One of the toughest lessons you have to learn in life is how to balance your expectations versus reality. This is especially the case for new homeowners.
Your expectation: Owning a home = freedom!
Reality: Things break—even things that seem very structurally sound. And when you own the home, it’s your responsibility to fix it.
Now, the freedom expectation is true. But it’s important to embrace the reality that one day you might need an emergency roof repair that you never saw coming. And, in order to protect the structural integrity of your house, you need to know what to do when this issue arises.
If you’re a home or property owner, then this article is for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about emergency roof repair!
What Constitutes an Emergency Roof Repair?
Technically, you should treat every roof complication as an emergency. But, there are some situations that are more pressing than others. Let’s discuss what situations should have you calling for roof repair ASAP.
Water Damage
Statistically, 1 in 50 homeowners will file a water damage claim each year. Water damage, in any capacity, is an emergency. Even if you only see evidence of a small leak, you never know how bad the structural damage of that leak is.
Ignoring a leak could put yourself and your family at risk of your roof caving in. Additionally, water damage can lead to larger leaks and festering mold. All of these things can result in foundational complications.
Pest Infiltration
If your roof is damaged to the point that pests can enter your home freely, it’s an emergency. Pests are a separate costly issue that quick action can help you avoid.
Structural Integrity Compromised
Water damage isn’t the only thing that can compromise your home’s structural integrity. Here are several other reasons you may need to hire a roof repair company to maintain structural integrity.
Lightning
There’s the saying that lightning never strikes the same spot twice. But, it does indeed strike houses from time to time.
If this happens to your home, the structural effects could be severe. Call a professional immediately!
Harsh Winds
It’s easy to underestimate the power that wind can have when it comes to roof damage. Be sure to assess the damage if strong winds hit your area. The damage resembles loose or missing shingles.
This might not sound as dire as some other damages, but shingles are meant to protect your home from the elements. If these are compromised, then it doesn’t take much to damage your roof structurally. Therefore, it does constitute an emergency.
Fire Damage
This emergency applies if you have a fire in your home. If the fire is severe, you’ll need to have your roof structurally assessed immediately. This type of damage is more sinister because you can’t always see the effects of it.
Severe Storms
Severe storms can also result in structural roof damage. You may acquire a roof repair emergency if you experience:
- Hail
- Ice
- Tornados
- Torrential rain
- Heavy snow
Call a professional if any of these events take a toll on your roof’s structural integrity.
Branches and Debris
If a large branch or another form of debris lands on your roof, it could cause serious structural issues. Be aware that if a branch lands roughly on your roof, it could cause further damage if you move it yourself.
How Can You Protect Your Home Until Help Arrives?
Once you’ve established that your situation is an emergency, it’s time to contain the situation until a professional arrives. Here are a few things you can do to ensure the safety of your home, family, and pets.
Address the Inside
When it comes to the inside of your home, you want to take precautions that will contain the mess and protect your belongings. If you are experiencing roof damage, you can:
- Attempt to cover any holes
- Tarp furniture and floors
- Place buckets under leaks
- Move valuables and food
- Turn off the power
To elaborate on that last bullet point, turning off the power is a good idea if you have a lot of water leaking into your home. This could be the case if it’s still raining when the damage occurs or if there was a substantial amount of unknown standing water on your roof.
Cutting the power will help you prevent electrical damage.
Establish Overall Safety
Once you’ve taken care of the inside of your home, you need to determine whether or not it’s safe to stay on the premises. Sometimes it’s a good idea to take the extra precaution of leaving while waiting for emergency roof repair.
This Isn’t a DIY Opportunity
There’s a time and place for DIY: flipping furniture, school projects, eclectic interior design. But when it comes to the structural integrity of your roof, DIY isn’t an option.
This primarily has to do with your safety. But, you also want to ensure that whatever the problem is, it’s fixed by someone experienced. Choosing a professional to repair your roof will help prevent future complications.
Call a Professional
Calling a professional should be your first step if your roof needs an emergency repair. Once you reach a professional, you can rest easy knowing that help is on the way.
Call Your Insurance Company
Next, it’s time to call your insurance company. Your homeowner’s insurance should cover or partially cover roof damage, depending on the cause.
Another reason why you don’t want to attempt to repair the roof yourself? If you make the problem worse, your insurance may not cover the damage (even if it was there before you got involved).
Avoid Scams
There are some people out there who prowl neighborhoods after severe storms and claim to be roofing professionals. These people will likely take your money and run.
Rather than trust a stranger smiling on your doorstep, you should do some research on roofing professionals in your area. You can look up:
- How long they’ve been in business
- Their values
- Positive customer testimonials
- Whether or not they provide a free quote
- Their prices
Of these things, making sure they have positive customer reviews is key. This will ensure that people have received efficient service from them.
Trust Revive Restoration with Your Roof Repair Emergency!
Are you in need of emergency roof repair? If you live in Minnesota or Wisconsin, then Revive Restoration has you covered!
We specialize in roof repair, maintenance, and general exterior renovation. Our services are efficient and structurally sound. We take pride in our company’s values of integrity, strong work ethic, and high-quality results.
When disaster strikes, we prioritize your needs. Contact us today for a free quote on roof repair!
