Your insurance policy expects you to protect your property from more damage, and a temporary repair is how you do it. Our team can help with emergency tarping and then find what's really causing the leak.
What to do, and when, once water starts coming in
A roof leak can be fixed. An injury, a shock or a collapsed ceiling is a much bigger problem. These are the three biggest risks during an active leak.
Wet shingles, wind and lightning make a roof dangerous. Wait until the weather clears, and leave steep or high roofs to professionals.
If water is near light fixtures, outlets or wiring, turn off that circuit at the breaker, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
A ceiling holding water is heavy and can come down without warning. Keep people and pets clear of a sagging or bulging spot.
Take these in order. You don't need any special tools for most of them.
Put buckets, pots or trash cans under every drip. Lay towels around them and put something soft in the bottom of the bucket to stop splashing. Empty them before they overflow.
Move furniture, electronics, rugs and anything valuable out of the way. Cover what you can't move with plastic sheeting or a tarp.
If water is pooling in a small bulge and it isn't near a light fixture, put a bucket under it, stand to the side, and make a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver so it drains in one place. If the bulge is large, near wiring, or you're unsure, leave the room and call for help.
With a flashlight, look for wet insulation, dripping decking or a wet trail. Water often runs along rafters, so the leak on the roof may not be right above the drip. Put a bucket or a board under the drip if you can.
Take photos and video of the leak, the ceiling, the attic, damaged belongings and the outside of the roof from the ground. Write down the date and time. Keep damaged items until your insurance company says it's okay to throw them out.
Once the storm passes, get the roof covered with a tarp, shrink wrap or an emergency patch. Then have the whole roof inspected so the real source gets found.
A temporary repair keeps a small leak from turning into wet drywall, ruined insulation and mold. It's the first thing to do once it's safe to get on the roof.
The most common temporary fix is a heavy tarp that runs well past the damaged area and over the ridge, held down with wood strips so wind can't get under it. On flat and low-slope roofs, a tarp often won't hold, so an emergency patch or shrink wrap is used instead.
Our team has experience in emergency tarping, shrink wrap, board-up and water mitigation after storms, on homes and commercial buildings.
You'll want both. The temporary fix protects the inside today. The permanent fix makes sure it doesn't happen again in the next storm.
Fast protection to keep more water out until the roof can be inspected and repaired.
Finding where the water is really getting in and fixing the roof system the right way.
Water often shows up far from where it gets in. Our trained inspectors check the entire roof system to find the real source.
| Source | What happens | What we look for |
|---|---|---|
| Storm damage | Hail and wind crack, bruise, lift or tear off shingles, tile and membrane. | Hail hits, creased or missing shingles, punctures and damaged metals. |
| Flashing | Metal around chimneys, walls and skylights lifts, rusts or loses its seal. | Gaps, loose step flashing, failed sealant and bent counter-flashing. |
| Pipe boots & vents | Rubber collars around plumbing vents crack and let water run down the pipe. | Split boots, loose vent caps and hail damage on metal vents. |
| Valleys | Where two roof slopes meet, water runs heavy and finds any weak spot. | Worn or damaged shingles, debris and failed underlayment. |
| Flat roof seams | Seams open up and water sits in low spots, then finds its way in. | Open seams, ponding, punctures and hail anvil strikes most people overlook. |
| Gutters & ice | Clogged gutters or ice dams back water up under the roof edge. | Overflow marks, damaged drip edge and wet decking at the eaves. |
Not during the storm. Wet roofs, wind and lightning are dangerous. Work from inside until the weather clears, and leave steep, high or damaged roofs to professionals.
If the damage is covered by your policy, reasonable costs for temporary repairs are usually covered too. Take photos first and keep every receipt.
No. A tarp is a short-term fix. Sun and wind break it down, and water can still get in around it. The roof needs a permanent repair.
If the leak came from a storm, report the damage promptly. Most policies require prompt notice. Getting the roof inspected helps you know what you're dealing with.
Yes. We work on homes and businesses, including flat and low-slope roofs where a tarp often won't hold.
Our inspection and damage report are free. If you later sign a Project Agreement, its fee and cancellation terms are at SkyViewRestore.com/terms. If there's no storm damage, we'll tell you, and you get a Clearance Certificate to keep on file.
