What To Do In The Event Of A Roof Emergency

Your roof protects not only your home, but everything and everyone below it. When a roof fails, it can be a traumatizing event. After all, what can you do when a tree falls onto your home in the middle of the night or if your ceiling suddenly collapses from an undetected leak? Roof disasters can be frightening and stressful especially when they occur suddenly and, often, at the worst possible time.

Fortunately, anyone who faces a roof emergency is not alone, many metropolitan areas have roofers who offer 24/7 emergency roof services (like Atlanta Roofing Specialists) and can apply emergency measures to temporarily stop further damage until proper roof repairs can be applied.

What Exactly Is An Emergency Roof Repair?

When your roof is compromised, water damage can be immediate and progressively destructive, not just to the roof, but to the structure itself. To minimize further damage, the source of the problem must be addressed immediately.

Obviously, roof contractors aren’t able to properly repair roofs within a matter of hours after damage, so typically, emergency roof repairs involve using tarp or other temporary methods to cover the compromised area in order to prevent additional damage. This gives the roof contractor time to a) allow the weather event to pass, b) give them time to properly assess and repair the damage (especially during busy times) and/or c) allow the homeowner time to consider their options.

What Happens When I Call A Roof Contractor For An Emergency Repair?

Some roof contractors (like Atlanta Roofing Specialists) are able to offer 24/7 Emergency Roof Repair services. Even if you are woken in the middle of the night by a tree falling into your bedroom, you can have an emergency repair crew at your home, in most cases, within hours!

When you call for an emergency roof repair, the roof contractor will gather as much information as possible and, circumstances permitting, will come out to your home or business with the materials needed to temporarily halt additional damage caused by the problem. They will then schedule a formal estimate for a proper repair to be performed at a later date.

Of course, safety is the priority not only for the homeowner but the repair crews. So in instances such as heavy storms, safety considerations must be weighed and waiting until the danger to pass is often the best course of action. Once deemed safe, temporary repairs are made and a formal inspection is scheduled.

What Can I Do While I Wait For The Emergency Roof Repair Crew?

The first thing to do is don’t overreact to the situation. A roof failure can be a devastating thing. You may be tempted to try and contain the damage yourself or worse, attempt repairs youself, DON’T! Stay away from the area or evacuate if you need to, this is dangerous situation.

A compromised roof can mean damage extending all the way to the foundation, including the structure itself.  Without knowing the extent of the damage, even approaching a damaged area can result in collapse of the roof and surrounding structure resulting in injury or even death!

After contacting a roof contractor, stay away from the damaged area. The damage has been done, there is nothing more you can do. Don’t panic and get your insurance agent on the phone. Being proactive can take your mind off the damage and give you a sense of accomplishment that this too shall pass.

Be patient. Especially during storms, these things take time. Roofing scams are at their peak after storms and prey on impatient homeowners. Do your homework on EVERY roof contractor (even the ones recommended by your insurance company) to ensure you don’t make the problem worse.

So if you find yourself facing a roof emergency, take a breath, call a roof contractor and your insurance agent and let the professionals handle it.

In Metro Atlanta, Atlanta Roofing Specialists offers 24/7 Emergency Roof Repair Services. Call 770-419-2222 for a free estimate or for emergency repairs today!