Where leaks actually start
Pipe boots, the rubber collars around plumbing vents on the roof, crack from sun exposure after a decade or so and cause more leaks in this climate than any other single part. Chimney flashing is the next most common source, especially on older homes where the flashing was set once and never checked again. Valleys, skylights, and the point where a roof meets a taller wall round out the list.
Only after we check those five spots do we look at the shingle field itself for wind-lifted tabs, cracked seals, or hail bruising.
How a repair visit works
We walk the roof and, where we can get to it, the attic underneath. A water trail on the underside of the decking often points uphill to the real entry point, which can be several feet from where the stain shows up on a ceiling. We photograph both before touching anything.
Repairs go in with matching shingles where the color is still available, flashing bent on site to fit, and sealant rated for roofing rather than a general caulk.
After a storm
Straight-line wind lifts a shingle's edge and breaks the seal strip underneath even when the shingle looks fine lying back down flat. A shingle that has been creased once tends to fail later even if it seals again for now, so we replace creased shingles rather than just the ones that are visibly missing.
Ridge caps go first in most storms and are the fastest and cheapest thing to put right, so we check those on every storm-related repair call.
When repair is not the honest answer
A roof with widespread granule loss, soft spots in the decking in more than one place, or more than one layer of shingles already on it is usually past the point where a repair makes financial sense. We say so, and we show the photos that back it up. Spending money patching a roof that needs replacing is spending it twice.