The ceiling stain is almost never where the water enters. I trace leaks from inside the attic outward with moisture meter, thermal imaging, and controlled water testing — so you fix the actual entry point instead of paying for the third repair that also doesn't work.
Attic moisture-meter tracing from stain to entry
Thermal imaging of active moisture spread
Controlled water test (garden hose, one plane at a time)
Wind-direction correlation for intermittent leaks
Photo documentation of entry point before repair
Written scope with the actual fix — not the guess
Interior stain inspection and moisture-meter mapping. Full attic walk with rafter, decking, and insulation moisture tracing back to entry. Thermal imaging from below during and after water test. Controlled hose water test, one roof plane at a time, watched from the attic. Wind-direction and rainfall-intensity correlation for intermittent leaks. Photo documentation of confirmed entry point before any repair scope is written. Written diagnostic report with the confirmed source, the failed-repair history, and the actual fix.
NM homeowners with a ceiling leak that a roofer has already failed to fix once or twice. Owners of homes with intermittent leaks that only appear in certain wind directions. Buyers under contract with a disclosed 'previously repaired' roof leak. Insurance claim disputes where the carrier and roofer disagree on source. Property managers with tenant complaints about persistent ceiling stains.
Standard Diagnostic — $449 Detailed w/ Water Test + IR — $649 Multi-Leak or Litigation Grade — $1,200+ Most diagnostic inspections are $449–$649. Finding the real source on the first pass vs paying for a 2nd and 3rd failed repair saves $2,500–$8,000.
Almost never. Water travels along the top of the drywall, along rafters, and down electrical wires — the entry point is usually 3–20 feet uphill from the visible stain. Chasing the stain gets you a $1,200 repair that doesn't stop the leak. I trace from the stain back to the actual entry point.
Four steps. (1) Attic inspection with moisture meter — trace wet framing back to entry. (2) IR imaging from below to map moisture spread. (3) Controlled water test with garden hose, one plane at a time, watching from the attic. (4) Document entry point with photo before repair scope is written.
A normal leak inspection walks the roof and looks for the obvious cause. This one is diagnostic — for leaks that already had one or two failed repair attempts, or where the roofer couldn't find the source. Water testing especially catches wind-driven leaks that only appear during certain rain directions.
Pre-listing & buyer due-diligence reports.
Reserve study + per-unit documentation.
Party-wall + shared-roof attribution.
Step, counter, cricket flashing audit.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.