Project overview
Why the homeowner called
The homeowner contacted Element Roofing Solutions about a roof leak on their architectural shingle roof in Riverview. The goal was to find the source and repair it properly rather than patch the surface.
What we found
The inspection turned up three related conditions in the leak area, and each one had to be addressed for the repair to hold.
Active leak
Water was getting past the roof covering in the affected area and reaching the structure below.
Compromised flashing
The leak area sits where the roof meets a stone chimney, and the flashing there was not doing its job. Flashing is the metal that directs water away from the places where the roof changes plane or meets another surface, and once it fails, water runs behind it instead of over it.
Damaged decking
The roof decking beneath the leak area was damaged and could not be left in place. Shingles and underlayment need a sound deck to fasten to, so this changed the repair from a surface fix to a rebuild of the affected section.
Roofing work completed
- 1
Decking repair
The damaged decking beside the chimney was cut out and replaced with new plywood so the new roofing layers had a solid, secure surface to fasten to.
- 2
Peel-and-stick underlayment
Self-adhering (peel-and-stick) underlayment was installed over the repaired section. Unlike felt or synthetic underlayment that is only nailed down, peel-and-stick bonds directly to the deck and seals around fasteners, which gives a leak-prone area a stronger secondary water barrier.
- 3
Architectural shingles
The repair area was finished with CertainTeed architectural shingles in Weathered Wood, tying the repaired section back into the existing roof.
The total repair area was approximately 200 square feet.
Materials and roof system
- Repaired roof decking
- Self-adhering (peel-and-stick) underlayment
- CertainTeed architectural shingles, Weathered Wood
Project photos
Opened up: deteriorated decking and framing where the roof meets the stone chimney, with the old underlayment cut back.
New plywood decking installed in the damaged area beside the chimney.
Self-adhering (peel-and-stick) underlayment applied over the repaired decking and up to the chimney base.
Underlayment lapped into the existing shingles and roof edge before the new shingles went on.
Completed repair: CertainTeed Weathered Wood architectural shingles blended into the existing roof around the chimney.
Result
Instead of a surface patch over the leak, the affected section was rebuilt from the deck up: sound decking, a self-adhering underlayment that seals to the deck, and new architectural shingles matched to the existing Weathered Wood color. The homeowner ended up with a repaired section built to the same standard as a new roof system rather than a temporary fix.