light fixture. Is that dangerous?
Yes. Water through a light fixture is a shock and fire risk, because water carries current and the fitting is wired. Switch off the breaker for that circuit, not only the wall switch, and do not touch the fixture while it is wet. Put a bucket under it. Leave the power off until the leak is fixed and the fitting has dried. If water has also reached a ceiling fan, a recessed can or the electrical panel, have an electrician check it before you turn anything back on.
Is a bulging water bubble in the ceiling about to come down?
It can come down, yes. A bulge or bubble in the ceiling paint or drywall is holding water, and wet drywall loses its strength. Clear the area below. Then put a bucket under the lowest point and pierce it with a screwdriver so the water drains in one controlled stream. That relieves the weight and usually saves the rest of the ceiling. A wide sag across a whole sheet of drywall is different. Stay out from under it and call.
Why is my ceiling leaking when it has not rained?
If it has not rained, the roof is rarely the cause. In Scottsdale the usual source is the air conditioning. A blocked condensate line or a rusted drain pan in the attic overflows onto the ceiling, most often in the humid weeks of July and August. Other causes are a plumbing line, a water heater or evaporative cooler on the roof, or a rooftop unit's drain. A flat roof can also release ponded water days after a storm. Check the air handler first, then call a roofer if it is dry.
A tree or branch put a hole in my roof. What do I do, and whose insurance pays if it was my neighbor's tree?
Keep people out of the rooms below, photograph everything, and get the hole covered. Do not pull a large limb off yourself, since it may be holding broken framing in place. A roofer can tarp it once the tree is clear and safe. On who pays, this is general information and not legal advice. Homeowners usually claim on their own policy for damage to their own house, even when the tree stood next door. The neighbor is normally responsible only if they were negligent, for example warned about a dead tree. Ask your insurer how your policy handles it.
Can clogged gutters make a roof leak?
Yes, clogged gutters can make a roof leak, and on Scottsdale flat roofs the same goes for clogged scuppers and drains. Water that cannot leave backs up. At a gutter it soaks the fascia and can run back under the roof edge. On a flat roof it rises behind the parapet until it tops a flashing or finds a weak seam. Palo verde blossom, mesquite pods, pigeon nests and dust do most of the blocking. Clearing them before the monsoon is the cheapest roof repair there is.
Is it normal for a new roof to leak in the first year?
No. A new roof should not leak in its first year, and a leak that soon is nearly always an installation fault. Typical causes are a missed flashing detail, a penetration that was not sealed, an underlayment lap run the wrong way, or a tile broken by foot traffic after the roofer left. Report it to the installer in writing with photos and dates, and give them the chance to fix it under their workmanship warranty. Keep a record. If they do not respond, the Registrar of Contractors complaint process is described on our page about choosing a roofer.
There is a leak under a solar panel mount, and the solar company and the roofer blame each other. What now?
Get the leak documented before anyone argues further. A solar mount or bracket is a hole through the roof, and a leak directly under one usually traces to that flashing. But old underlayment can leak near a mount for its own reasons. Ask for an inspection with the nearby panels lifted and photos of the mount, the flashing and the underlayment around it. Then read both contracts and warranties. Whoever made the penetration normally answers for it. Send both companies the same photos in writing. If neither acts and both are licensed, each can be named in a Registrar of Contractors complaint.
A free roof inspection with photos and a written quote is the only way to get a real price for your roof. Call or text (480) 442-0926.