Roof leak in a Brooklyn brownstone: where it's really coming from
Brownstones and row houses usually have low-slope ("flat") roofs surrounded by parapet walls, with a bulkhead or hatch, skylights and walls shared with the neighbors. Water rarely comes in right where the stain is. Here's how pros track it down, and what to do in the meantime.
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Emergency? Gas smell, CO alarm, fire, sparking or flooding: get to safety and call 911 first.
Right now: limit the damage
- Put a bucket under the drip. If the ceiling is bulging with water, keep people out from under it and call a pro.
- Move electronics and furniture, and photograph the damage for insurance.
- Don't go on the roof in rain, ice or wind. Many brownstone roofs have low or crumbling parapets.
Where flat roofs usually leak
- Flashing where the roof meets parapets, chimneys, the bulkhead and skylights.
- Parapet walls and copings: cracked mortar or loose coping stones let water into the wall, and it shows up inside below.
- Drains and scuppers clogged with leaves, so water ponds and finds a seam.
- Skylights and hatches: failed curbs or seals.
- Membrane seams and blisters on older roofs.
- The neighbor's roof: on attached houses, water can travel across a shared parapet or party wall.
What a roofer will do
A good roofer inspects the whole roof, not just the area above the stain. They check flashing, parapets, drains and seams, and may water-test sections. Expect a recommendation of repair, re-cover or full replacement. Ask for photos of the problem areas and a written scope before work starts.
Hiring in NYC
Roof repair on a home is home improvement work, so for jobs over $200 the contractor should hold a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license. You can look it up for free (how). Ask for proof of insurance too. If you're in a co-op or condo, the roof is usually the building's responsibility, so report it to management rather than hiring someone yourself.
Questions
Why is my ceiling leaking far from where the roof is damaged?
Water can travel along the roof deck, framing and inside parapet walls before it drips, so the stain is often away from the actual source.
Does a roofer need a license in NYC?
For residential repair work over $200, NYC requires a DCWP Home Improvement Contractor license. You can check it on the DCWP license search.
Can my neighbor's roof cause my leak?
On attached row houses, it can. Water can cross shared parapets or party walls, so a roofer may need to look at both sides.
Sources
Rules and phone numbers can change. Check the official source before relying on them.
Related guides
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