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Does a workmanship warranty cover a recurring leak at repaired flashing?
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I’m trying to determine who should diagnose a recurring leak before I authorize another repair.
The roof is approximately [roof age] years old and has [shingle or other covering]. A roofer repaired the flashing around a [chimney, vent, skylight, or wall intersection] on [month/year]. The interior leak stopped for a while, but it has now returned in roughly the same area. After rain, I’m seeing [water staining, active dripping, damp insulation, or bubbling paint] on the inside. Outside, there is [lifted flashing, cracked sealant, missing shingles, displaced material, or no obvious damage]. We also had [wind, hail, falling branch, or no notable storm] since the original repair.
The workmanship warranty says [exact duration], but it excludes [storm damage, consequential damage, maintenance, pre-existing conditions, or other listed exclusions]. Its claim procedure requires [written notice, photographs, inspection by the installer, registration, or another stated step]. I’m not sure whether the repeated leak points to defective installation, a failed flashing component, or new storm or material damage.
My instinct is to notify the original roofer in writing, send photos, and give them a chance to inspect before another contractor alters the area. Is that usually the right approach for preserving a workmanship warranty claim, or should I get an independent inspection first?
1 reply
Before authorizing another roofer, I’d check the warranty’s notice language very closely. “Written notice” may mean notice within a set number of days after discovering the recurring leak, not simply while the warranty period is still open.
I’d also look for wording about giving the original roofer the first opportunity to inspect or cure the problem. An independent inspection could be useful, but if another contractor removes flashing or reseals the area first, the installer might argue that the evidence was altered or that they weren’t given the required opportunity to investigate. Could you quote those two sections, including any deadline? If water is actively entering, document it with dated photos and take reasonable temporary steps to prevent further damage, while making clear in writing that you’re not authorizing permanent repairs yet.
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