Emergency roof-leak repair minimizes the damage and can potentially help decrease roof replacement costs.
“Get a tarping company to come out and get [the leaky roof] covered as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to the roof and the structure of the home,” said Bethany Uribe, water mitigation manager at ASAP Restoration in Tempe, Arizona.
You’ll want to call a contractor proficient in roofing and water mitigation. “This holistic expertise ensures that the problem is fully addressed,” advised Chris Hock, owner of Earth Saving Solutions, a home renovation company in Denver.
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Clay tile and slate roofs can cost between $24,100 and $37,300 on average.
Get EstimateUnderstanding what constitutes an emergency when it comes to a roof leak and knowing what steps to take immediately can help you and your family stay safe and minimize damage. Remember to document everything along the way for your homeowners insurance claim, including taking photographs or videos, noting the time the leak started and writing down other pertinent details.
| Damage Type | Average Cost | Respondents |
|---|---|---|
| A leak or leaks | $4,164 | 181 |
| Weather or disaster | $5,029 | 96 |
| Damaged shingles or tiles | $3,460 | 71 |
| Missing shingles or tiles | $3,066 | 43 |
| Damaged flashing | $2,206 | 21 |
| Pooling water | $8,339 | 17 |
| Damaged roofing deck | $9,741 | 16 |
| Discoloration | $1,400 | 8 |
| Other | $6,670 | 5 |
| Average (all repairs) | $4,372 | Total: 458 |
What should you do if you have an emergency roof leak?
When you find a roof leak, you should minimize further damage to the rest of your house. If you have access to the roof (and feel comfortable scaling a ladder), secure a tarp over the section of the roof that is leaking. Large plastic sheeting can work in a pinch.
These are temporary measures to take while you wait for a professional roofer to fix the issue. In the meantime, you should take the following steps.
Relocate
The most important thing you can do in an emergency roof-leak situation is to stay safe. If the emergency roof leak results from a fallen tree or limb, wind-blown debris, or structural collapse and the damage is severe, evacuate your home. You’ll also want to leave the premises if you’re concerned about an electrical fire resulting from the leak.
Prevent further damage
If it’s safe to do so, the next step is to prevent additional damage from occurring inside your home. Place buckets or empty garbage cans inside, below the leak, to collect dripping water. You may be able to temporarily fix a leaky roof by applying sealants or silicone roof coating.
Document the damage and contact your insurance company
Take pictures and videos of the damage — inside and outside of your home — to the best of your ability. Evidence of the problem can help ensure filing an insurance claim goes smoothly.
Contact your insurance company using its emergency phone number. The representative should be able to recommend next steps, and some can even refer you to mitigation services such as emergency roof repair, mold mitigation, and fire and water damage cleanup.
File your claim quickly and take steps to get a permanent fix in place. “Not taking care of the roof leak quickly can lead to an insurance claim denial due to waiting too long to have the damage addressed,” Uribe explained. “This can be seen as negligence to insurance providers when trying to make a claim.”
Call a roof-leak repair contractor
Finally, contact a local roof-leak repair company, ideally using an emergency phone number. If you can’t get a professional roofer out quickly enough, you can also contact a water mitigation company.
“Restoration companies offer expertise in addressing the leak, and being licensed general contractors, [they] can get a reliable roofing company out to the property more quickly and likely at a more affordable rate,” Uribe said.
Ask the roofing contractor or restoration company if they can come out on an emergency basis for a roof inspection to assess the damage, provide an estimate for the repair or new roof installation, and even set up a temporary fix to reduce ongoing damage while you wait for approval from your insurance company.
What are the main signs of an emergency roof leak?
Besides dripping water and visible damage to your roof, water damage and mold growth are the primary signs that you have a severe leak and need emergency repair.
Water damage
Emergency leaks can happen if your roof fails from old age, has missing or deteriorated shingles or sustains sudden damage from severe weather, high winds or impact.
Water that enters your home through a damaged roof can soak into building materials, making insulation less effective and causing wood elements to rot over time. Even in the short term, water can cause wood flooring, roof decking, framing and other construction components to warp and twist, potentially causing structural damage.
If you notice signs of water damage in your home, schedule a roof repair as soon as possible.
Mold growth
Failure to quickly resolve a roof-leak emergency can result in mold growth, which should be taken seriously and treated promptly.
“Mold will grow prolifically within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure,” Uribe warned. “We have seen entire homes affected by mold growth to the point at which every bit of drywall needs to be removed, and every piece of wood needs treatment in order to prevent resurgence.”
What types of damage warrant an emergency roof-leak repair?
“Major roof leaks, like those from heavy rains or fallen trees, can lead to significant structural and foundation damage,” Hock said. If you have any kind of roof penetration or active leak, structural damage to the roof system or severe roof wear, you need emergency roof-leak repair.
Wind damage
Roofing materials are designed to resist wind and usually come with a wind-resistance rating designated by the American Society for Testing and Materials. Classified roof products can resist wind speeds of 110 mph or more.
However, in severe weather events, such as hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes, roof material can be damaged or blown off. Wind damage leads to water leaks and warrants an emergency roof-leak repair.
Storm damage
During severe storms, portions of your roofing material may blow off, exposing the building material underneath to rain or snow. Roofs can also sustain damage from harsh impacts caused by wind-blown debris.
Depending on where you live, there’s also a risk of hail damage to your roof. Hailstones as small as dimes can damage roofing materials, potentially requiring emergency roof-leak repair, according to the National Weather Service.
Tree damage
Fallen trees or tree limbs can penetrate roofs, opening the home to water intrusion and exposing it to the elements. Tree damage can occur during storms or when tree branches fall naturally.
Tree damage can be severe, leading to roof leaks and structural damage. Extensive tree damage could make relocation necessary until the problem is resolved.
Fire damage
Severe fire damage can lead to structural compromise or total roof loss, but even minor fires or nearby wildfires can damage your roof. Airborne embers from nearby fires can penetrate certain types of roof materials, such as clay tiles, which can lead to roof leaks.
Most roof products can be manufactured to be fire-resistant, but a fire inside the home can damage the roof underlayment, potentially causing structural damage and a higher risk of leaks.
Structural damage
Many things can cause structural damage to your roof, such as heavy snow loads or ice dams. If your roof material and sheathing can’t support the load, portions of it could collapse and allow water into the home.
This problem is especially severe because snow and water from ice melt can immediately damage other building materials, resulting in damaged insulation, mold growth, discoloration and foundation damage.
What are the risks of a roof leak?
Roof leaks can cause a variety of problems. The most obvious one is water damage. Any roof penetration that leads to an active roof leak can let water and moisture into your home that will rot wood, reduce the R-value of your insulation and destroy furniture, carpeting and personal belongings.
Roof material damage
When water gets under your home’s roof material, it soaks into the roof sheathing underneath and gradually compromises the roof system’s structural integrity. This could put you at a greater risk of roof collapse.
Mold growth
Introducing moisture to the interior of your home can lead to the spread of mold. The presence of mold can exacerbate allergies and respiratory conditions, such as asthma, and lead to skin, eye and lung irritation, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Pest issues
Roof leaks can create a wet environment that attracts insects such as silverfish, centipedes and roaches to your home — increasing the risk of a pest infestation.
What’s next?
Get estimates from multiple roof repair companies, even in an emergency situation. Include the one recommended by your homeowners insurance provider.
However, you’re not required to use the roofer that your provider recommends. “Should you contact your insurance, ask key questions about their suggested vendors, but remember, you’re not obligated to use them,” Hock said.
Ask each contractor how quickly they can complete the repair, if they can address all of the required work — including roof repair, mold remediation, and fixing smoke or fire damage, if applicable — and if they can make any recommendations to avoid future problems, such as installing a different roof material better suited to stand up to the weather in your area.
Depending on the damage’s severity, you might need to secure alternative housing until the repair is done. Speak with your insurance company about your options, as your policy may cover the related expenses.
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