Emergency Roof Repair: Acting Fast and Reducing Damage

Speed is of the essence here. A situation where you need to conduct emergency roof repair means your home and your possessions are likely exposed to the elements. You might have had an incident due to the weather. An extreme event such as a hurricane or tornado, or lightning may have struck. A tree may have collapsed onto your home.

Whatever the cause of the issue, one thing is clear.

You need to act decisively and quickly. But where do you even start?

Even if you aren’t well-versed in construction or an avid DIYer, there are still steps you can take to protect your home.

Identifying Roof Emergencies

The first step is spotting that you’re in an emergency situation. Identifying that there’s an issue is your first guiding step toward action. Typically, you’ll spot that there’s an issue during periods of severe weather. That means you should be vigilant when faced with heavy rain, high winds, or strong hailstorms.

The first sign is a leak. A sudden influx of water from a place that otherwise seemed fine. A leak is a sign of serious damage. Damage that requires immediate resolution. Another potential sign of a roof emergency is missing tiling or shingles from the roof. When these come loose and go missing, the structure underneath becomes exposed, and the chances of water damage increase. Cracks, sagging, or structural instability are other things to look out for.

Of course, if you see daylight through your ceiling, that’s a clear indication of issues.

Some of these signs might not be apparent in your daily life. That’s why it’s critical that you take the time to conduct regular roof inspections. You could do this yourself, but make sure that you have a cohesive checklist to check through. Better yet, rely on a professional to do it for you.

Ring The Professionals

It’s not worth risking the health of your family, damage to your possessions, and the fabric of your home itself. The first port of call, after identifying an emergency, is to contact a professional roofing contractor. They’ll prepare to attend and can usually offer advice on what to do in the meantime.

Immediate Actions For Emergency Roof Repair

As we said at the start of this article, speed is of the essence. The sooner you get a repair in place, no matter how temporary it might be, the less damage will be caused to the inside of your property.

The first step is to stop leaks. If there’s a leak into your property, then mitigating water damage should be your top priority. While you work, put down pots, pans, buckets, containers, and anything you can find to catch the water. Don’t worry about the containers being too large to carry. You can always empty the water using smaller containers. Try to move any items you can out of the immediate room and cover others in plastic sheeting.

Major leaks, with water pouring in, typically mean evacuation. There’s a risk of collapse, and you should never jeopardize your health.

Smaller issues, such as missing tiles or shingles, can be temporarily fixed. If safe to do so, access the roof and cover the exposed area with a tarp, waterproof tape, and sealant. This should reduce the chances of damage before a professional can attend.

This option is only for minor repairs. Should the structure of the roof appear damaged, do not attempt to access it yourself. You risk injury to yourself and/or damage to your property. Instead, document the damage as best you can and share it with the roofing company.

Professional Emergency Roof Repair

There are few emergency roof repairs that won’t require a professional to help. They will know precisely how to help, will mitigate damage, and will save you considerable financial loss in the long run.

The first step that they’ll take is to conduct a thorough roof inspection. They’ll look for visible signs of damage that might have caused the issue. They’ll also look at any underlying problems that might have been exacerbated by the emergency.

Once the inspection has been completed, they’ll move on to immediate remedial works to stop further damage to your home. This will typically be a temporary measure while a permanent solution is worked on. The aim at this point is purely damage limitation.

Following that, they’ll plan for full repairs. This will usually involve quoting for the work based on materials, labor, and prevailing weather conditions. The repair consists of removing the damaged section, replacing it with new material, and testing the structure of the roof.

Potential Costs Of Emergency Roof Repair

Emergency roof repairs are going to cost you financially. It’s difficult to put a figure on the average emergency roof repair cost because there are so many variables.

The cost of your roof repair will depend on factors such as:

• Damage extent: The more extensive the damaged area of the roof, the more expensive the roof repair will likely be.
• Location: The price of emergency repairs varies extensively from state to state.
• Roofing materials: Some roofing materials are cheaper than others. Asphalt shingles will be considerably cheaper than working with solar tiles, for instance.
• Professional fees: If you’re having to make an emergency callout (evenings, weekends, overnight), then you should expect to pay a callout fee.
• Structural issues: If, during the inspection, they find that the structure of your property has been damaged, the cost will substantially increase.
• Roof complexity: Some roofs are simply harder to work with than others. A simple inverted V roof will be far cheaper to fix than one with multiple facets to it.
• Insurance: Some insurance policies will cover everything from the moment you ring a roofing professional. Others will make you pay for certain elements out of pocket.

Key Takeaways

If you take a single idea away from this article, it’s that you need to act quickly when faced with an emergency roof repair. Work to limit damage as quickly as you can, then contact the professionals.

• Almost all situations like this will require professional assistance. Don’t delay contacting them.
• Never try to access a roof that appears damaged.
• The cost of repairs varies considerably depending on myriad factors.

If you’re looking for a quality roofing company that can offer both roof inspections and emergency repairs, look no further than Trenton Roofing.