Free, photo-documented inspections
Many roof leaks start at one weak point, like a cracked pipe boot, loose flashing or a few missing shingles, not across the whole roof. BRC Construction finds the source with a free, photo-documented inspection and repairs the cause, so the water stops and the damage doesn’t spread.
Water rarely comes through the ceiling right below the spot where it gets in. It slips under a lifted shingle or behind loose flashing, runs along the decking or a rafter, and shows up as a stain somewhere else. That’s why we trace a leak on the roof and in the attic instead of smearing sealant on the first thing that looks suspicious.
A good repair fixes the cause. That might mean replacing a cracked rubber pipe boot, resetting step flashing where the roof meets a sidewall, rebuilding counterflashing at a chimney, replacing wind-damaged shingles, cutting out soft decking or sealing an open seam on a flat roof. On slate roofs, we replace broken or slipped slates one at a time.
With 30+ years of roofing experience, we’ll tell you honestly whether a repair makes sense. If the whole roof is worn out, with widespread granule loss, curling shingles and leaks in more than one place, we’ll show you the photos and explain when patching stops being a good use of your money.
Warning signs
Signs your roof needs repair
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Stains on ceilings or in the attic
Water marks, damp insulation or dark spots on the roof boards mean water is already getting in, even if it only shows after heavy rain.
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Missing, lifted or creased shingles
Wind breaks the seal strip and folds shingles back. Once a shingle is creased or gone, rain can reach the underlayment and decking.
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Granule loss, curling or cracking
Granules piling up in the gutters, bald spots and shingles that curl or crack point to a worn surface that no longer sheds water well.
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Soft spots or a sagging roofline
A spongy feel underfoot or a dip between rafters usually means the decking has been wet long enough to rot.
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Worn flashing or cracked pipe boots
Rusted or pulled-away metal at chimneys and walls, and cracked rubber collars around plumbing vents, are some of the most common leak points.
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Blisters or ponding on a flat roof
Bubbles, split seams or water that sits long after rain on a rowhome or porch roof will find its way inside.
Scope of work
What a roof repair includes
- Free inspection of the roof surface, flashing, vents and gutters, plus the attic where we can reach it
- Photos of the problem and of the finished repair
- Shingle, slate, metal and flat-roof membrane repairs
- Flashing repair at chimneys, sidewalls, skylights and valleys
- Pipe boot and roof vent replacement
- Decking and underlayment replacement under damaged areas, with cleanup when we finish
Materials
Materials we repair with
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Replacement shingles
Matched in size, style and color as closely as we can. Weathered roofs rarely match new shingles perfectly, and we tell you that up front.
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Flashing metal
Aluminum, galvanized steel or copper step flashing and counterflashing, bent to fit chimneys, sidewalls and valleys.
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Pipe boots and vent flashing
New boots replace rubber collars that summer heat and sun have dried out and cracked.
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Ice & water shield
Self-adhered membrane under repaired eaves, valleys and flashing areas, as backup protection against ice dams and wind-driven rain.
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Slate and slate hooks
Broken slates are replaced with matching slate, held by slate hooks or other proven methods that don’t disturb the slates around them.
Our process
How a roof repair works
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Trace the leak
We inspect the roof and, where we can, the attic, following the water back to where it actually gets in.
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Show you what we found
You get photos, a plain explanation of the problem, the repair we recommend and a free estimate.
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Repair the cause
We remove damaged materials, check the decking and underlayment, and rebuild the area so new flashing, shingles or membrane tie into the roof around it.
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Check and clean up
We photograph the finished repair, clear debris from the roof and gutters, and walk you through the work.
Local know-how
What to know around Baltimore
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Freeze-thaw and ice dams
Maryland winters freeze and thaw again and again. Water in a cracked shingle or open flashing joint expands as it freezes, and ice dams at the eaves can push water under shingles.
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Summer heat, storms and nor’easters
Hot summers dry out sealant and rubber pipe boots, while heavy rain and wind from thunderstorms and nor’easters lift shingles and find open seams.
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Older homes and permits
Some older homes in Baltimore City and Baltimore County have slate roofs, aging chimneys or flat rear roofs, and some sit in historic districts where exterior changes may need review. Larger repairs, such as replacing a big section of decking, may require a permit — we check before work starts.
Based in Pikesville, serving Baltimore County, Baltimore City and Howard County.
See the areas we serveYour estimate
What affects the cost
Every project is different, so we don’t list prices online. We look at the job first and give you a free estimate based on what we find.
- What’s causing the leak and how far the water has spread
- Whether decking or underlayment under the area needs replacing
- Roof type: asphalt shingle, slate, metal or flat membrane
- Flashing work at chimneys, walls or skylights
- Roof height, steepness and safe access
FAQ
Roof repair questions
Should I repair my roof or replace it?
It depends on the whole roof, not just the leak. If the rest of the roof is sound, a repair usually makes sense; if shingles are worn out everywhere, we’ll show you photos and explain why replacement may be the better choice.
Do you take emergency leak calls?
Yes. We take after-hours emergency leak calls, and when it’s safe we can put temporary protection in place until a permanent repair can be made.
Will the new shingles match my roof?
We match as closely as we can. Shingle lines change and older roofs fade, so a slight color difference is normal, and we’ll tell you before we start.
Do you repair slate roofs?
Yes. We replace broken and slipped slates and repair the flashing around them, which often makes more sense than replacing a slate roof that’s still sound.
Can’t I just put roof sealant on it?
Sealant can buy a little time, but it dries out and cracks through Maryland heat and cold. A lasting repair replaces the failed flashing, boot or shingle instead of covering it up.
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Need a roofer you can trust?
Book a free, no-pressure roof inspection. We’ll show you photos of everything we find.
- MHIC No. 92337
- Licensed & insured
- GAF Certified contractor