Roof leak into your house — do this now
- Move valuables out from under the stain. A wet ceiling can collapse.
- Shut off power to the room at the breaker — water + electrical fixtures is a shock hazard.
- Place buckets under active drips. If a ceiling is sagging, pierce it in a controlled spot with a screwdriver to let water drain into the bucket instead of rupturing.
- Document everything with phone photos and video.
- Call Vault at (385) 250-2825 for the interior damage and a roofer for the roof itself.
- If the roof is still open to the weather (missing shingles, hole, tarp needed), Vault can tarp it until a roofer arrives.
How water travels from a roof opening to interior damage
When shingles fail or flashing cracks, water doesn’t just drip straight down. It:
- Enters the roof decking (plywood or OSB).
- Soaks into attic insulation.
- Follows framing (rafters, trusses) sideways and downhill.
- Pools where it finds a low spot — top plate, ceiling drywall seam, electrical box.
- Drips through the ceiling at that pooled spot — often several feet from where it entered the roof.
So the stain on your ceiling rarely marks the roof problem’s actual location. Diagnosis needs attic access + moisture mapping.
Common Utah roof leak sources
- Failed flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights, and roof-wall intersections. Age-related, caulk fails over 10-20 years.
- Missing or damaged shingles from wind events. One missing shingle may be enough.
- Ice dams (winter) — see ice dam prevention.
- Damaged skylights — seals degrade, hail cracks the pane.
- Dislodged ridge cap — wind pulls ridge cap shingles.
- Clogged valley — pine needles pile in valleys, trap water, force it under shingles.
- Nail pops — rusted or backing-out nails let water in through nail holes.
- Satellite dish or solar panel installations that improperly sealed penetrations.
What Vault does on an interior roof-leak call
- Safety assessment. Is the ceiling stable? Is power to affected areas off?
- Source trace. Moisture meter + infrared imaging from the inside; attic inspection from above when possible.
- Emergency tarp on the roof if actively open to the weather.
- Interior extraction of standing water.
- Open the ceiling cavity for drying.
- Remove wet insulation.
- Air movers and dehumidifier in the cavity.
- Mold inspection if dwell time was over 48 hours.
- Coordinate with roofer — Vault doesn’t do roofing but works with Utah County roofers we trust.
- Reconstruction after roof is sealed and interior is dry.
Typical cost (interior only)
| Scope | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Small ceiling stain, drywall patch, caught early | $750-$2,500 |
| One-room ceiling, cavity drying + patch | $2,500-$5,500 |
| Multiple rooms affected, attic mold inspection | $5,500-$12,000 |
| Significant attic insulation replacement | +$1,500-$4,500 |
| Emergency roof tarp | +$500-$1,500 |
Roof repair itself is quoted by the roofer separately.
Insurance coverage
- Storm-caused roof damage + interior: usually covered. Insurance pays for interior repair; may or may not pay for the roof itself (depending on roof age and nature of damage).
- Pre-existing roof damage finally letting water in: often disputed. Insurer may call it deferred maintenance.
- Ice dam damage: interior usually covered; roof not usually covered.
- Full roof replacement due to age: never covered — maintenance.
Water coming through your ceiling right now?
Call (385) 250-2825. Vault handles the interior; we’ll help coordinate with a roofer for the exterior.
Ceiling water damage · Water damage services · Mold in attic · Ice dam prevention · Insurance claims
More guides: Clogged gutters · Wet insulation
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Inside Provo city limits we guarantee a crew within 45 minutes, Mon–Sat 8 AM–5 PM. See Provo emergency water damage.
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