A roof leaking after a brand new roof is almost always a workmanship issue, which means the installing contractor, not the shingle manufacturer, is responsible for the repair, provided the leak comes from improper installation rather than a defective product. If the leak is caused by hail, wind, or an ice dam that formed after the roof was installed, that's an insurance claim or a maintenance issue, not a warranty issue. The distinction matters because it determines who pays, who you call first, and how fast the problem gets fixed. In Winnipeg, where freeze-thaw cycles and summer hail storms stress every roof on the block, this question comes up more often than you'd think, and the answer is rarely as simple as "the roofer should fix it."
Why a Brand New Roof Can Leak
A new roof should not leak. Period. But it happens, and when it does, the cause is usually one of four things.
Improper flashing installation. Flashing is the thin metal that seals the transitions where your roof meets a wall, chimney, skylight, or vent pipe. It's the most common source of leaks on new roofs because it's also the most commonly rushed step. A roofer who cuts corners on flashing, using too few fasteners, leaving gaps at the seams, or failing to integrate it properly with the underlayment, creates a leak that might not show up for weeks or months. Water finds the path of least resistance, and a poorly flashed penetration is an open door.
Nail placement errors. Asphalt shingles are held down by nails, and those nails need to land in a specific zone on each shingle. Nails driven too high miss the nail strip and leave the shingle loose. Nails driven too low expose the head to water. Over-driven nails punch through the shingle and create a hole. Any of these errors can cause a leak, and they're all installation defects, the contractor's responsibility, not the manufacturer's.
Vent boot failure. The rubber boots that seal around your plumbing vent pipes are a common failure point. They crack, they get installed crooked, or they're nailed through the flange in a way that lets water in. On a brand new roof, a leaking vent boot is almost always an installation error.
Valley problems. Valleys, the V-shaped channels where two roof slopes meet, are the most demanding part of any roof installation. If the shingles in the valley aren't woven or cut correctly, or if the valley metal is too narrow, water can back up and work its way under the shingles. This is a high-skill area, and it's where inexperienced crews make expensive mistakes.
Ice dams (winter). Here's the Winnipeg twist. An ice dam forms when heat from your attic melts snow on the roof, and that meltwater refreezes at the colder eaves. The ice buildup backs water up under the shingles, even brand new ones. This is not a roof installation defect. It's a ventilation and insulation problem, and it's on you, not the roofer. A new roof does not make you immune to ice dams, and any honest Winnipeg roofer will tell you that up front.
The Two Warranties You Actually Have
When your new roof goes on, you get two separate warranties, and confusing them is the most expensive mistake you can make.
The manufacturer's warranty covers the shingles themselves. If the asphalt shingles are defective, they blister, crack, or lose granules prematurely, the manufacturer owes you a replacement. This warranty is typically 25 to 50 years, but it's prorated. After the first few years, you get a depreciated value, not the full cost of a new roof. And critically, the manufacturer's warranty covers materials only. It does not cover installation labour, and it does not cover leaks caused by how the roof was put on.
The contractor's workmanship warranty covers the installation. If the roof leaks because of bad flashing, misplaced nails, or a botched valley, the contractor is responsible for fixing it at no cost to you. Workmanship warranties vary wildly, from one year to ten years or more. The length and terms should be in your contract. If you don't have a written workmanship warranty, you have a problem.
Here's the key point: when your new roof leaks, the cause is almost always workmanship, not materials. Asphalt shingles are a mature product, and manufacturing defects are rare. Installation errors are not rare. So in the vast majority of cases, the contractor is responsible, and the contractor's warranty is what covers the repair.
Who's Responsible for What
Let's be specific about responsibility, because it determines who you call and who pays.
The installing contractor is responsible for: any leak caused by improper installation. That includes flashing errors, nail placement, vent boot issues, valley mistakes, and underlayment problems. If the roof leaks because of how it was installed, the contractor fixes it under the workmanship warranty. This is true even if the contractor is annoyed about it, even if they blame the shingles, and even if they try to sell you a "repair" at your cost. If it's an installation defect, it's their problem.
The shingle manufacturer is responsible for: leaks caused by defective materials. This is rare, but it happens. If the shingles themselves are failing, cracking, curling, or losing granules in a way that isn't from hail or foot traffic, the manufacturer owes you replacement materials. The catch is that the manufacturer will almost always send an inspector, and that inspector will almost always try to blame the installation. You need your contractor on your side for this fight, which is another reason you want a contractor who stands behind their work.
You are responsible for: leaks caused by ice dams, poor attic ventilation, or damage from hail or wind after the roof was installed. If a hailstorm hit Winnipeg two weeks after your new roof went on, and the hail compromised the shingles, that's an insurance claim, not a warranty claim. If your attic is poorly insulated and ice dams form every winter, that's a ventilation issue, not a roof defect. A new roof doesn't change your attic's thermal performance.
The insurance company is responsible for: storm damage. If hail or wind damaged your new roof, your home insurance policy covers the repair or replacement, minus your deductible. This is separate from any warranty, and it's why you should document the condition of your roof immediately after any significant hail event.
What To Do In The First 48 Hours
The first two days after you notice a leak are critical. what to do, in order.
Document everything. Take photos of the water stain, the ceiling damage, and anything you can see from the attic. Note the date and time the leak appeared, and what the weather was doing. This documentation matters for both warranty claims and insurance claims.
Contain the leak. Move furniture, put buckets under the drip, and if the leak is active, punch a small hole in the ceiling at the lowest point of the water stain to let the water drain into a bucket instead of spreading across the drywall. This is temporary, but it limits damage.
Call the contractor in writing. Email or text your installing contractor with photos and a description of the leak. Written communication creates a record. A phone call is fine for speed, but follow it up with an email. Ask them to come out and inspect the leak, and reference your workmanship warranty in the message.
Don't authorize a second contractor yet. You have a warranty with the installer. If you hire someone else to fix the leak, the installer will almost certainly void their workmanship warranty. That doesn't mean you shouldn't get a second opinion, you absolutely should, but don't have someone else do the repair before giving the installer a chance to make it right.
Get a second opinion anyway. Here's where Roof Repair Winnipeg comes in. We're often called in by homeowners who have a leaking new roof and a contractor who's dragging their feet, blaming the manufacturer, or claiming the leak is "normal." We do a leak detection inspection, identify the actual source, and tell you honestly whether it's an installation defect, a material defect, or something else entirely. That independent assessment gives you leverage if you go back to the installer, and it gives you clarity on whether you need to escalate.
Winnipeg-Specific Causes: Freeze-Thaw, Ice Dams, and Hail
Winnipeg's climate is the reason this question is so common here. We get the full range of roof-killers, and they don't wait for your warranty to expire.
Freeze-thaw cycles. Winnipeg experiences dramatic temperature swings, especially in late winter and early spring. Snow on your roof melts during the day and refreezes at night. That cycle puts constant stress on flashing, vent boots, and shingle seals. A new roof that was installed in perfect summer conditions can develop leaks the following February when the freeze-thaw cycle exposes a flashing seam that was never quite right. This is an installation defect, but it often takes a Winnipeg winter to reveal it.
Ice dams. As mentioned, ice dams are a ventilation and insulation problem, not a roof installation problem. But they're also the most common cause of winter leaks in Winnipeg, and they can affect a brand new roof just as easily as a twenty-year-old one. If your new roof is leaking in January, the first question isn't "who installed it", it's "do you have ice dams?" If you do, the fix is attic insulation, ventilation, and possibly ice dam removal, not a warranty claim against your roofer.
Hail season. Winnipeg's hail season runs from May to September, and a single storm can damage a roof that was installed two weeks earlier. Hail damage is an insurance claim, not a warranty claim. If your new roof gets hailed on, call your insurer, not your roofer's warranty line. And get a storm damage inspection done quickly, the 24–48 hour window matters for both documentation and preventing further damage.
Asphalt shingles in a prairie climate. The vast majority of Winnipeg roofs are asphalt shingles, and they handle our climate well when installed properly. But the sealant that bonds the shingles together, the thing that makes them wind-resistant, needs warmth to activate. A roof installed in cool weather might not have fully sealed shingles until the following summer. That's not a defect, but it's worth knowing if you're dealing with a leak in the first few months after installation.
Insurance Claim Considerations
If your new roof is leaking and you suspect hail or wind damage, what you need to know about the insurance side.
Document the storm. Note the date of any significant hail or wind event. Take photos of your roof, your gutters, and any debris. This documentation is your evidence.
Call your insurer promptly. Most Winnipeg home insurance policies require you to report damage within a reasonable timeframe. Delaying can jeopardize your claim. And if the storm happened after your roof was installed, the damage is covered, it's not excluded because the roof was new.
Get a damage report. We provide an adjuster-ready damage report with every storm inspection. That means we document the hail impact on your shingles, the condition of your flashing and vents, and whether the damage is consistent with the storm you're claiming. This report makes your claim smoother and gives you leverage with the adjuster.
Don't confuse the claims. If hail damaged your new roof, that's insurance. If the roof leaks because the flashing was installed wrong, that's the contractor's warranty. They're separate processes, and mixing them up, or letting one party push you toward the other, can cost you money. An independent inspection tells you which path you're on.
When To Get A Second Opinion
You should get a second opinion on a leaking new roof in any of these situations:
The contractor is unresponsive. If you've called or emailed twice and haven't heard back within a week, you need independent help. A contractor who won't respond to a warranty claim is a contractor who won't stand behind their work.
The contractor blames the manufacturer without evidence. If they say "it's the shingles, not us," but they haven't done a proper investigation, they're likely trying to pass the buck. An independent leak detection inspection will identify the actual source.
The leak persists after their repair. If the contractor came out, did a patch, and the leak is back, you need a second opinion. Repeated failed repairs are a sign the contractor doesn't understand the problem, or doesn't want to fix it properly.
You need ammunition for an insurance claim. If you believe hail or wind caused the leak, an independent inspection gives you a documented, third-party assessment you can take to your insurer.
Our leak detection service uses thermal imaging and a systematic inspection process to find the actual source of the leak, not the easiest spot to patch. It costs $150–$300, and it's often the difference between a permanent fix and a recurring problem. We'll tell you honestly whether the issue is the contractor's responsibility, the manufacturer's, or yours. And if it's the contractor's responsibility, we'll give you the documentation to back that up.
Why Choose Roof Repair Winnipeg
If you're dealing with a leaking new roof, you're already frustrated. You paid for a new roof, and you're getting water in your living room. The last thing you need is another roofing company trying to take advantage of the situation. Here's why homeowners call us.
We're repair-first. We don't sell roofs you don't need. If your new roof has a flashing issue or a vent boot problem, we'll tell you that, and we'll fix it. We won't tell you the whole roof needs replacing. We quote the fix, not the replacement.
The person who quotes is the person who repairs. No sales team, no account managers, no handoffs. The person who inspects your leak writes the quote and does the work. That means accountability, and it means the person you're talking to actually knows what they're doing.
Small crew, low overhead. We're deliberately lean. No showroom, no twelve-truck fleet, no call centre. That low overhead shows up in our pricing, and it means we can take on the tricky, frustrating jobs that bigger companies won't touch.
We know Winnipeg roofs. We've worked every season this city has. We understand freeze-thaw, ice dams, hail season, and the specific ways prairie weather stresses asphalt shingles, flashing, and vent boots. We know what a Winnipeg roof looks like in February, and we know what it looks like after a July hailstorm.
We're honest about responsibility. If your leak is the contractor's fault, we'll tell you, and we'll give you the documentation to prove it. If it's an ice dam problem, we'll tell you that too, and we'll explain why a warranty claim won't help. We don't make money by inflating your problems, we make money by fixing them.
What This Means For You
A leaking new roof is stressful, but it's almost always fixable, and it's almost always covered by someone. The key is figuring out who. Start by checking your workmanship warranty and your contract. Document the leak. Call the installer in writing. And if you're not getting a straight answer, or if you want an independent assessment before you call them, get a second opinion.
We handle roof leak repair across Winnipeg and the surrounding area, and we've seen every variation of this problem. We'll find the actual source of the leak, tell you who's responsible, and fix it properly, without trying to sell you a roof you don't need. The final cost of any repair varies a lot depending on job size, scope, and site conditions, but we'll give you a clear, honest quote before any work begins.
If your new roof is leaking, don't wait. Water damage gets worse every day. Call Roof Repair Winnipeg for a free quote, and we'll get to the bottom of it, fast.