In most instances, any damages to a roof could results in your insurance paying for a total roof repair.  However, if your roofing system is all in good shape except one or maybe two items, it might be easier and more cost effective to simply make the roof repairs.  Below are some of the most common repairs that are needed to your roofing system:

Damaged Shingle

If your roof have isolated shingle damage, it might be best and easiest to simply replace the individual damaged shingles.  This can be caused by heavy wind pulling up one or two singles, or a tree rubbing on a small area of your roof causing the shingle's surface to wear down and lose its water proofing integrity.  If the damage is wide spread you might need to replace it, but if it's only a couple shingle you might be able to get away with a small roof repair.  It's important to get this fixed before it leads to any additional damage to leaks.

Small Leaks

Small leaks can be cause by a number of things.  Sometimes there's a nail head that's exposed and allows water to seep in, or maybe a wind damaged shingle allows water to get under it.  In any case, if you notice water stains in any place on your ceiling or walls, you need to call a roofer immediately.  Your roofer can investigate and identify the cause of the leak and make the necessary repairs.   Most times, this can be solved by replaced a few shingles or sealing over some old flashing or nail heads.

Failed Flashing

The flashing is one of the least understood pieces of the roof.  Flashing is a soft metal that wraps around openings in your roof.  You will find flashing around chimneys, vents, windows, dormers, or any other opening in your roof.  The flashing is designed to divert the water around the opening.  If a piece of flashing is installed incorrectly or the sealant is wearing away it can begin to allow water to seep in.  Failed flashing is one of the most common causes of roof leaks.  Sometimes you must replace the flashing to fix the issue and sometime all you need to do is re-seal the existing flashing.  Contact a roofing professional to evaluate the issue.

Failed Gutter

Most people think gutters are a luxury and don't realize they serve a functional purpose.  Your gutter system is designed to catch all the water that is shed from your roof surface and divert it away from your house's foundation.  However, sometimes gutters and fill up with leaves or debris and that causes the gutters to hold water instead of divert it.  Sometimes your gutter system can be damages by trees or ladders that are touching it as well.  In any case, if the gutter system is not properly diverting water, it could allow the water to flow up under the roof shingles or along the roofing soffits or fascia.  All of these can cause larger issues down the road if not repaired immediately. 

Inadequate Ventilation

Ventilation is another function of the roof that most people don't ever think about, but could cause big problems if it's not installed correctly.  Your attic can get very hot in the summers and that heat can literally cook your roof.  All shingle have a certain temperature rating, and if the shingles raise about that temperature then the shingles can be damaged by the heat.  They can crack & blister which could create openings for water to seep in.  Making sure you have adequate ventilation can extend the life of your roof significantly.