Okay, something is very wrong. Maybe you see a bunch of damaged shingles on your roof. Or there are pools of water in your attic. Or… *gulp* … You can see daylight coming through your ceiling.
A roofing emergency isn’t something you can wait out and see. Keep reading to find out what constitutes an emergency and what steps you need to take to address it.
What Constitutes a Roofing Emergency?
Not sure if you need to escalate things to emergency status? Here are some signs that you have a roofing emergency vs. something smaller and not as time sensitive on your hands:
Smaller Problem
- Superficial damage
- Minor damage to flashing
- One or two broken or missing shingles
- Moss or algae on the roof
- Leaky attic, but still relatively dry
- Tiny water marks on ceiling
Emergency
- Saggy roof
- Major leaks around flashing
- Mold and moisture in attic
- Lots of broken or missing shingles
- Daylight visible in attic
- Water collecting in attic or home
- Large brown water marks on ceiling or walls
- Ice dams blocking roof drainage
- Fire damage
- Tree and debris on roof or broken through
If your area has recently been hit by severe rains or a major storm, this is when you’re most likely to experience a roofing emergency. Though that’s not always the case. Unexpected fires can also do a ton of damage. If left alone for too long, small roof leaks can turn into emergency situations as well.
What to Do If You Have a Roofing Emergency
There’s no time to waste. Here’s what you should do if you’re experiencing an emergency with your roof:
1. Don’t Go on the Roof
Severe roof damage isn’t always easy to detect. While some people find signs of it in their attics or even within their homes, sometimes it’s only perceptible from the rooftop.
There’s no way to know how badly damaged your roof is without seeing it first-hand, which can make going up there incredibly dangerous. Even our team of professionals will use drones to survey the state of a roof before sending anyone up there.
If you know or suspect that you have an emergency, skip the trek up to the roof and move onto the next steps.
2. Take Stock of the Damage
Take videos and photos of what you see, whether you have visible damage on the roof, roofing materials scattered around your property, or evidence of leaks and damage in your home. If any of your belongings are damaged, document this as well. You’re going to need it for insurance purposes.
Also, if you’re currently in the middle of a storm, wait until it passes before you take stock of the situation.
3. Contact Your Roofing Contractor
Local roofing contractors understand how critical it is to deal with a roofing emergency. After you contact them, they’ll send someone out as soon as it’s safe to do so (i.e. once the storm passes). Then they’ll do the following:
- Evaluate the extent of the damage.
- Add a tarp or temporary patch to the roof.
- Give you a quote for the repair or replacement.
- Schedule the repair ASAP.
If you don’t have a roofing professional on call, contact Foster Roofing. Skip the free estimate form on this website and give us a call at 479-751-2300 (NWA) or 479-308-0413 (River Valley).
4. Contact Your Insurance Carrier
Contact your insurance provider after you’ve spoken to a professional and received an estimate. Your insurance carrier will ask you about the damage to the roof and may also ask for evidence (which is why taking photos and getting an estimate from the roofer are critical steps).
Once they’ve verified the roofing emergency and the repairs needed, they’ll discuss what your policy entails and how much of the costs they’ll cover.
5. Protect Your Belongings and Home
If water and moisture are getting into your home, take steps to protect your belongings:
- Move items that have already gotten wet or are at risk out of the way of the leak.
- For items that are too large to move, cover them with a plastic tarp or trash bags.
- Put buckets down beneath any leaking water.
- Run a dehumidifier to reduce moisture and prevent mold from growing.
Clearing out water is especially important as it can lead to mold accumulation, electrical issues, and damage to the structure of your home. It can also increase the incidence of falls and accidents.
6. Vacate Your Home (if necessary)
There are two occasions where this may be necessary. One is if your roof is at risk of collapsing or already has. It’s not safe to stay in your home until it’s been repaired.
The other scenario is if your roofer tells you that a roof replacement is needed. If there’s severe damage over a significant amount of your home, it may be safer to move everyone to another part of it while the repairs and replacement take place or to temporarily vacate.
Speed Is of the Essence
Even if your roof isn’t collapsing, severe damage will quickly take its toll on it. It can even affect the integrity of your home’s structure.
Acting quickly is a must in the case of a roofing emergency. Another thing you can do is be proactive.
Schedule preventative roof maintenance throughout the year to ensure it’s in good condition. Also, having a roofing contractor you can trust is critical. When storms hit and everyone in your area is scrambling to get their roofs assessed and fixed, you’ll want a partner who can get to you fast and with little fuss.
Contact Foster Roofing today for all your day-to-day roofing needs, ongoing maintenance, and emergency repair services.