Tips For Dealing With Roofing Emergencies
Is there anything worse that lying awake at night and hearing that drip, drip noise indicating that water’s getting into your home? If you’re not a roofer, then your first instinct is probably to get onto the phone and immediately call out the first emergency roofer you can find. Middle of the night call-out charges are often hefty, so the best course of action is often to try to cope the best you can until the next morning. So what exactly should you do in a roofing emergency?
Make Sure Everyone’s Safe
No roofing emergency is worth putting yourself at risk for. If there are very high winds and slates are flying off the roof, get everyone inside away from danger. Don’t even think about getting the ladder out and fixing the tiles until the winds die down. If the problem is that there is a leak somewhere on the roof letting water in, try to identify the weak spot yourself. This isn’t always easy, especially if it’s dark. Water can also get through the roof at one point then reappear in your house at another point, so it’s often very difficult to track. Give the roofing contractors as much information as you can to make their job easier. If you suspect the water is getting into the electrics then switch the supply off at the mains – the last thing you want is an electrical fire too.
Patch the Hole
Sometimes, the problem might be very obvious, such as a few missing tiles, or a branch falling through the roof and causing a hole. The best emergency repair is to try to patch up the hole and stop the damage getting worse until the professionals arrive. Don’t feel you need to go up on the roof if you don’t feel it’s safe to do so. It’s often best to try to patch the roof from inside. Catch any drips and leaks in buckets, or put down plastic sheeting to try to contain the water in one place. These measures won’t do anything to address what’s causing the leak, but it will minimise the damage to your property.
Finding an Emergency Roofer
If you need someone to fix your roof in an emergency, the temptation is to agree to use the first person who agrees to come out. This isn’t always the best course of action. You want a good job as well as a quick job, and unfortunately there are cowboys around who are waiting to exploit your situation. A good option is to take out the “home emergency” cover which is also offered as an extra with a house insurance policy as this takes the decision out of your hands. Your insurer will have pre-approved roofing firms in your area and will arrange to send someone round.
If you don’t have home emergency cover, get recommendations from friends and family rather than opting for someone at random. Going forward, it’s a good idea to keep a list of trusted electricians, plumbers and roofers in your phone so they are easy to access in an emergency situation.
