Emergency Roof Repair: Here’s What You Need to Do

Nobody wants to deal with any type of emergency house repair. Yet this issue is compounded when it relates to your roof. If your roof develops a hole due to damage, you can often feel hopeless in correcting the problem. Unlike other home-related emergencies, you cannot just climb onto your roof and implement a makeshift repair.

Roof damage can also occur due to various reasons. It could be caused by everything from intense storms to a house fire. There’s also general wear and tear from the elements to worry about regarding your roof’s condition.

If you’re currently dealing with a roof-related emergency, you will already have an understanding of the stressful and overwhelming nature of the situation. Fortunately, this guide is here to make the entire process that little bit easier. Here’s what you need to do when faced with emergency roof repair.

Calm your emotions.

When an emergency like a suddenly damaged roof happens, it is only natural for you to lose control of your emotions. Your body will tend to enter fight-or-flight mode, and it is difficult to react with a level head to the situation.

However, it is essential you take a deep breath and attempt to calm your emotions down. If you react irrationally and freak out, this could endanger not only you but anyone else that lives in your house. After all, a collapsing roof can potentially lead to major injuries or worse.

First, start by ensuring everyone in the house is safe. If you have any possessions that could be in danger of being damaged, move these out of the way if possible. Plus, if the water is leaking into your property, you’ll want to unplug appliances and elevate items above the ground.

Get in touch with your insurance company.

The next step you should take is to phone your home insurance company and file a claim. Keep in mind they’ll ask plenty of questions, so make sure your mind is clear so you can answer these appropriately and with the right level of information.

As part of your claim, it is vital you document as much of the damage as possible. Use your smartphone to take pictures of the roof, along with anything else that has been affected due to the damage. Also, make a note of the time the damage started if you’re aware of this information.

When you provide as much documentation as possible, you’re covering as many bases as you can with your insurance companywhich will give you a greater chance of receiving the support you need.

Avoid any DIY.

You might be tempted to perform your own roof repair. Yet you must avoid going this route. Climbing onto a rooflet alone one which is damagedis dangerous.

With this in mind, always avoid doing any DIY on your roof. You might place a bucket or two in the attic to collect any water that may leak through the roof, but that’s as far as you should go in that regard.

Bring in the professionals.

Now the idea of DIY is out of the question; it is time to get in touch with the professionals. When you select a roofing company in your area, there are a few points to take into consideration. Ensure you select a provider that has a strong reputation in the community. If they’ve been in operation for decades, for instance, this is always a good sign they offer the level of service you desire.

Ultimately, time is of the utmost importance. The quicker you get in touch, the quicker they can get in touch to rectify the issue. However, if your property has been affected due to a large storm, you could find other houses that have received similar roof damage. The result: it could take time before they can get around to fixing your roof.

Fortunately, many companies will provide a temporary solution in the form of a cover like tarps before getting around to a permanent fix. In addition, you may find an alternative roofer that can take on the job quicker than your initial option.

Be prepared for the future.

Once your roof has been repaired, you won’t want to go through this situation again. While you can never predict roof damage, there are steps you can take to lower the chances of it happening in the future.

Those steps include trimming nearby trees and cleaning out debris from your gutters.

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Milo Senalle

Milo Senalle

Managing Editor at Chispa Magazine
As one of the managing editors of Chispa Magazine, Milo Senalle is the go-to man for all things technology, ethical, and financial concerns. Providing laughs with his style of writing and problem-solving techniques, Milo is a voice of reason among the girly staff at Chispa. Married with children, living in Atlanta, he works 24/7 on becoming a man of courage and believes honor begins at home.

Milo Senalle

As one of the managing editors of Chispa Magazine, Milo Senalle is the go-to man for all things technology, ethical, and financial concerns. Providing laughs with his style of writing and problem-solving techniques, Milo is a voice of reason among the girly staff at Chispa. Married with children, living in Atlanta, he works 24/7 on becoming a man of courage and believes honor begins at home.