Emergencies happen and when they are roofing emergencies, it is important for homeowners to act fast to protect their homes.
Though the instinctive reaction might be to get right on the phone to find an emergency roofing repair service that can come right away, the reality is, sometimes there is a wait of a few days before someone can come.
Being prepared to handle the basics for emergency roofing repairs is a good idea for any homeowner, as it can get them through the wait until the roofer can get there.
Here are some emergency roofing repairs that can help while waiting for a roofer:
- Assess the Extent of the Damage - Try to investigate the damage to determine whether it is severe enough that the home should be vacated. Anything that involves structural damage, electrical wires, or protrusions through the roof is dangerous enough that everyone should get out of the house. For less severe issues that still need emergency roofing repair services, homeowners can take steps to protect their property to minimize damage.
- Apply Tarp If Possible - If it is possible to locate the general area that needs emergency roof repair services, cover it with tarps to protect it from more weather. Apply nylon or canvas tarps over the damaged area and nail them onto the roof through 2x4s to hold the edges of the tarp down. Make sure one edge goes over the ridge of the roof to prevent water from getting under the tarp.
- Protect Items Inside - If water is coming into the house, try to contain it by catching it in buckets and removing personal items from the area or covering them. Insurance companies expect homeowners to do what they can to minimize interior damage if they possibly can.
- Call An Emergency Roofing Repair Service - After these three initial steps are taken, homeowners can then seek out an emergency roofing repair service that can help them. With these temporary repairs in place, waiting a day or so for a roofer to get there will be safer and easier.
Though roofing emergencies require prompt attention, homeowners should understand that in many cases, busy roofers may take a day or more to fit their repairs into the schedule.
These simple tips can help when waiting for emergency roofing repairs, preventing more damage while waiting for the contractor.
It can also give homeowners the time to properly research the contractors they call for emergency roof repair services so they entrust the right one to handle their repairs.