One of the most integral parts of your home is your roof, which protects and safeguards the interior of your home. It’s impossible to live without a roof— you depend on it every single day. So in the rare but very real occurrence of a tree limb crashing into your attic during a blustery storm in the middle of the night, what do you do? How do you keep the inside of your home protected from extensive damage during a roofing emergency? Here is a step by step guide on how to handle an emergency roof repair.

#1 Stay Calm 

The initial step of dealing with an emergency roof repair is to keep calm. In many situations, the damage appears a lot worse to a homeowner than it will to a professional roofer. It’s important to protect your home as much as possible, but if you start to panic, it will make it a lot more challenging to manage the steps you need to take to repair your roof swiftly. 

#2 Protect as Much as You Can 

If your home has experienced damage due to a storm, minimize damage to your interior as much as possible. You can take various measures such as covering any holes in your main living space with plastic tarps or other waterproof materials. You can also use an emergency roof patch if you have any larger sized holes. Place buckets and other containers under these holes to collect water until the storm subsides. Ultimately, emergency roof leak repair will require a professional roofer, most of which have 24/7 emergency lines to sort out the unexpected damage. Keep in mind, however, that a roofer will not be able to do any work during a storm due to health and safety, and you should not try to climb the roof yourself to repair the damage. 

#3 Call for a Free Roof Inspection

As your next step, we recommend that you call us for a free roof inspection. We’ve been in this business for over 10 years, and we’ve seen it all. We can assess your damage very quickly to determine if you need to make an insurance claim. And if you do need a claim, we can help facilitate the insurance claim company once you make the claim. We have three licensed insurance adjusters on staff, and our professionals are available 24/7 to work with you.

We know sudden and unexpected roof damage can cause significant financial strain. If you’re forced to vacate your home due to it being unsafe to inhabit, your insurance company may offer coverage for hotels or other living areas during the time your emergency roof repair is taking place. We’ll be there to help you along the way.

#4 Choose a Licensed Contractor 

If your insurance company wants you to shop around for a roofing contractor, make sure to choose one that is licensed and insured. There are many companies out there that prey on homeowners in need of emergency repairs. More often than not, the repairs are either substandard or they charge a premium fee. To be safe, get references from reputable companies and ask them for proof that they’re licensed and insured to carry out emergency roof repair services. 

#5 Leave it to the Professionals 

A professional roofer will thoroughly inspect the damaged area and look for any additional issues that may be present. A roofer will cover any openings with an emergency roof patch and strong plastic tarps, which are secured in place tightly. If your house has experienced damage due to a fire, it’s possible that firefighters may have compromised the structural integrity of your roof. This may result in you needing to find an alternative place to live until your roof is restored and repaired. 

The most important thing to do when seeking emergency roof repair is not to panic or try to repair the extensive damage yourself, especially in the midst of a dangerously strong storm. 

Free Inspections

At GreenPoint Roofing, we offer free roof damage inspections. We’d be happy to come out 24/7 to inspect the damage.

To find out more about the steps you need to take for emergency roof repair or the various emergency roof repair services available, contact GreenPoint Roofing or call us at (720) 684-5500.