Emergency Roof Repair Guide - Tips Every Homeowner Should Know
Emergency roof repair can be quite stressful during the moment. This is a guide meant to put your mind at ease currently, or better prepare you for the future, especially if you anticipate potential storm damage. A roof leak from roofing damage can be extremely detrimental to the integrity or your entire house and could be a slippery slope into further damage of your home.
A large roof leak could not only damage the roof with moisture, it could also lead to flooring issues, moisture in the walls and damage of appliances. In many cases, emergency roof repair services are very necessary and worth the expense in order to preserve the life of your roof and home.
Common Causes for Emergency Roof Repair
Fallen trees or branches
Severe weather conditions
Roof leaks due to damaged or missing shingles
Structural damage or structural integrity issues
Sometimes a roof repair emergency can be clear as day, other times it may not be. Fallen trees onto your home may be quite scary and can be dangerous as well. At times like these, it is very important to call a roofing contractor for emergency roof repair or roof services in order to minimize any further damage.
Severe weather conditions may also lead to a very clear emergency roof leak, but they could also lead to a slow leak, that builds up and creates a damaged roof over time. In cases like these, it may be a great idea to give a local roofing contractor a call after a storm if you're second guessing the integrity of your roof. This could save you thousands in the long run and it's a free inspection.
A roofing emergency can also happen from not keeping up with annual roofing maintenance or simply letting your roof go beyond its lifespan. It is very important that roofing materials are maintained and checking at least every few years to extend the life of your roof, and give yourself some peace of mind knowing a roofing professional has paid close attention to the integrity of your home.
Structural integrity issues may present themselves in dramatic visual sagging of your roof and are commonly caused by standing water trapped under your roof. If you notice bubbles or uneven areas within your roof, contact your local roofing contractor immediately to get the issue checked out, this again, will save you in the long run.
Recognizing Signs of Emergency Roof Damage
Visible roof leaks or water stains on ceilings/walls
Damaged or missing shingles
Sagging or bowed roof sections
Presence of debris or large limbs on roof
Unusual or persistent noise during storms
Recognizing signs of roof damage as soon as possible could save you thousands in the future and lead to only some minor repairs. Roofing contractors can also find these indicators very easily that could lead to a leaking roof in the future. The bottom line is, if you're questioning the integrity of your roof, get a free inspection immediately.
The basic indicators you should be looking for year round comes down to clear abrasive damage and water. Trapped water or standing water can lead to huge damage to your roof and home in the long term. Signs of standing water can be sagging roof, uneven patches of roofing in the form of large bubbles, missing shingles in one area especially or even water damage along your walls or ceiling.
If you see any of these signs it is very important to contact a roofing contractor immediately for permanent repairs.
Immediate Repairs vs Non-immediate Repairs
What Qualifies as Emergency Roof Damage?
Fire damage
Lightning strikes
High winds
Structural collapse
Severe mold
Tree damage
Extremely clogged gutters
Pest infestation
Storm damage
In many cases, the need for emergency roof repair will be clear. This could be from some sort of event from mother nature or clear emergency roof leaks from years without any roof maintenance. If you have clear signs of needing a new roof or simply a roof repair, reach out to us immediately.
What Would Be Non-emergency Roof Damage?
Gaps in flashing
Impact damage from severe hail
Roof vent clogging
Small skylight issues
Moss or algae growth
One or two missing shingles
Shingle granules around your home
Non-emergency roof damage may be a bit harder to notice. Oftentimes issues like these will be found with free roof inspections. Getting these done when you have any suspicions is key in preserving the life of your home and roof.
From the outside, seeing clear build up of moss may also store moisture which would damage the roof with time. A couple missing shingles may be easy to fix in the short term, but if left untreated, could lead to future damage. Issues with flashing around your vents may be hard to notice, but if you do, it is important to get it fixed to prevent future roof damage.
What Should You Do if You Need Emergency Repair?
Safety first
Ensuring personal safety
Protecting belongings if needed
Contact your insurance company
Avoiding standing water or wet areas
Assessing structure stability of the roof and the surrounding areas
If there is fire damage, ensure the fire is out and there is no further risk of spark
If you're currently dealing with a emergency roof repair situation, it is of course very important to take safety first. If an area of your home was hit with a large tree or severe storm damage, you should at bare minimum avoid that area of your home and to be most cautious, get out of your home and call a contractor and your insurance company.
Once you are safe, it is important to contact your home insurance company as they may have very specific guidance for you or even a roofing contractor partner that you must use.
If there are not obligations to using a specific roofing professional, give us a call and we can take a look immediately.
Temporary Solutions to Minimize Damage
Covering the damaged area with a tarp or plastic covering
Clearing debris to prevent further damage or clogging of gutters
Using temporary sealants to stop leaks or prevent water ingress
The basic ideas in order to minimize roofing damage involve covering damaged areas or using some sort of temporary roof patch to reduce water entering the house.
Especially to a roof, but also to any aspect of the home, standing water is a huge issue. Locating any instance of this and getting rid of it is extremely important. It may only be a temporary fix, but it could reduce damage and save you money once you've hired a qualified roofing contractor.
Emergency Roofing Services
As a roofing company that takes pride in offering short lead times, we also offer fantastic emergency roof repair that can be financed as well. We will always act fast when it is needed for our customers. If you're in a position where you need immediate action on your roof, give us a call we would love to take care of it. If you do know that you’ll likely need a new roof, here’s a roofing guide to help.
Does Insurance Cover Emergency Roof Repairs?
In many instances of acute roof damage from instances such as a storm or fire, many insurance policies will cover this sort of damage. Typically what insurance companies do not cover is damage that relates to lack of roofing maintenance. This is just another reason why getting annual roof maintenance is vital in the health of your home.
We always will state that you should call your insurance provider immediately for any final clarifications or information, but this is what commonly happens based on our experience.
Ways To Avoid Emergency Repairs
The overall best way to avoid ever needing emergency roof repair comes down to two things, regular maintenance and regular inspections.
Oftentimes you can get both of these done at the same time. If you live in an area with harsh weather, it may make the most sense to get maintenance and an inspection done twice per year. If not, go for once per year.
This is an additional roofing service that we offer to all of our customers to ensure longevity in their home investment.
What If I Need Help With Emergency Repairs Beyond Roofing?
We are huge on networking and highly skilled in multiple areas. If you need emergency roof repair and we happen to see damage in other areas such as emergency flooring repair, emergency fencing repair or even siding repair, we have you covered. We can get you quotes and estimates of all areas on site. This is a great part about choosing a multi-faceted and skilled general contractor.
