Roof Leaks After the First Snow: Manitou Springs, Woodland Park & Colorado Springs

Every year, the first real snow finds the roof leak nobody knew about. In Manitou Springs, Woodland Park, Colorado Springs and up and down the Front Range, a roof that sheds summer rain without trouble can start dripping as soon as snow sits on it and melts during the day. The good news is that a small leak caught early is a small repair. Here is how to check, what to do if water is already coming in, and when to call us.

Why leaks show up with the first snow

Snow is different from rain. It sits on the roof and melts slowly from the heat of the attic below, then refreezes at the colder eave. Colorado's big daily temperature swings make that cycle common. Water that would have run off in a rain instead lingers against flashing, vents and shingle edges, and finds any gap there.

Common weak spots:

• Flashing around chimneys, skylights and where a roof meets a wall
• Plumbing vent boots, where rubber cracks from years of strong UV at altitude
• Missing or lifted shingles after summer hail or wind
• Valleys where two roof planes meet and water concentrates
• Poor attic ventilation, which warms the roof deck and speeds melting

If you want the longer story on freezing at the eaves, our post on ice dams and roof leaks in Monument and Woodland Park goes into it.

A fall roof check you can do from the ground

You do not need to climb up. On a dry day:

1. Walk the perimeter with binoculars and look for shingles that are curled, cracked or missing.
2. Check the flashing around the chimney for gaps or rust.
3. Look at the plumbing vent pipes for cracked rubber.
4. Check gutters and downspouts for debris, which push water back under the shingles.
5. Inside, go into the attic with a flashlight if it is safely accessible and look for dark stains on the underside of the roof deck, damp insulation or daylight where it should not be.

If your roof took a hailstorm this year, have it looked at before winter. Hail bruises can be invisible from the ground and fail months later.

If water is coming in right now

1. Move belongings out of the way and put a bucket under the drip.
2. Poke a small hole in a bulging ceiling to let the water drain into a bucket. A sagging, water-filled spot can fail all at once, and a controlled drain is better than a collapse. Stand to the side when you do it.
3. Turn off lights and fans on any circuit near a wet ceiling, and stay away from wet fixtures.
4. Take photos and video before you move or clean anything. See our insurance documentation checklist.
5. Call a roofer for a temporary tarp, and call us for the water inside.
6. Do not go on an icy or snowy roof. No leak is worth a fall.

Why the inside matters as much as the roof

A roofer fixes the roof. They do not dry out your ceiling, insulation and wall cavities. Wet insulation holds water against the drywall and framing, and mold can start to grow in a couple of days if it stays damp. Roof leaks are slow, so water often travels along rafters and shows up feet away from the real entry point.

When we come out, we use moisture meters and, where useful, thermal imaging to find where the water went, then remove wet insulation and drywall as needed and set drying equipment. Our crew includes IICRC-certified technicians, and as a veteran-owned local company we do not upsell. If it is dry, we tell you it is dry. If you want to know more about the process, see our water damage services.

If mold has already started, our mold remediation page explains how we handle it.

Insurance and roof leaks

Insurers usually look at the cause. Sudden damage from a storm is often treated differently than a long-term leak from wear. That is why documentation matters, and why you should report promptly and not wait to see if it stops. Ask your agent what your policy says about roof age and wind or hail deductibles, which are often a percentage of the home's value in Colorado.

Local help

We serve Colorado Springs, Woodland Park and Monument, along with Manitou Springs and the rest of the Pikes Peak region. If a leak has already gotten into your home, call Stars & Bars at (719) 676-2456, any hour. You can also reach us at services@sb-resto.com, and read our storm damage cleanup overview for what we can do.

A few minutes with binoculars this week might save you a ceiling in January. And if it is too late for that, we are a phone call away at (719) 676-2456.