Roof Repair in Toronto: Leaks, Shingles and Storm Damage
A stain on the ceiling, shingles on the lawn after a windstorm, a drip beside the chimney. Universal Roofs has fixed problems like these as a Toronto roofing company since 2005, with 24/7 emergency roof repair when water is coming in. We find where the water actually gets in, repair that spot, and tell you straight whether the rest of the roof has good years left.
We back every job with strong workmanship warranties and transparent, no-hidden-fee estimates.
Rated 5.0 on Google • In business since 2005 • Emergency calls answered 24/7 • Office open every day, 8 am to 11:30 pm
Roof Problems
Signs your roof needs a repair
Leaks rarely show up where they start. Water runs along the roof boards or down a rafter before it drips, so a ceiling stain can be a metre or more from the actual gap. These are the signs worth a call.
Inside the house
- A brown ring or damp patch on a ceiling, often after heavy rain or a thaw
- Bubbling paint or soft drywall near an outside wall or the chimney
- Drips around a bathroom fan, a light fixture or a skylight
- In the attic: wet insulation, dark stains on the roof boards, or daylight showing through
- A musty smell upstairs or in a closet under the roof
Outside, from the ground
- Missing, lifted, creased or curled shingles
- Granules piling up in the eavestrough or at the downspouts
- Loose, bent or rusted metal flashing at the chimney or along a wall
- Cracked rubber collars around plumbing vent pipes
- Thick ice and long icicles along the eaves in winter
- A dip or sag in the roofline
Don't climb up to check: binoculars from the sidewalk show most of this. A sag in the roofline needs a call soon. More on the common causes of roof leaks. Our certified team provides fast, reliable repairs backed by a workmanship warranty. Roof Leaks Lead to $10,000+ In Structural Repairs and Replacements.
Emergency Line
24/7 emergency roof repair in Toronto
Water coming through a ceiling, a tree on the roof, shingles torn off in a storm: call (416) 732-2421. Emergency calls are answered 24/7, and the office is open every day, 8 am to 11:30 pm. Until we arrive, follow what to do before we arrive.
Live technicians are available 24/7 for emergency tarping and repairs.
Repair Services
Roof repairs we handle
Roof leak repair
We trace the water from the stain to where it gets in, then fix that point: a popped nail, an open seam, a cracked vent collar or tired flashing. A smear of sealant is not a repair.
Shingle roof repair
Missing, lifted, creased or cracked shingles are replaced and sealed down. We match colour and profile as closely as current products allow. On an older roof, new shingles look brighter until they weather.
Flashing
The metal where the roof meets a wall, a dormer or a chimney. Loose, bent or rusted flashing is replaced, not caulked over. Leak around a skylight? See skylight repair.
Chimneys
Many chimney leaks start at the flashing, or on the uphill side of a wide chimney that needs a cricket, a small peaked section that steers water around it.
Vents and pipe collars
The rubber collar around a plumbing vent cracks after years of sun and frost, and vent caps work loose. They're small parts, and catching them early saves the roof boards around them.
Valleys
A valley carries the water from two slopes, and leaves and ice collect there. Worn or badly cut valleys are a common leak point and are better repaired along their length than patched.
Storm, wind and tree damage
After a windstorm or a fallen branch, we check the whole roof, not just the obvious hole. Lifted shingles that stayed put can still leak later. More on checking your roof after a storm.
Flat sections and rear additions
Many older Toronto houses have a flat roof over a rear addition, porch or garage. Blisters, open seams and ponding water call for membrane work: see flat roof repair.
Gutter Repair
We don’t just clean, we also repair and realign gutter systems to ensure water is channeled safely away from your home’s foundation.
Toronto Weather
Why Toronto roofs leak
Toronto weather works on a roof all year. Freeze-thaw cycles open small gaps a little wider every winter. Ice dams form when heat escaping into the attic melts snow that refreezes at the cold eaves, pushing water back under the shingles; the lasting fix is usually better attic insulation and ventilation.
Summer storms lift shingle edges, mature trees drop limbs and fill valleys with leaves, and raccoons tear at soft spots near vents.
Repair Process
What happens on a repair visit
Step 1
You tell us what you see
Call or use the form. Say where the damage is and when it shows up: after rain, a thaw or wind. Photos of the ceiling or the roof help.
Step 2
We inspect the roof and the attic
We look at the roof and, where there's access, the attic underneath, because the leak and the stain are often in different places.
Step 3
You get an answer and a price
We explain what failed and why, and give you the price before any work starts.
Step 4
We fix it
Damaged material comes off and the roof boards underneath are checked. Soft or rotted boards are replaced, then new materials go on, matched to the rest of the roof.
Step 5
We check it, you watch it
We check the repair before we leave. Watch the old stain through the next few rains: it should dry out and stop growing.
We are WSIB-insured, certified roof repair experts serving all of the GTA. Our team is trained with industry-leading brands such as IKO and CertainTeed, and we bring that training and expertise with us on every job.
We use industry-leading materials, including IKO shingles and SOPREMA membranes, to finalize your roof repair. This includes a final clean-up and inspection to make sure everything is perfect.
Before We Arrive
What to do before we arrive
When water is coming in, the goal is to limit the damage until the roof can be fixed safely.
Stay off the roof
Don't climb up in rain, wind, ice or the dark. A wet roof is dangerous even for roofers.
Catch the water
Buckets, towels, and plastic sheeting over furniture and floors. Move electronics and valuables out of the room.
Watch the ceiling
Drywall bulging with water can give way. Keep clear of light fixtures, put a bucket under the lowest point and poke a small hole there to let it drain.
Mind the power
If water is near a light or an outlet, switch that circuit off at the panel, if you can reach the panel safely.
Take photos
Photograph the damage inside and the roof from the ground, with the date. Your insurer may ask for them.
Call us
(416) 732-2421. Emergency calls are answered 24/7.
More ideas in our guide to temporary fixes until a roofer arrives.
Repair or Replace
When a repair is worth it, and when it isn't
A repair makes sense when the problem is in one place and the rest of the roof is sound. This is how we read it.
| A repair usually makes sense | Time to plan a new roof | |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | One spot or one detail: a vent, a chimney, a few shingles | Spread over several slopes |
| Shingles | Still flexible, granules mostly in place | Brittle, curled or bald across the roof |
| Leaks | The first one in years | New leaks after each repair |
| Roof boards | Solid underfoot | Soft or sagging areas |
| Age | Well inside the shingles' expected life | Near the end of its expected life |
| Cost over time | One repair buys good years | Repair bills keep adding up |
If a repair will give you good years, we'll say so. If it won't, we'll explain why and what a full roof replacement involves. There's more in our guide to deciding between repair and replacement.
Repair Costs
What affects the price of a roof repair
We price a repair after seeing the roof. These are the things that move the number.
| What we look at | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|
| What failed | A cracked vent collar is a small job; rebuilding chimney flashing or a valley is a bigger one |
| How far the damage goes | Rotted roof boards often only show once the old shingles are off |
| Height and pitch | Steep and three-storey roofs need more safety setup and slower work |
| Access | Narrow side yards, semis, row houses and laneway garages take longer to work from |
| Materials | Matching an older shingle or bending custom flashing costs more than a stock part |
| Timing | Cold-weather repairs need extra steps |
As of 2026, minor roof repairs like fixing a small leak or a few shingles start around $350, while larger repairs can range from $1,000 to $3,500.
Storm Damage
Storm damage and insurance claims
Home insurance often covers sudden damage, like wind tearing off shingles or a tree landing on the roof, but usually not wear and age. Policies differ, so check yours. Call your insurer early, take dated photos, and keep receipts for any temporary work.
Following a GTA weather event, we provide comprehensive inspections to identify “hidden” hail bruising and wind-lifted shingles, then execute repairs to your insurance provider’s satisfaction.
Questions To Ask
Choosing a roof repair company: questions to ask
Ask any roofer these before you book, and get the important answers in writing.
- Can I reach you in an emergency, outside office hours?
- Is there a written warranty on the repair, and what does it cover?
- Are your workers covered by WSIB, and do you carry liability insurance?
- Will I get the price in writing before work starts?
- Will you show me photos of what's wrong?
- Who cleans up, and do you sweep for nails?
- How long have you been in business?
What our customers say
Rated 5.0 on Google. Universal Roofs has worked on Toronto roofs since 2005. See recent roofing projects.
Service Area
Areas we serve
Universal Roofs works out of 30 Braddock Rd in Etobicoke and handles roof repair in Toronto for houses in Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough, East York, York and downtown, plus nearby parts of the GTA. See the areas we serve in Toronto.
FAQ
Roof repair questions
How do I know it's a roof leak and not something else?
Roof leaks usually show after rain or a thaw. A stain that appears in cold, dry weather is often condensation, for example from a bathroom fan venting into the attic instead of outside. A stain under a bathroom may be plumbing. That's why we check the attic as well as the roof.
Why does my roof only leak in winter?
Usually ice dams. Heat escaping into the attic melts the snow, and the water refreezes at the cold eaves and backs up under the shingles. A repair stops the leak, but the lasting fix is often better attic insulation and ventilation. Frost on attic nails that melts on a mild day can look like a leak too.
What does a roof repair cost in Toronto?
It depends on what failed, how far the damage goes, the height and pitch of the roof, access and materials. A vent collar or a few shingles cost far less than rebuilding chimney flashing or a valley. We price each repair after seeing the roof. We provide no-obligation estimates to help you better understand your costs.
Can you match my shingles?
Usually closely, not always exactly. Colours change between production runs, some lines are discontinued, and new shingles look brighter than ones that have weathered for years. Where looks matter, one option is to move matching shingles from a slope you can't see from the street and put the new ones there.
Will my insurance pay for the repair?
Sometimes. Policies often cover sudden damage, like wind or a fallen tree, but usually not wear and age. Call your insurer before major work, and keep photos and receipts.
Do you offer 24/7 emergency roof repair?
Yes. Emergency calls are answered 24/7 at (416) 732-2421, and the office is open every day from 8 am to 11:30 pm. Until we arrive, stay off the roof and follow the steps above to limit the water damage.
Can you repair a roof in winter?
Many repairs can be done in winter on a dry day, once snow and ice are cleared from the work area. Shingles don't self-seal in the cold, so new ones are sealed by hand. Some larger jobs get a temporary repair until the weather allows a permanent one.
Do you repair flat roofs too?
Yes. Flat roofing is one of our services, including the flat sections over rear additions, porches and garages on many older Toronto houses. See flat roofing for membranes, ponding water and drains.
Do you provide a warranty on your roof repairs?
Yes. We offer a warranty on the craftsmanship of our services. Most of the materials we use have a standard manufacturer’s warranty as well.
Do you offer free roof repair estimates?
Yes. We would be happy to give you a free estimate for any repairs you may need for your roof.
Need Roofing Service? Contact Us Today!
- +1 416-732-2421
- 30 Braddock Rd, Etobicoke, ON, M9W 5H8
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Tell us what you're seeing and where. Emergency calls are answered 24/7 at (416) 732-2421, and the office is open every day, 8 am to 11:30 pm. Or send us the details.
Live technicians are available 24/7 for emergency tarping and repairs.
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