Covered back patios and outdoor kitchens are everywhere in Conroe-area homes. Some were built with the house; many were added later. Either way, the patio roof has to join the main house, and that joint is where most patio leaks begin. A patio cover added years after the house was built, by a different crew, is especially likely to have a weak tie-in.
How Patio Roofs Are Built
| Type | How it meets the house | Common problem |
|---|---|---|
| Extension of the main roof | The main roof continues down over the patio | Low slope at the far end; drainage onto the patio |
| Shed roof tied to a wall | A separate roof attached to the house wall | Flashing at the wall fails |
| Tied into the main roof | The patio roof joins the house roof partway up | A valley or cricket at the joint leaks |
| Freestanding with a gap | Separate posts, small gap to the house | Water pours through the gap |
Signs of Trouble
- water stains on the patio ceiling, especially near the house wall
- drips at the joint between the patio roof and the house
- stains inside the house on the wall shared with the patio
- sagging or soft spots in the patio ceiling
- a low-slope patio roof holding water
Low Slopes and Shingles
Many patio roofs are built with a low slope so they don't block upstairs windows. Shingles are made for steeper roofs and can let water back up under them on a slope that's too shallow. On a low patio roof, a roofer may recommend a different material made for low slopes.
Outdoor Kitchens
An outdoor kitchen often adds a vent hood that passes through the patio roof. That opening needs proper flashing, the same as a vent on the main roof. Heat and grease from cooking can also wear roofing near the vent faster.
If You're Adding a Patio Cover
Plan the tie-in with a roofer, not just the builder of the cover. Ask:
- how it will join the house or the existing roof
- whether the slope suits the roofing material
- where the water will drain
- whether your HOA needs to approve it, and whether a permit is needed
Many cities and HOAs regulate additions like these. Check before building.
Questions
Can a roofer fix a patio cover built by someone else?
Usually. Roofers often redo the tie-in flashing or reroof the patio section.
Should the patio roof match the house?
It looks better and may be required by the HOA, but the material should also suit the slope.
Why does water pour off the patio roof onto the patio?
Patio roofs often lack gutters. Adding a gutter can direct water away from where people sit.
Around Conroe
Patio covers are common across Grand Central Park, Woodforest and Downtown Conroe. Repairs are covered on roof repair. For problems with a contractor who built a cover, the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division takes complaints.
Two-Story Roofs With Many Valleys
Why newer homes leak where they do.
Gutters and Downspouts on Clay Soil
Where roof water goes after it leaves the roof.