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Most roofs do not leak
through the roof.
They leak at the joins.

Water almost never comes through the open field of a roof. It comes in where the covering meets something else - a wall, a vent, a skylight, a valley - or where a previous repair was sealed rather than rebuilt. We find the actual entry point, tell you honestly whether it is worth repairing, and do the work to what your jurisdiction requires across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach.

Book a Roof Assessment See the Journey
  • Licensed, bonded & insured · CBC1265280
  • 104 municipalities across 3 counties
  • Design-build: permitting & construction in-house

Miami-Dade · Broward & Palm Beach Counties

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Recent projects

The roof, part by part

Twelve images explaining a roof assembly. Three are real photographs from our library and nine are illustrations drawn for this guide. Tap any image to see it larger - each caption says which it is.

01

PHOTOGRAPH: barrel tile roof with ridge ventilators.

02

ILLUSTRATION: a self-adhered secondary water barrier over the bare deck.

03

PHOTOGRAPH: clay barrel tile over white stucco.

04

ILLUSTRATION: nailing the roof deck to the framing.

05

PHOTOGRAPH: roof framing seen from an adjacent roof surface.

06

ILLUSTRATION: barrel tile set over its underlayment.

07

ILLUSTRATION: shingles laid in overlapping courses.

08

ILLUSTRATION: flashing lapped in at a wall and a penetration.

09

ILLUSTRATION: a metal-lined valley taking both slopes.

10

ILLUSTRATION: temporary protection battened over a damaged slope.

11

ILLUSTRATION: documenting a roof condition.

12

ILLUSTRATION: water staining on the underside of a roof deck.

This is an explainer, not a project gallery. Three images here are genuine photographs from the Elbaz Construction library; the other nine are illustrations created for this guide and are labelled as illustrations in their captions, their alt text and the media library. None of the illustrations represents a real project.

01 / 12

The journey

Six stages, first look to closed permit.

Roof repair goes wrong in one of two ways. Either nobody finds the real entry point and the roof gets patched three times at the wrong spot, or a roof that is genuinely finished gets repaired anyway and the money is gone. Both are avoidable with an honest look first. This page walks that sequence, starting with the part most people skip: finding out where the water is actually getting in.

Use the stage markers to jump straight to what you care about. Nothing here is a sales pitch - it is the sequence we actually follow.

Stage 01 · Find it

What is usually actually wrong

Four patterns cover most roof leaks we are called to. Which one you have decides whether this is a contained repair or the start of a bigger conversation.

A junction has failed

This is the single most common cause, and the most commonly mistreated. Flashing manages every point where the roof meets something else. When it fails, the usual response is a bead of sealant over the top, which buys months. A real repair rebuilds the junction so the water is shed by geometry rather than held out by adhesive.

  • Junctions leak far more often than the open field of a roof
  • Sealant over a failed flashing buys months, not years
  • Every vent, skylight and pipe is a penetration and a risk
  • Chimneys and wall abutments are the classic problem details
  • This is usually genuinely repairable and worth repairing
Illustration of metal flashing lapped into a roof covering at a wall and a penetration (illustration)

Illustration: flashing lapped into a covering at a wall and a penetration.

Water is being concentrated

A valley collects the water from two slopes and moves all of it through one line. Anything marginal there fails first. The same is true wherever water slows down - a low-pitched section, a spot where debris collects, or a place where an addition meets the original roof at an awkward angle.

  • A valley carries more water than any other part of a roof
  • Debris in a valley dams water and holds it against the covering
  • Where an addition meets an original roof is a recurring weak point
  • Low-slope sections need a different assembly, not just more sealant
  • Clearing valleys and gutters prevents a surprising share of leaks
Illustration of a metal-lined roof valley with the covering running in from both slopes (illustration)

Illustration: a metal-lined valley taking both slopes.

Wind lifted something

Wind damage starts at edges - a rake, an eave, a ridge, a corner - because that is where uplift is highest. Once one course lifts, the wind has purchase on everything above it. It does not take a named storm; a strong squall finds anything already marginal. Missing pieces are obvious, lifted ones often are not.

  • Damage concentrates at edges, ridges and corners
  • One lifted course gives the wind something to work with
  • Missing covering is visible; lifted covering frequently is not
  • It does not take a hurricane to find an already-weak edge
  • Caught before water enters, this is a straightforward repair
Illustration of architectural asphalt shingles laid in courses over underlayment (illustration)

Illustration: shingles laid in overlapping courses.

The roof is simply finished

Sometimes the leak is not a defect, it is the roof reaching the end of its service life. Where the covering is brittle, several details are failing at once and there is no meaningful barrier beneath, a repair is money spent on something that is going to be replaced anyway. We would rather tell you that than take the smaller job twice.

  • Several simultaneous failures usually means age, not one event
  • A brittle covering breaks further wherever it is walked on
  • Older roofs often have no meaningful secondary water barrier
  • Repeated patching of an old roof rarely pays for itself
  • Replacement brings the deck and barrier up to current requirements
Illustration of a roof deck covered with a self-adhered secondary water barrier (illustration)

Illustration: a self-adhered secondary water barrier over the bare deck.

Stage 02 · Decide

The four decisions that set the work

These decide the scope, the permit route and whether you are buying a few more seasons or a new roof.

Repair or replace

A localised failure on a roof with life left in it is a repair. Several failures at once, a brittle covering, or a soft deck point to replacement. There is also a code dimension: how much of a roof may be repaired before the whole assembly has to meet current requirements is limited, and the exact provision depends on the code edition in force and on your jurisdiction.

  • Localised damage on a sound roof is genuinely repairable
  • How much repair is permissible before upgrades apply is limited
  • The applicable provision depends on the code edition and jurisdiction
  • Matching a discontinued tile or shingle is often impossible
  • We will tell you when a repair is not worth doing
Illustration of barrel tile being set over roof underlayment (illustration)

Illustration: barrel tile set over its underlayment.

Which jurisdiction you are in

South Florida is not one roofing jurisdiction. Miami-Dade and Broward sit inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone and carry their own stricter requirements for assemblies and product approval. Palm Beach County is outside it. Anyone quoting the same assembly across all three without asking your address is not paying attention.

  • Miami-Dade and Broward are inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone
  • Palm Beach County is outside it, with different requirements
  • Products need a Miami-Dade NOA or a Florida Product Approval
  • The approval has to cover the assembly, not just the material
  • We confirm what applies at your address, not at the county line
Barrel tile roof with two ridge ventilators against open sky

Real photograph: barrel tile roof with ridge ventilators.

Whether it can be matched

A repair has to blend into what is already there. Tile profiles and shingle colours are discontinued constantly, and an aged roof has weathered away from its original colour regardless. Where an exact match does not exist, borrowing material from a less visible slope and using the new material there is usually the better answer.

  • Profiles and colours are discontinued more often than people expect
  • An aged covering has weathered away from its original colour anyway
  • Borrowing from a hidden slope keeps the visible elevation consistent
  • We show you the match before committing to it, not after
  • If it cannot be matched acceptably, you hear that up front
Clay barrel tile roofs over white stucco with palms behind

Real photograph: clay barrel tile over white stucco.

What is under the covering

A leak that has been running for a while has been wetting the deck the whole time. Any repair opens up enough to see it, and soft or delaminated sheathing gets replaced rather than covered back over. On a full replacement the deck is also re-attached to current requirements and sealed, which is the largest real performance gain available.

  • A long-running leak has been wetting the deck the entire time
  • Soft or delaminated sheathing is replaced, not covered over
  • On a replacement the deck is re-nailed to current requirements
  • A sealed deck keeps water out even if covering is lost
  • This is inspected before any covering goes back on
Illustration of a plywood roof deck being re-nailed to the framing below (illustration)

Illustration: a roof deck being re-nailed to the framing.

Three photographs on this page are real roof photography from the Elbaz Construction library. Every other image is an illustration drawn for this guide and labelled as one. We do not have project photography for this service that we can verify to the standard the rest of this site is held to, so we are not going to pretend otherwise.

Stage 03 · Permit

Diagnosis, approvals and the insurance question

Roofing is among the most tightly regulated trades in South Florida, and it has the worst reputation for door-knocking after a storm. Both are worth being direct about.

Where the water actually enters

The roof surface, the edges, every penetration and - where there is access - the underside from the attic. A leak is traced to its entry point rather than to the nearest plausible-looking defect.

A written record of the condition

You get the photographs and a written description of what we found, whether or not you use us for the work. That record is yours to give to anyone.

Where it is actively coming in

If there is an open breach, temporary protection goes on first and the permanent repair follows. Protecting a roof is not the same as repairing one, and we do not bill it as though it were.

An honest recommendation

Including when a repair will do and when a replacement is not yet necessary. The smaller job now is frequently the right answer, and saying so is the whole basis of the relationship.

What we do, and what we do not

We document the condition and we quote the work. We do not negotiate with your carrier, advise you on your policy, or act as a public adjuster - those are separate regulated roles. Florida also prohibits a contractor from paying or rebating your deductible, and anyone offering to is telling you something important about themselves.

Assemblies that comply at your address

Materials are specified with a Miami-Dade NOA or Florida Product Approval covering the assembly rather than just a component, to whichever requirements apply in your jurisdiction.

Filed for the actual scope

Roofing is permitted work and replacement certainly is. The threshold at which a small repair needs one varies, so it is confirmed for your address and scope rather than assumed.

Where a board also approves

Many communities specify covering type, colour and sometimes manufacturer. Board approval runs separately from the permit and on its own calendar.

Weather and the season

Roofing is weather-dependent, and demand rises sharply after any significant storm. We schedule around forecast rain and will be honest about where you are in the queue.

The points that gate the work

Where the scope is permitted, the work is inspected before it is closed up, and there is a final at the end. Each inspection gates what follows it.

Requirements, review times and inspection sequences are set by your local building department, and they differ across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach and between the municipalities inside them. Nothing here is a guaranteed timeline or an assurance of approval - we confirm what your address actually requires once we know it.

Stage 04 · Repair

Doing the work, in order

A repair runs the same way a replacement does, just over a smaller area: open it up, fix what is underneath, then rebuild the assembly upward.

Protection

The property, not just the roof

Ground protection below the work area, landscaping and pool cages covered where needed, and somewhere for debris to go. Even a small tear-off drops a lot of material quickly.

Quality check · Ground and landscaping protected before anything opens

Illustration of emergency protective sheeting battened over a damaged roof slope (illustration)

Emergency dry-in

Where water is coming in now

Temporary protection is battened down properly so it survives the next storm rather than the next breeze. This buys the time to do the permanent work correctly instead of hurriedly.

Quality check · Temporary protection secured, not just laid over

Illustration of emergency protective sheeting battened over a damaged roof slope (illustration)

Opening up

Back to the deck, locally

The covering and underlayment come off across the affected area - far enough out to reach sound material, and no further than can be closed the same day.

Quality check · Only opened as far as can be closed that day

Illustration of a plywood roof deck being re-nailed to the framing below (illustration)

Deck check and repair

What the leak has been doing

The exposed sheathing is checked and any soft or delaminated panels are replaced. A leak that has run for a season has usually been wetting more deck than the ceiling stain suggests.

Quality check · Deteriorated sheathing replaced, not covered

Illustration of a plywood roof deck being re-nailed to the framing below (illustration)

Barrier

Sealing what was opened

Self-adhered membrane goes back over the repaired deck and is lapped into the surrounding underlayment so the repair is continuous with the roof around it rather than a patch sitting on top of it.

Quality check · New barrier lapped into the existing, not butted

Illustration of a roof deck covered with a self-adhered secondary water barrier (illustration)

Flashings and penetrations

Rebuilt, not sealed

Any flashing in the affected area is formed and lapped properly. If the original failure was a junction, this is the step that actually fixes the leak.

Quality check · Junctions formed, not caulked

Illustration of metal flashing lapped into a roof covering at a wall and a penetration (illustration)

Valleys

Where two slopes meet

Valley linings are renewed where they are part of the scope, and the covering is run into them from both sides so water is carried rather than dammed.

Quality check · Valley lining continuous through the repair

Illustration of a metal-lined roof valley with the covering running in from both slopes (illustration)

Covering

Matched and blended

The covering goes back to the approved assembly, blended so the repair reads as part of the roof. Where an exact match is not available, you have already seen and agreed the approach.

Quality check · Match agreed before it is installed

Illustration of barrel tile being set over roof underlayment (illustration)

Ventilation and trim

Putting back what was disturbed

Any ventilation, edge metal or trim disturbed by the work is reinstated as part of the assembly rather than left approximate.

Quality check · Everything disturbed is reinstated properly

Barrel tile roof with two ridge ventilators against open sky

Check and clean

Tested, swept, walked

The repair is water-tested where that is practical, the permit is closed out where one was pulled, the grounds get a magnetic sweep for fixings, and we walk it with you.

Quality check · Repair tested and the site swept

Clay barrel tile roofs over white stucco with palms behind

Stage 05 · Inspect

The three decisions people find hardest

Balanced both ways. What is right depends on the roof, its age and what your jurisdiction requires.

Repair

Where the roof has life left

Illustration of metal flashing lapped into a roof covering at a wall and a penetration (illustration)
How
The affected area is opened, the underlying cause is fixed, and the assembly is rebuilt locally.
Benefits
Far cheaper and quicker, and the right answer where the failure is genuinely localised on a sound roof.
Limits
Matching an existing covering can be impossible if it is discontinued. There are limits on how much may be repaired before current requirements apply to the whole assembly.
Upkeep
The rest of the roof continues to age at its own rate.
In South Florida
How much repair is permissible before upgrades apply depends on the code edition and the jurisdiction, and we confirm it.

Replace

Where it is at the end

Illustration of a roof deck covered with a self-adhered secondary water barrier (illustration)
How
Tear-off to the deck, deck repair and re-nailing, a sealed deck, then a new covering.
Benefits
Brings the whole assembly up to current requirements including deck attachment and the secondary water barrier - the parts that actually determine performance.
Limits
Considerably more cost and disruption, and it is weather-dependent work.
Upkeep
A full service life ahead of it rather than a few more seasons.
In South Florida
Re-nailing plus a sealed deck is the single largest performance gain available on an older house.

Which oneIf the failure is localised, the covering has real life left and the deck is sound, repair it. If several details are failing at once, or the deck is soft, a repair is money spent on something that is going to be replaced anyway - and we will say so rather than take the smaller job twice.

Find it properly

What we do

Illustration of water staining on the underside of a roof deck seen from the attic (illustration)
How
The roof and, where accessible, the attic are examined together, and the entry point is traced rather than guessed.
Benefits
You pay once. The repair is aimed at the actual cause instead of the nearest plausible defect.
Limits
Takes longer up front, and occasionally the honest answer is that the roof is finished.
Upkeep
Nothing further, if the diagnosis was right.
In South Florida
Wind-driven rain enters at points that never leak in ordinary rain, which is why when it leaks matters as much as where.

Patch and see

Common, and expensive

Illustration of metal flashing lapped into a roof covering at a wall and a penetration (illustration)
How
Sealant goes over the most likely-looking spot and everyone waits for the next storm.
Benefits
Cheap on the day, and occasionally it happens to be right.
Limits
When it is wrong you have paid, waited for rain, and learned nothing. Layers of old sealant also make the eventual real repair harder.
Upkeep
Repeats, usually.
In South Florida
The wet season means each wrong guess costs you another few weeks of water in the structure.

Which oneDiagnose it. A patch aimed at the wrong detail is not a cheap repair, it is a deferred one with interest - and every layer of sealant makes the correct repair more awkward when it finally happens.

Tile

Long life, heavy

Illustration of barrel tile being set over roof underlayment (illustration)
How
Concrete or clay tile set in courses over the underlayment and sealed deck.
Benefits
Long service life, and the appearance most South Florida communities are built around.
Limits
Heavy, so the structure has to carry it. Individual tiles break underfoot, and matching a discontinued profile can be difficult.
Upkeep
Occasional replacement of cracked tiles; the underlayment beneath is what actually ages.
In South Florida
Very common, and frequently what an association requires.

Shingle

Economical, easy to repair

Illustration of architectural asphalt shingles laid in courses over underlayment (illustration)
How
Architectural asphalt shingles in overlapping courses over the underlayment and sealed deck.
Benefits
The most economical option, quick to install, and genuinely straightforward to repair locally.
Limits
Shorter service life than tile, and colour matching on an older roof is rarely perfect.
Upkeep
Straightforward, and localised repairs are practical.
In South Florida
Widely used and fully capable of meeting requirements when specified as an approved assembly.

Which oneOn a repair this is usually decided for you - you match what is there. It matters when the conversation turns to replacement, where structure and your association narrow it before preference does.

What moves the cost and the calendar

Tick whatever applies. This will not produce a price - repair pricing depends on the cause, the access and what the deck turns out to be like - but it will show which parts carry the cost and the calendar.

What this points to

We do not publish figures for this work, because the same scope can differ several-fold once the existing conditions are visible. You get a real, itemised number after a site visit, in writing.

Stage 06 · Maintain

What a roof repair is actually like

A short sequence from our roof photography, plus what the days on site actually involve. Roofing is loud, fast and weather-dependent, and it is worth knowing that before it starts.

How long it runs

A localised repair is often a day or two on site. The wait for a permit where one is needed, and for a weather window, is frequently longer than the work itself.

Noise

Tearing off even a small area is loud and it is directly above you. If anyone in the house works nights, it is worth knowing which day that falls on.

Debris

Old covering comes off fast and lands hard. Ground protection goes down first and the site gets a magnetic sweep for fixings at the end.

Weather

We open only as much roof as can be closed the same day. That is why a repair sometimes appears to progress slowly in the wet season - it is deliberate.

Your ceilings

Vibration can dislodge dust and occasionally crack old ceiling texture. Photograph the room and move anything fragile before we start.

Pets

Roofing is the trade pets react to most. Worth planning where they will be.

Inspectors on site

Where the scope is permitted the work is inspected before it is closed up, so the roof may sit part-finished for a short period. That is normal.

If we find more

Opening a roof sometimes reveals that the problem is larger than the symptom. You hear that the same day, with what it means, before we go further.

How we work, and what we will not do

Only claims we can stand behind. Everything below is either a matter of public record or visible in the work shown on this page.

Licensed, bonded and insured

Elbaz Construction is a licensed general contractor, CBC1265280. Roofing is permitted work and permits are pulled in the company name.

We diagnose before we quote

The entry point is traced rather than guessed at, because a repair aimed at the wrong detail is not a repair.

An honest repair-or-replace answer

Including when a repair will do and when a replacement is not yet necessary. The smaller job now is often the right recommendation.

We do not handle your claim

We document the damage and quote the work. We do not negotiate with your carrier, advise on your policy or act as a public adjuster - those are separate regulated roles and we will point you to them.

We cannot pay your deductible

Florida prohibits a contractor from paying or rebating a policyholder deductible. Anyone offering to is telling you something useful about how they operate.

We do not knock on doors after storms

You came to us. That is the relationship we want, and it is the opposite of how a lot of post-storm roofing works.

Jurisdiction-correct assemblies

Miami-Dade and Broward sit inside the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone; Palm Beach does not. What we specify follows your address.

Permit closed out

Where a permit is pulled it is signed off and closed. An open roofing permit follows the property, surfaces at sale and complicates insurance.

Questions, by stage

Filter to the part of the job you are thinking about.

My roof is leaking. What do I do first?Before starting

Contain the water inside, photograph everything while it is actively leaking, and get it looked at. If there is an open breach, temporary protection matters more than speed of diagnosis - a breach left open through a wet season costs far more in ceilings and insulation than the roof repair ever would.

Can you tell where the leak is from a photo of my ceiling?Before starting

Not reliably, and anyone who says otherwise is guessing. Water tracks along the top of the deck and down framing before it drops, so the stain marks where it left, not where it entered. The attic usually tells us more than the ceiling does.

It only leaks in heavy wind. Is that different?Before starting

Yes, and it is a useful clue. Wind-driven rain gets in at details that never leak in ordinary rain - head flashings, wall abutments, vents and the edges of the covering. When it leaks narrows down where to look considerably.

Can my roof be repaired instead of replaced?Design

Often, yes - where the failure is localised and the roof has real life left. There are limits on how much of a roof can be repaired before the whole assembly has to meet current requirements, and the exact provision depends on the code edition and your jurisdiction. We check rather than guess.

Can you match my existing tiles or shingles?Design

Sometimes. Profiles and colours are discontinued regularly, and an aged roof has weathered away from its original colour anyway. Where an exact match does not exist, taking material from a hidden slope and putting the new material there usually gives a better result. You see the approach before we commit to it.

Someone sealed it last year and it is leaking again. Why?Design

Because sealant over a failed junction is a cover, not a repair. It holds water out by adhesion rather than shedding it by geometry, so it fails on its own schedule. The real fix rebuilds the detail - and part of that job is removing whatever was put over it.

What is the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone?Planning

A designated area with its own stricter requirements for roofing assemblies and product approval. Miami-Dade and Broward counties are inside it; Palm Beach County is not. It genuinely changes what may be installed, so the answer depends on your address rather than on "South Florida".

What is a secondary water barrier?Planning

A sealed layer over the roof deck, beneath the covering, so that if covering is lost in a storm the building underneath stays dry. Combined with re-nailing the deck it is the largest real performance gain available in a re-roof.

Does a roof repair need a permit?Planning

Replacement certainly does, and most repairs do. The threshold varies by jurisdiction, so we confirm it for your address and your scope rather than assume either way.

What is an NOA?Permits

A Notice of Acceptance - Miami-Dade County product approval showing an assembly has been tested and accepted for use. Elsewhere in Florida the equivalent is a Florida Product Approval. It has to cover the whole assembly, not just one component in it.

Will you help with my insurance claim?Permits

We will give you a documented assessment with photographs and a clear quote, and you may give that to anyone. We will not negotiate with your carrier or advise you on your policy - those are separate regulated roles, and a licensed public adjuster or your own attorney is who you want for them.

How long will my roof be open?Construction

Only as long as it takes to close the section we opened, which is the same day. We do not open more roof than we can dry in before the afternoon.

Will I need to move out?Construction

Almost never. Roofing is disruptive and loud but it happens above you rather than inside the house.

What if you find rotten decking?Construction

It is replaced, and you hear about it the same day with what it means for cost. It is the most common thing opening a roof finds, which is exactly why an allowance for it is discussed before work starts.

Why can you not quote from photographs?Cost

Because the visible damage is often not the problem. Pitch, geometry, access, the number of penetrations, your jurisdiction and - most of all - what the deck turns out to be like once uncovered all move the number.

Is it worth repairing an old roof?Cost

Sometimes, and sometimes emphatically not. If several details are failing at once and the covering is brittle, a repair buys a season and complicates the replacement. We will give you that answer straight even though it is the smaller job.

What happens at the end?Completion

Where practical we water-test the repair, close out any permit, sweep the grounds magnetically for fixings, and walk it with you. You get the documentation for your records - it matters when you sell.

How do I stop this happening again?Maintenance

Have the roof looked at before each hurricane season, particularly the edges, the flashings and every penetration, and keep valleys and gutters clear. Most leaks begin at a detail that was already marginal long before the day it finally let water in.

Client experience

What clients say, in their own words

Live Google reviews for Elbaz Construction, pulled straight from our Google Business Profile — not retyped, not edited and not selected by us.

Reviews are served live by the site's own Google Reviews plugin and update as new ones are posted. Nothing here is retyped, shortened or re-attributed.

Project files

Where roofs actually leak.

Two collections of roof details from separate jobs, the joins, curbs and vents where repairs happen, plus an AI illustration of leak damage.

3Projects shown
10Photos
PROJECT 01

Flashing, dormers and skylights, a collection

A collection of shingle roofs from several jobs, each showing a spot where leaks begin: a dormer, a chimney, skylights and a sun tunnel, a metal dormer roof. One frame shows a white flashing strip laid along the roof during the work. Most roofs fail at these joins, not in the open field.

Scope of work

  • Flashing laid along a roof-to-wall join
  • Dormer roofs finished in shingle and in standing-seam metal
  • Skylights and a sun tunnel set into the roof
  • Chimney surrounded by shingle courses
  • Pipe vent flashed through the shingle
  • Cupola set on the roof ridge

Materials & finishes

Architectural shingleFlashing stripStanding seam metalSkylight curbsPipe vent flashing

What to look for in the photos

Look at where each roof meets something vertical: the chimney, the dormer wall, the skylight. That is where water finds a way in, and where a repair should start.

Collection: photos from several Elbaz Construction jobs · 4 photos

PROJECT 02

Clay barrel tile roofs, a collection

A collection of red and clay barrel tile roofs from several jobs. One frame shows new tile going down with the underlayment edge still visible above an arched window, the other two show finished roofs and the vent pipes that pass through the tile. These are the roofs where a repair has to match what is already there.

Scope of work

  • Barrel tile laid in even courses
  • Underlayment edge exposed during installation
  • Vent pipes passing through the tile
  • Tile cut around penetrations
  • Red and clay tile finished against the sky
  • Eave line set above an arched window

Materials & finishes

Clay barrel tileRed barrel tileUnderlaymentVent pipes

What to look for in the photos

Look at the vent pipes in the close shot and how the tile is cut around each one. Then look at the underlayment edge in the other frame, the layer that actually keeps the water out.

Collection: photos from several Elbaz Construction jobs · 3 photos

PROJECT 03

Illustration: a roof leak and a storm street

This is an AI illustration that shows the idea, not an Elbaz job. It pictures torn shingles and rotted decking above a stained ceiling corner, and a street of tile-roof homes under a storm. It shows what a leak does when it is left.

Scope of work

  • Torn or peeling shingles at the roof surface
  • Rotted decking under the covering
  • Water-stained ceiling below the leak
  • Storm conditions that expose weak spots
  • Tile roofs in a wet street
  • Repair starting at the cause of the entry point

Materials & finishes

ShinglesRoof deckingDrywall ceilingTile roof

What to look for in the photos

Notice that the stain on the ceiling sits below the damage but not always directly under it, because water travels along the deck. That is why we trace a leak from the top down.

Illustration (AI-generated, not an Elbaz project) · 3 photos

Cost and time

Where a repair spends.

A typical split of a repair budget, and the order the visits run in. Finding the cause takes more time than fixing it.

Where a typical roof repair budget goes

100%OF BUDGET
  • Diagnosis & access10%
  • Roofing material20%
  • Flashing & penetrations24%
  • Deck repair14%
  • Labor24%
  • Permit & inspection8%

Typical shares only. Rotted decking or a repair at a chimney or skylight raises the flashing and deck shares.

A typical roof repair, week by week

Site visit & diagnosis
Temporary protection
Scope & approval
Materials & permit
Order
Repair on the roof
Water test & inspection
Week 0Week 2.5Week 5

Weeks are indicative. Emergency protection can happen the same day as the visit, before the repair is scheduled.

How it works

How leaks travel.

Three drawings of why the wet spot is rarely under the entry point.

CONCRETE / CLAY TILE ROOFTile (foam or mortar set)Tile underlaymentPeel-and-stick SWR8d ring-shank nailed deckTruss + hurricane strap

Water under the tile

On a tile roof the tile sheds most water. The underlayment below handles the rest, so a leak with no broken tile usually starts there.

ARCHITECTURAL SHINGLE ROOFShingles, 6 nails eachStarter + drip edgeSynthetic underlaymentPeel-and-stick SWRPlywood deckTruss

Where shingles let go

A shingle roof is layered like fish scales. Lifted tabs, nail pops and failed boots let water in beneath the courses above.

DRAINMEMBRANE (TPO / MOD-BIT)TAPERED INSULATIONMIN. 1/4 in PER FT TO DRAIN

Slow water on low slopes

A low-slope roof drains slowly toward its drain. A seam or a flashing at a wall can leak long after the rain has stopped.

Scope planner

Scope the repair in three answers.

Choose what applies. You get an indicative time on site and the trades involved.

What looks like the cause?
Is the deck soft or stained?
What else is at the leak?

More questions

What else people ask about repairs.

Pipe boots, testing, storm season and shared roofs, for repairs on South Florida homes.

Ask us directly
Do pipe boots and vent flashings wear out?

Yes. The rubber collar on a plumbing vent boot cracks in sun and heat long before the shingles or tile around it wear out, and the metal base can rust in salt air. They are small, cheap parts that cause a large share of repair calls. We replace them as a set when we are already on the roof.

How do you test that a repair actually worked?

After the work, we run water over the repaired area in sections, starting low and working up. Someone inside the attic watches for drips. For a leak that only shows in wind-driven rain, we try to recreate that direction. Waiting for the next storm is not a test, because it tells you late and gives no detail.

Can a small leak wait until after hurricane season?

It is risky. Hurricane season is also the rainy season, and a small entry point lets water soak deck, insulation and drywall in every afternoon storm. Temporary protection holds in the meantime, but wind can lift it. If the roof is old, ask whether a repair is worth the cost. Waiting for months rarely makes a repair cheaper.

Why do skylights leak more than the roof around them?

A skylight is a hole cut in the roof, and the seal around it ages faster than shingle or tile. The frame, the glass gasket and the flashing are three separate places for water to enter. Condensation inside the glass can also look like a leak. We check each of the three, and if the skylight is old we may suggest replacing it.

What does a repair warranty cover?

It covers the repaired area and our workmanship there, for the period written in the proposal. It does not cover the rest of the roof, new damage from a storm, or an unrelated leak elsewhere. Material warranties come from the manufacturer and depend on the product. Ask for the terms in writing so you know exactly what is covered.

Can a condo owner order a roof repair?

Usually not. In most condominiums and many townhome communities, the roof is common property and the association decides who repairs it. As a unit owner, report the leak to management in writing, with photos of the ceiling. If the association hires us, we provide a certificate of insurance and follow its access and work-hour rules.

Do palm fronds and overhanging branches damage a roof?

They do. Fronds and branches rub on shingles and wear off the granules, and debris held in valleys keeps the roof wet. A fallen limb in a storm can crack tile or puncture a deck. Keep branches trimmed back from the roof, and clear leaves off valleys and low edges. It is the cheapest form of roof maintenance.

Are exposed nails and dabs of sealant a warning sign?

Often, yes. Roof cement smeared over a flashing or a nail head is a patch, and patches fail as the sealant dries and cracks in the sun. A sealed spot tells us someone has already chased the leak. We look for the real cause underneath, then fix it with flashing or fresh material instead of adding more tar.

Service Areas

Proudly serving homeowners across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach

(754) 236-0675

104 municipalities across three counties — and we hold the licence to build in all of them. Not sure about your address? Ask us.

Next steps

Where to go from here

Grouped by what you are trying to do, not by category.

Learn

Understand the wider roofing scope

Compare

Coverings and assemblies

Plan

Approvals and product compliance

Prepare

Related storm and envelope work

Read

Longer reading on building for storms

Start here

Book the site visit

Tell us what you are seeing and roughly when it started. If water is coming in right now, say so - that changes how quickly we get to you.

What happens next

  1. We read it properly and come back to you, usually the same or next working day.
  2. A short call to understand the property and what is driving the project.
  3. A roof assessment - we look at the surface, the details and the attic where we can get to it, and document what we find.
  4. A written, itemised proposal with the scope set out, including how unknowns are handled.
  5. If you go ahead, we prepare and file any permit before work starts.
Preferred contact method

We use your details only to respond to this enquiry. No lists, no resale.

Thanks — that came through.

Your details are with the Elbaz Construction team and we will come back to you, usually the same or next working day. If it is urgent, call (754) 236-0675.

Barrel tile roof with two ridge ventilators against open sky

Find the cause before buying the cure.

A repair aimed at the wrong detail is not a cheap repair, it is a deferred one. The assessment is where the money is actually saved.

Book a Roof Assessment Call (754) 236-0675