5 Emergency Roof Repair Tips for Homeowners

Living in Georgia isn’t all peaches.

Now that we have that joke out of the way…

If you live in Georgia, you’ve known a storm or two and have probably suffered all sorts of home and roof damage. When worse comes to worst, it’s always best to be prepared in case your roof experiences damage that puts your home and family at risk and requires emergency storm damage roof repairs.

Even though storms are the biggest culprit for damaging your roof, you can also experience emergencies with fire, animals, or other pests. If you want to be prepared for storms—and everything else—here are 5 emergency roof repair tips for after a storm:

1. Contact a licensed roofing contractor
2. Take photos of the damage
3. Tarp your roof if needed
4. Call your insurance company
5. Get to a safe location if needed

Tip #1: Contact a Licensed Roofing Contractor 👷

If you’re experiencing a water leak in your home, you should call a local roofing contractor right away. It’s always best to work with someone local who’s fully licensed and insured. Some roofing companies offer 24/7 emergency repairs or tarping, so it’s your best bet if you’re able to get a hold of a company like this.

Choose to work with a company that can get out to your property the fastest. You don’t want to have to wait for weeks and weeks when dealing with a roof leak.

Once at your property, the roofing contractor will assess your damage and perform the necessary repairs. If they aren’t able to provide repairs right away, they may secure a tarp on your roof and come back soon to complete the repairs.

Tip #2: Take Photos of the Damage 📸

If you’re able, take photo documentation of the damage. Get as close as you safely can to the damage on your roof to snap a picture, then take photos of any leaks and water damage inside your home.

This tip may seem like the last thing on your mind in an emergency situation, but if the situation isn’t immediately threatening you, it’s good to have photos for insurance documentation. They will help your case when you contact your insurance company to file a roof insurance claim.

Tip #3: Tarp Your Roof If Need Be 🔨

You’ll want to protect your belongings from water damage as much as possible. The first thing you can do is place a bucket under any dripping water and move your expensive belongings out of harm’s way. If you aren’t able to remove some of your belongings, place tarps over them to protect them from water damage.

Additionally, if you aren’t able to find a roofing contractor who can come tarp your roof right away, you can try doing it yourself. Keep in mind that this is a dangerous job, so only attempt this if you feel confident and have someone to help you.

You’ll need the property equipment in order to tarp your roof:

• A tarp large enough to cover the damaged area
• Roofing nails and a hammer
• Wood planks
• Sturdy, rubber-sole shoes
• A good ladder
• Roofing harness

To tarp your own roof, have someone hold your ladder and remain nearby as you work. Identify the damaged area on your roof by looking for missing, loose, or cracked shingles.

You can lay the tarp over the damaged area, place wood planks on the edges, and drill nails through the planks and tarp to secure it. Make sure the tarp is pulled taut so that more rain can’t get under it.

Again, you should only take matters into your own hands if you feel safe and comfortable enough to do so. Otherwise, wait for the roofing contractor to come and perform the necessary repairs.

Tip #4: Call Your Homeowners Insurance Company 📲

Here’s where that photo documentation will come in handy. If your roof was damaged in a storm or for another reason that wasn’t due to homeowner neglect or an old roof, you can file an insurance claim. If your claim is approved, you may get monetary coverage for the roof repairs you need.

Be sure to read your insurance policy closely, as there’s a chance your damage may not be covered. But most standard homeowners insurance policies cover wind, hail, fire, and other “acts of God.” Just keep in mind that you’ll need a separate policy for flood or earthquake insurance.

When you file a claim, an insurance adjuster will need to come out to your property to see the damage for themselves. If they conclude that your roof was, in fact, damaged and you weren’t responsible for it, then they can move forward with approving your claim.

Tip #5: If the Damage Is Severe, Get to a Safe Location ⚠️

Ultimately, laying a tarp or taking photos is not important if your safety is in jeopardy. If your roof is at the point of almost collapsing, or there are extreme amounts of water flowing into your home, it’s best to grab what’s important to you and get to a safe location.

In some circumstances, you may only have time to get your family in the car and go. Other times, you have a little more time to grab valuable belongings or family mementos as well. It can be devastating to watch your home experience tragedy, but the most important thing is to keep you and your family safe.

Emergency Roof Repair in Georgia

We know how stressful it is to think about home emergencies, and it’s even more stressful to be caught in one! Unfortunately, emergency situations arise, and you need to be able to get in contact with someone who can help.

Here at Whitt’s Quality Roofing, we provide emergency tarping services to homeowners in Central and Southern Georgia. We’ll tarp your roof until your insurance company can come and take a look. And when it’s time to officially repair your roof, we’ll provide fast, high-quality repairs that keep you protected for years. If you’re dealing with a roofing emergency, call Whitt’s right away!