Roof leaks often begin where a lower or attached roof, like a porch, patio cover or addition, meets the main house wall. Water runs down the wall and gets behind flashing there. If you’re seeing a leak in Northcliffe near one of those areas, call (830) 283-2059 and we’ll connect you with an independent roofing company serving the Cibolo area.
A note on the area
Northcliffe is a neighborhood we serve near the Schertz side of the Cibolo area. We don’t have verified details about its homes, so this page doesn’t pretend to. Instead it’s about a kind of leak that can occur on any house with an attached lower roof, which covers most houses: a front porch, a rear patio cover, an attached garage or an addition built after the original home.
Why these joints leak
Where a lower roof meets a taller wall, the geometry sends water straight at the joint. Rain runs down the wall, hits the lower roof and must be directed away by flashing. If any of these pieces fails, water goes behind them.
- Step flashing along the wall can lift or corrode, and sealant above it can crack.
- Siding or wall cladding that’s been cut short, left unsealed or damaged lets water behind.
- Counter-flashing or kickout flashing at the bottom of the wall may be missing, so water spills behind the gutter or against the wall.
- Different materials such as a metal patio cover tied into a shingle roof, move differently and strain the joint.
- Add-on roofs built later may not have been integrated properly with the original roof’s waterproofing.
The details of how these pieces work are covered on our roof flashing repair page.
Where to look for signs
| Where | What you might see |
|---|---|
| Ceiling of the room next to the porch or addition | Stain along the wall edge or near the corner |
| Interior wall | Stains or bubbling paint low or high on the wall that touches the lower roof |
| Outside wall just above the lower roof | Staining, peeling paint, soft or swollen siding |
| Under the patio cover | Drips or streaks on the house wall behind it |
| Where the gutter meets the wall | Streaks or water marks suggesting water is going behind |
Is the leak from the roof or the wall?
It’s sometimes hard to say, because siding and roofing meet there, and water can enter at either. A roofer and, if needed, a siding or exterior contractor will work out which. The overall tracing method is described in roof leak detection. If you suspect gutters, read gutter and drainage repair, because overflow at the wall is a classic cause of staining.
Short-term protection
If a leak at one of these joints is active and the permanent fix isn’t ready, a stopgap can reduce water getting in. Read temporary leak sealing. Be aware that caulk alone over a failed joint often only buys time.
Who does the work
For joints like these, the roofer fixes the roof side, and sometimes the wall side is shared with a siding contractor. Ask the roofer what they can handle and what they’d recommend someone else do. A good one will be clear about it.
Getting started
Call (830) 283-2059 and tell us where the leak shows up. We’ll connect you with an independent roofing company. If you’re searching for Cibolo leak repair and aren’t sure your address is in range, we’ll tell you honestly. They’ll inspect, quote and repair, and they’re responsible for their own warranties. We’re a referral service. Neighboring areas we also cover include Heights of Cibolo and Homestead Commons.
Questions people ask
Why do porches and additions leak so often?
Because water runs down the taller wall onto the lower roof and depends entirely on flashing at that junction. Any failure lets it behind.
Is it a roofing problem or a siding problem?
It could be either or both. A roofer can check the roof side, and may suggest another contractor for the wall.
Will caulking the joint stop the leak?
Sometimes briefly. It’s a stopgap, not a fix. If the flashing underneath is failing, the leak will return.
Do metal patio covers leak differently?
They can, since metal and shingle expand differently with heat. The tie-in is often the weak point.
Have a leak right now? Talk to a roofer.
One call connects you with an independent local roofing company. Tell them what you’re seeing and they’ll tell you what comes next.
Cibolo Peak Roofing is a referral service, not a roofing contractor. Roofing work is performed by independent local roofing companies, and any license, insurance, rating or warranty belongs to that company.