Several years ago we had a client who was house sitting for a friend. It was about 10pm, it was raining, and the thunder had just started to roll in. She was sitting on the living room couch at the time, and several minutes later, she started to hear an unusual tapping sound.
It didn’t take long for her to realize that sound was the sound of water dripping onto the couch from the ceiling. The roof had sprung a leak.
What is an emergency roof repair
An emergency roof repair is any repair that needs to be handled immediately. Examples of issues that warrant you calling a roofer ASAP include pest and animal infestations, years-long roof neglect that’s resulted in one or more leaks, fire damage, tree damage, tropical storm or hurricane force winds, mold, lightning strikes, other significant weather events, and roof damage caused by overly clogged gutters.
On the other hand, examples of non-emergent roof damage include minor gaps or leaks around your roof’s flashing, one or two missing or broken tiles or singles, clogged roof vents, minor hail damage, algae or moss growth, and/or small leaks around your skylights. Although this type of damage should be addressed as soon as possible, it doesn’t qualify as a roofing emergency.
What to do if you need emergency repairs
First things first—if your roof has sprung a leak, take steps to mitigate damage to the inside of your home. Move furniture back from the leaks, put a bucket on the floor to catch dripping water, and mop up any puddles. If you have access to a dehumidifier, ask your roofing contractor if you should run it until they arrive.
After you do this, be sure to place a call to your insurance company. Although most insurance companies will work directly with your roofing contractor to ensure the repair is handled, in many cases, you’ll need to make an initial call to get the claims process started.
Lastly, when the contractor arrives at your home to assess the damage, make sure they provide you with a complete, written report of their findings. In addition to explaining the types of damage that needs to be addressed, they should also provide you with a full breakdown of the repair costs, including labor and materials cost. The contractor should also explain how long the repairs will take to complete.
Do you need help with emergency roof repair in SWFL? We can help. Call our office today to speak with a local emergency roof repair expert.
