Your roof is a structure’s most critical component. That’s why roofing maintenance is important. Unfortunately, regular maintenance can’t protect your roof from natural hazards. The average roof lifespan is 20 years, but hail can reduce it to 7-10 years.
In these cases, you need emergency roof repair to keep your home or office inhabitable. If ignored or delayed, the damage can worsen, leading to expensive repairs and safety compromises.
So, if you’re wondering what to do when you need emergency roof repairs, here’s a checklist!
Emergency Roofing Tip 1: Calm Down and Assess the Condition
Often, people lose their calm in roofing emergency situations. However, you’re prone to making mistakes if you get overwhelmed.
So, for starters, you need to stay calm and then begin inspecting the roof’s condition thoroughly—whether the emergency is a leak, crack, or something else.
Check for these signs to assess the situation and get a sense of the extent of the damage:
- Brown spots on the ceiling or walls: It indicates major staining and damage from water leaks. You must seek a roofer immediately.
- Water droplets or water gushing in torrents: This is a sign of severe water leaks and requires immediate attention from roofers. You shouldn’t delay the repair, or the leak might increase.
- Visible light through the roof: If you see light from outside while in the attic during the day through the ceiling or from within while on the roof at night, there’s a severe crack. You need to get this fixed immediately.
- Damaged/missing shingles: Search around the property for broken shingles. Next, check the roof for bent, loose, rusty, or cracked shingles. If you notice any of them, you must replace the shingles immediately.
- Energy bill increase: If your electricity consumption has increased suddenly after a heavy storm and there’s no apparent reason, there might be some roof damage. This has led to hot/cold air leakage from your home.
Emergency Roofing Tip 2: Document All Damages
In case you need emergency roofing services, you will need to file an insurance claim to cover the costs. For this, you need as much evidence as possible.
Take several pictures and videos of the damages in good lighting from different angles. Some suggest writing the extent of the damage on paper or your phone. However, you can also record your own audio about what you see and then write it down later.
If you get any emergency roof leak repair done, safely keep all the bills and invoices. This will help you estimate the claim value.
Emergency Roofing Tip 3: Protect Your Belongings Effectively
If water is leaking from the roof, you must immediately remove anything that might get damaged, such as furniture, electronics, and other assets. Take them away from the leakage spot. If it’s not possible to remove your belongings, cover them with a robust plastic bag.
If there’s a chance the leakage can lead to flooding, it’s best to put a bucket underneath it to hold water. Keep another bucket on standby; when the first one fills, place the other one underneath and empty the first one.
Note: Remove your belongings only if they are safe. If the roof might collapse or your belongings are already damaged, it’s best to leave those things and move to safety.
Emergency Roofing Tip 4: Contact Roofing Professionals
While you might consider DIY-ing the overall fixing process, it’s not a safe choice. So, we recommend calling reliable roofing professionals immediately. They will be able to prevent further damage and begin repairs as soon as possible.
If you aren’t connected to a trustworthy roofing professional or your usual company is busy elsewhere, you can also contact us at LA Roofing Materials, and we’ll suggest the best roofers in the town!
Emergency Roofing Tip 5: Perform Temporary Fixes
If the roofing emergency is not major or you can’t access roofers for any reason, it’s best to take some basic steps yourself.
For instance, if there’s a crack and water is flowing in, the first step in your emergency roof leak repair is placing a temporary tarp on your roof surface.
Pull it down tightly on the roof and smoothen it. Tuck the tarp under the roofing material or install it over the ridge. This will prevent any water from infiltrating your home. Fix the edges with nails.
On the other hand, if the issue is only due to damaged or broken shingles, then you can switch them out by yourself. Take out any damaged, bent, or rusty shingles and fix new ones. Re-fix the loose ones using cement, adhesive, or roofing nails.
Since professionals will check your roof later, make sure you mark the new shingles you’ve attached with paint or something else. This way, they can redo them if necessary.
Caution: If the roof is damaged or prone to collapsing, do not attempt to climb or fix anything. Especially if it’s rainy or snowy, this can put you in danger. It’s best to evacuate and wait until experts reach you!
Additionally, check your insurance papers. If any DIY fix invalidates your insurance, it’s best left alone.
Emergency Roofing Tip 5: Connect with Your Insurance Company
Your insurance company needs to be updated about your roof damages and that you’ll need emergency roofing services.
Most of the time, insurance covers repairs, especially if they are due to natural hazards, such as storms blowing off tiles and shingles. Call them immediately to know whether you’re eligible for a claim. If they must assess the damage, they can do it along with your roofing team.
It’s best to get an estimate for repairing the roofing emergency from the roofers, along with documentation for damages. They might also write a report on your behalf about the damages clearly. This will streamline the claims process further.
Conclusion
With these steps, you will be able to handle any roofing disaster and prevent major damages or losses. Ultimately, the most important step is to seek reliable roofing professionals and not settle for anyone available in the vicinity.
Remember, experienced roofers will offer quality service so you won’t face any major issues again. And, if you can’t find the right ones, LA Roofing Materials has your back. We’ll connect you to industry-leading roofers in no time!