Los Angeles gets most of its rain in a short window — roughly November through March, often in a few heavy storms. That’s why so many roof leaks appear “all at once” in winter: small problems that were invisible during a dry summer get tested by the first real storm.
The best time to deal with them is September and October.
From the ground
You don’t need to climb a ladder for these:
- Look for missing, cracked or slipped tiles or shingles. Binoculars help.
- Check flashing where the roof meets walls and chimneys. Look for gaps, rust or lifted metal.
- Look at the gutters and downspouts. Are they full of leaves? Are shingle granules collecting at the bottom of downspouts?
- Check for sagging along the ridge or roof planes.
Inside the house
- Ceilings: look for new stains, especially near exterior walls, skylights and fireplaces.
- Attic: with a flashlight, look for dark stains on the underside of the roof deck, damp insulation, or daylight coming through.
On flat roofs
If you have a flat roof (or flat sections over additions, garages or patios):
- Clear debris from drains and scuppers
- Note any areas where water ponded after the last rain
- Look for blisters, cracks or open seams
Trees and debris
Trim branches that overhang or touch the roof. Wind-driven branches scrape and crack roofing, and leaves clog drainage.
Get a professional inspection
A professional inspection checks what you can’t safely see — underlayment under tile, flashing details, penetrations and attic moisture. Small repairs done in the fall cost far less than emergency tarping and interior damage in January.
Book a free pre-season roof inspection and you’ll get a photo report ranking anything we find by urgency.