The Short Answer
If a new roof or recent repair leaks, protect the inside of the house, photograph the leak and note the date and weather, then notify the installer in writing and give them access to fix it. Read the workmanship warranty and the shingle warranty, which has its own notice deadline. If the contractor ignores you, Michigan allows a complaint to LARA within 18 months of completion, and the courts remain available.
Key Points
- Most leaks on new work are installation details at flashing, boots, valleys or edges, which fall under the installer's workmanship warranty.
- Notify the installer in writing with photos and dates, and offer specific access times; Michigan's complaint process expects that notice.
- Manufacturer warranties cover defective materials, not installation errors, and some require notice to the manufacturer within 30 days of discovery.
- A LARA complaint about a residential maintenance and alteration contract must be filed within 18 months after completion, occupancy or purchase (MCL 339.2411).
- Do not let another roofer rework the area before it is documented, except for an emergency tarp, or the dispute gets harder to prove.
Protect the House and Write Everything Down
- Step 1
Stop the Water Inside
Catch drips, move belongings and keep water away from light fixtures and outlets. If a ceiling is bulging, the guide for active leaks explains how to relieve it safely.
- Step 2
Photograph and Video the Leak
Take dated photos of the stain, the drip and any wet insulation you can safely see from the attic hatch. Video of water actually dripping is far more persuasive than a dried stain later.
- Step 3
Note the Weather
Write down the date, time, how hard it rained, the wind direction, and whether there was melting snow or ice on the roof. Those details often point straight at the cause.
- Step 4
Find Your Paperwork
Locate the contract or invoice, the warranty documents, any permit card, and the before and after photos the installer gave you.
Why New Roofs and Fresh Repairs Leak
Shingles in the open field of a new roof rarely leak. Water gets in at the details: the places where the roof meets something else. When a new roof leaks, look first at chimneys, sidewalls, skylights, plumbing vents, valleys and the eaves.
Common causes are reused flashing that should have been replaced, step flashing set wrong or missing at a wall, a pipe boot that was not lapped correctly, nails driven through a valley or set too high, and missing or short ice barrier at the eave. The 2015 Michigan Residential Code requires flashing at wall and roof intersections and around roof openings (R903.2.1), and on reroofing it requires existing flashings that are rusted, damaged or deteriorated to be replaced (R908.5) and flashings to be reconstructed per the manufacturer's instructions (R908.6).
Not every new stain is a roof leak. A new roof can change how an attic breathes, and a first Michigan winter can reveal condensation from a bath fan venting into the attic or from air leaking up from the house. Frost on nail tips that melts on a warm day looks exactly like a leak from below. Ask the installer to check the attic as well as the roof.
Ice dams are another winter-only cause. On a roof with proper ice barrier, a dam may still back water up past it on a low-slope section or a long eave. That can be a workmanship issue, an attic insulation and ventilation issue, or both, and the warranty terms usually decide who handles which.
Notify the Installer in Writing
Call the installer, then follow up in writing the same day by email or letter, and keep a copy. Phone calls get lost; a dated message is proof that you gave notice and when.
Put four things in the message: the address and the date of the original work; what you saw and when, with photos attached; the weather at the time; and specific days and times the roofer can get into the house and attic. Ask for a date by which they will inspect.
That last point is not just courtesy. Michigan's Occupational Code sets out how LARA handles a homeowner's workmanship complaint, and it expects the homeowner to have given the contractor notice describing reasonable times the house was accessible for repairs, and to show the repairs were not made within 60 days after that notice (MCL 339.2411(4)(f)), unless LARA finds the situation threatens the structure or the occupants' health and safety. A clear written notice with access times is the first step in that process, whatever happens next.
Keep the tone factual. Most contractors want to fix their own work, and a calm message with good photos gets a faster visit than an angry one.
Which Warranty Covers the Leak
A new roof usually carries two separate warranties, and they cover different failures. Knowing which one applies keeps you from filing in the wrong place.
Workmanship warranty
The installer
The contractor's written promise about its installation. Most new-roof and recent-repair leaks are installation details, so this is the first warranty to use. Read the term, what it covers, what it excludes (often ice damming, storms, other trades' work and alterations), and how to make a claim.
Manufacturer's warranty
The materials
Covers manufacturing defects in the shingles or membrane. CertainTeed's residential shingle warranty, for example, excludes damage from improper installation or installation not in accordance with its instructions, and damage from ice backup or ice damming. Enhanced warranties from certified contractors can add workmanship coverage; check whether yours was registered.
Roof repair warranties explainedHomeowners insurance
Usually not this
The standard ISO homeowners form excludes loss caused by faulty, inadequate or defective workmanship, repair or construction, though it says any ensuing loss not otherwise excluded is covered. A sudden storm event is a separate question. Ask your agent before assuming either way.
Manufacturer notice deadlines are short. CertainTeed's residential shingle warranty requires the owner to notify CertainTeed within 30 days of discovering a suspected manufacturing defect, with proof of ownership and the purchase and application dates; another CertainTeed roofing warranty states plainly that notice to your contractor is not notice to CertainTeed. Check the deadline in your own manufacturer's warranty.
Mistakes That Make a Warranty Claim Harder
- Letting another roofer tear into the area before the installer has seen it. Get a second opinion if you want one, but have it documented with photos and no changes, unless an emergency tarp is needed to stop water.
- Caulking or tarring it yourself. Many workmanship warranties exclude damage caused by alterations by others, and fresh sealant hides the evidence.
- Waiting through a season to see if it happens again. Notice deadlines and the 18-month LARA window both run while you wait, and hidden water damage grows.
- Painting the ceiling before the cause is fixed and the stain has stayed dry through a few hard rains.
- Withholding the final payment without a written explanation. If you are holding money because of a defect, say so in writing and describe the defect; get advice before doing it on a larger job.
If the Contractor Will Not Respond
Most of these problems end with the installer coming back. If yours does not, Michigan gives homeowners several routes. They are summarized here so you know they exist; for your specific dispute, talk to a Michigan attorney.
Complaint to LARA
MCL 339.2411
Residential roofing contractors are licensed by LARA. A complaint about a maintenance and alteration contract must be made within 18 months after the latest of completion, occupancy or purchase. Workmanship that does not meet the standards of the Michigan Residential Code is grounds for discipline, and the homeowner must send a copy of the complaint to the contractor when filing.
Local building department
Permits and inspection
If the job required a permit, the building department may have records and can inspect. Under MCL 339.2411(4)(c), an inspection report from a building official that confirms the complaint makes it a verified complaint for LARA. Mich Admin Code R 338.1551 also presumes a licensee's failure to correct a materially deficient or hazardous structural matter is dishonest or unfair dealing.
Attorney General
Consumer Protection Act
The Michigan Consumer Protection Act lists practices such as failing to provide promised benefits (MCL 445.903(1)(y)). The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division accepts complaints online.
Small claims or a lawsuit
Time limits apply
Small claims court in Michigan handles cases up to $7,000 (MCL 600.8401). Breach of contract claims generally have a six-year limit (MCL 600.5807(9)), and claims about a defective improvement to real property have a separate statute of repose (MCL 600.5839). Check whether your contract requires arbitration or another dispute process first.
Time limits for workmanship claimsIf the contract provides an alternative dispute resolution procedure, MCL 339.2411(4)(d) and (e) affect how and when LARA proceeds. Read your contract's dispute section.
If We Installed It, or If Someone Else Did
If Stellar did the work, call or text us. Most Stellar repairs carry a 10 to 15 year craftsmanship warranty, separate from any manufacturer warranty, and a leak on our work gets looked at as a warranty matter first. We register the manufacturer warranties we are certified to issue, so we can also tell you whether a product claim applies.
If another company did the work and is not answering, our inspection is free. We document what we find with photos and put the cause in writing, without changing anything unless water is coming in and a temporary fix is needed. You can send that report to your installer, or use it however you need. Emergency repairs typically start around $850; for a true emergency we are usually on site within 24 hours, weather permitting and if the roof is safe to access.
Who to Contact, and When
| Situation | Contact First | Time Limit to Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Leak at flashing, boot, valley or edge on new work | The installer, in writing | Workmanship warranty term; LARA complaint within 18 months of completion |
| Suspected defective shingles or membrane | The manufacturer, plus the installer | Manufacturer notice period, for example 30 days from discovery under CertainTeed's shingle warranty |
| Installer does not respond within a reasonable time | LARA, local building department | LARA expects notice and 60 days without repair, unless health or safety is at risk |
| Damage from a storm after the roof was installed | Your homeowners insurer | Policy notice terms; MCL 500.2833 suit limit |
| Money dispute with the contractor | An attorney; small claims up to $7,000 | Contract terms, MCL 600.5807 and 600.5839 |
General guidance only. Your contract, your warranties and the facts decide your situation.
A Leak on New Work? Get It Documented
Our inspection is free. We find the cause, photograph it and put it in writing so you know exactly what to ask your installer for. If water is coming in now, call or text any time.
Related Guides
Checking a Finished Roof Repair
What to look for after the crew leaves, and the first big rain.
Learn MoreTime Limits for Workmanship Claims
Michigan's contract limits and statute of repose for roof work.
Learn MoreMichigan Consumer Protection Act and Roofers
Unfair practices, AG complaints and LARA complaints.
Learn MoreOur Warranty
How Stellar's craftsmanship and manufacturer warranties work.
Learn MoreQuestions We Hear
Is it normal for a new roof to leak?
No. A properly installed roof should not leak in normal weather. Leaks on new work usually come from a flashing, boot, valley or edge detail, and occasionally from attic condensation that looks like a leak. Either way, the installer should come back and find the cause under the workmanship warranty.
How long does a roofer have to fix a leak on a new roof?
Your warranty and contract may set a response time; read them. Michigan's LARA complaint process expects the homeowner to have given written notice with reasonable access times and to show repairs were not made within 60 days, unless the structure or occupants' health and safety need protecting sooner (MCL 339.2411(4)(f)).
Can I hire a different roofer to fix my new roof's leak?
You can, but it may cost you the original warranty, because many workmanship and manufacturer warranties exclude damage from work by others. Give the installer written notice and a fair chance first. If you need another opinion, ask for photos and a written report without any changes, except a temporary fix if water is coming in.
Will the shingle manufacturer pay for a leak on my new roof?
Only if the cause is a manufacturing defect, or if your roof carries an enhanced warranty that adds workmanship coverage. Standard shingle warranties exclude improper installation and ice damming. Manufacturer claims also have their own notice rules, such as notice to CertainTeed within 30 days of discovering a defect under its residential shingle warranty.
What if my roofer went out of business?
The workmanship warranty usually goes with the company. A registered manufacturer warranty may still cover material defects, and enhanced manufacturer warranties sometimes cover workmanship even if the contractor is gone; check your registration. A licensed roofer can document the problem so you can file the right claim.
What This Page Cites
- Occupational Code, MCL 339.2411 (complaints; 18-month filing period; workmanship proceedings), Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-339-2411), accessed October 2026
- Residential Builders and Maintenance and Alteration Contractors, Mich Admin Code R 338.1551 (complaints), Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/lara/bcc-media/ASD/ResidentialBuildersAndMaintenanceAndAlterationContractors_1765_2017-087LR_AdminCode.pdf), accessed October 2026
- 2015 Michigan Residential Code, Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies, Sections R903.2.1, R908.5 and R908.6, International Code Council (https://codes.iccsafe.org/content/MIRC2015P2/chapter-9-roof-assemblies), accessed October 2026
- Asphalt Shingle and Low-Slope Residential Products 2022 Limited Warranty, CertainTeed (https://pdf.lowes.com/productdocuments/5c36e03d-d845-4f8e-9593-26515a685a6c/61334092.pdf), accessed October 2026
- RoofRunner and RoofRunner AIR Underlayment 2023 Limited Warranty (notice to contractor is not notice to CertainTeed), CertainTeed (https://pdf.lowes.com/productdocuments/e9ecfcd7-0bee-4fd9-8dad-4b35d40655d2/63940056.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Homeowners 3 Special Form, HO 00 03 05 11 (Section I Exclusions B.3), Insurance Services Office, as filed with the Maine Bureau of Insurance (https://www.maine.gov/pfr/insurance/sites/maine.gov.pfr.insurance/files/inline-files/ho00-03-05-11-homeowners3-special-form.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Michigan Consumer Protection Act, MCL 445.903, Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-445-903), accessed October 2026
- MCL 600.8401 (small claims jurisdiction), MCL 600.5807 (contract limitations) and MCL 600.5839 (improvements to real property), Michigan Legislature (https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-600-5839), accessed October 2026
- Consumer Complaint, Michigan Department of Attorney General (https://www.michigan.gov/ag/complaints/consumer-complaint), accessed October 2026