Whether you’re a homeowner or a commercial property manager, when you have a roofing emergency, you need to act fast within the first 24 hours to minimize property damage and document the problem for a potential insurance claim. This checklist will guide you through the essential steps to take when you have a roof issue, whether it was caused by a storm, wind, hail or a sudden structural failure.
Step 1: Immediate Actions to Ensure Safety
Before you think about repairing your roof, ensure that everyone in the building is safe and accounted for. If you smell gas or see sparks from fallen powerlines, evacuate immediately and call emergency services. Other steps to ensure safety include:
- Contain active leaks: You should first find the source of your roof leak and place buckets or anything that can hold a large amount of water where you see drips to protect your belongings or inventory while you work through the remaining steps.
- Turn off electricity: If water is leaking near light fixtures or electrical outlets, shut off power to that section of your home at the breaker panel to prevent shorts and the risk of electrocution.
- Drain bulging ceilings: A sagging ceiling that’s holding water can collapse easily under the weight. To avoid this, use a screwdriver or similar tool to carefully poke a hole in the center of the “belly” formed by the accumulated water and let the water drain into a bucket. We recommend making a pencil-sized hole to allow the water to drain in a controlled, steady stream rather than a sudden rush.
- Move valuables: Relocate furniture, electronics and anything else that could be damaged by water before the situation worsens.
- Ground-level scan: Walk around the outside of the building and look for missing shingles, fallen tree limbs and other visible damage. Do not climb onto the roof because you can easily slip, fall and injure yourself if the roof is wet or structurally compromised.
These actions will help mitigate property damage and keep everyone safe before the professionals arrive, but you should be careful. For example, if you have a bulging ceiling, and it appears soft or crumbles when poked, do not try fixing it yourself. You should evacuate the area and call a professional immediately.
Step 2: Document Damage
You need to document the damage immediately to prevent your insurance company from disputing the cause or extent of the damage. Use your phone to take wide-angle and close-up photos of any visible roof damage from the ground, interior leaks, water stains and any affected belongings. We also recommend doing a video walk-through to be more thorough and ensure all your digital records have timestamps to verify the timeline, which will make the claims process easier.
When documenting damage, you need to look beyond the obvious, as there may be underlying problems arising from the initial roof damage, especially if it’s leaking. Wet attic insulation and sagging drywall are among several hidden problems of a leaky roof, so make sure to document these as well.
Step 3: Contact a Roofing Contractor
Call your local roofing contractor to perform a more thorough roof inspection and to make temporary emergency roof repairs, such as professional tarping, to prevent further water from entering the building. They may also suggest roof improvements that can save you money in the future.
After the assessment, you will have a better understanding of the cause and extent of the damage. You will also have an expert opinion on whether your situation qualifies for an insurance claim. If the damage is covered under your insurance policy, contact your insurance company to start the claims process and keep records of all communication for follow-ups.
Step 4: Plan for Permanent Repairs
At this stage, your roofing contractor will provide a detailed estimate for repairs. If your policy allows, they can work directly with the insurance adjuster to ensure all damage is properly documented and the scope of work is approved. If the damage isn’t covered, your roofing contractor can show you other ways to pay for your roof repair. Depending on the state of your current roof, you can also work with your roofing contractor to make roof improvements that will save you money in the future.
Let Us Help You Fix Your Roof
Equity Builders Roofing is a family-owned roofing company based in Bloomington, Indiana, and we have full-time roofing employees ready to help you get through the first critical hours after roof damage. We offer 24-hour emergency roof repair services and professional roof inspections to document damage for your insurance claim.
Call us now at (812) 650-2424 for an urgent roof fix or schedule a free roof inspection in Indiana today.
