Roof repairs in Ballito before the next storm.

The KZN North Coast gets most of its rain in summer, often in short, heavy storms with strong wind. A roof that copes with light rain can still leak when water is driven sideways under tiles, sheeting laps and flashings. Salt in the air adds to the problem: screws, nails, flashings, ridge cappings and gutters corrode faster here than inland, and a single rusted fixing can let water into the ceiling for months before you notice the stain.

Tiled roofs tend to leak at cracked or slipped tiles, perished ridge mortar and valleys clogged with leaves. Sheet roofs tend to leak at rusted fixings, laps and around anything that pierces the roof, such as vent pipes, solar mounts and skylights.

If you can, note when the roof leaks: in every shower, only in heavy rain, or only when the wind comes from a certain direction. Take a photo of the stain inside and, from the ground, of the roof above it. That alone often narrows down the cause. Please don't climb onto a wet or steep roof yourself.

For flat concrete roofs, parapet walls and box gutters, the fix is usually a waterproofing job rather than a roof repair. See waterproofing in Ballito. If the roof work is part of a bigger alteration, our building renovations page covers that side.

After the repair, we tell you what else we saw on the roof and what can safely wait, so you can plan rather than react. Asking for a quote is free, and you'll have your quote in under two days.