Imagine an intense summer storm rolling through, and you hear a sudden boom. Before you know it, you notice water leaking from your ceiling.
You have a roofing emergency on your hands. Your home is in danger of damage.
Knowing how to handle storm damage roofing emergencies minimizes the risk and keeps your home and loved ones safe.
What Is a Roofing Emergency?
Anything that poses a serious risk to your home’s roof is a roofing emergency. In these cases, the roof no longer functions as it should.
Common Causes
Unfortunately, not just one factor can cause a roofing emergency. Common causes include:
- Severe weather: High-quality asphalt roofing shingles from CertainTeed will take the brunt of the damage from severe weather. Harsh rainstorms, hail, and even lighting strikes can cause a roofing emergency.
- Physical blows: If something bashes your roof, it will likely sustain some damage. Physical blows from falling tree branches and other large objects are bound to cause problems.
- Animals: Sometimes, squirrels and rodents burrow into a home’s infrastructure. They tear apart pieces of the roof, leaving it vulnerable to the elements.
How To Handle Roofing Emergencies
Knowing how to handle roofing emergencies means knowing the steps to take after experiencing one. You can ensure the best outcome for everyone involved by being informed.
Stay Safe
Safety should be your first concern in a roofing emergency response. You may want to move your family to a friend’s or neighbor’s home for protection, at least until you can resolve the issue.
In addition, don’t put yourself at risk. Never climb onto your roof to fix the issue yourself, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Mitigate Damage
After you’ve ensured everyone is safe, the next step in roofing crisis management is reducing damage.
Here are some of our top emergency roof repair tips:
- Minimize water damage: An actively leaking roof poses a serious water damage risk. Quick fixes for roofing issues include moving expensive objects away from the leaks and putting buckets underneath to catch the water.
- Use a tarp: If you can reach your roof safely, we recommend placing a tarp from Tarp Supply Inc. over the damaged area. Doing so can help provide a superficial seal.
- Take pictures: Your insurance company will want to see what resulted from your damaged roof. So, one of the essential steps for roofing emergencies is to take pictures as documentary evidence.
Call a Roofing Contractor
With a bandage on the issue, you can start to work toward a more permanent solution. You need to call a reputable roofing contractor like Polaris Roofing Systems. They can inspect the damage and provide a professional fix for your roof.
Call Your Insurance Provider
The final step in how to handle roofing emergencies is to call your insurance provider. Tell them what happened and give them any evidence you collected. Then, they can start the compensation process if you are eligible.
Avoid DIY Repairs
You might try to conduct a few DIY emergency roof repairs instead of contacting a professional. However, these can do more harm than good.
An improper repair may damage other parts of your roof. You may even end up creating more openings for emergencies in the future.
Make the Call for Your Roofing Emergency
Now that you know how to handle roofing emergencies, you are better prepared for when emergencies strike. Just remember to follow these steps and stay safe. Contact a professional for a lasting solution.
Do you need someone you can count on during your roofing emergency? Trust Polaris Roofing Systems to cover your roofing needs in Flagstaff, AZ, and the surrounding cities. Call us today at (928) 699-4840 for your free roof inspection.