Emergency Roof Repair

How To Deal With Emergency Roof Repairs

Emergency roof repairs are there to ensure that your property is safe when damage has occurred to your roof. The most common cause of incidents that require emergency roof repairs is extreme weather, when storms or hurricane level winds have caused damage to your chimney, or when storms have caused flooding that threatens the inside of your property.

Any threat from rainwater to the inside of your home could potentially require the services of an emergency roofer. Even if you only perform temporary repairs to stem the flow of water, acting quickly can save you from extensive damage to your property. If you’re handy around the house, you may be able to perform some emergency repairs yourself so that you’ll have time to shop round for a professional emergency roofer.

When undertaking emergency repairs, the first thing to do is to protect the interior of your property to limit the damage. Mop up any water as best you can, and collect it in containers. If water has pooled in your ceiling, allow it to flow through freely. Poke a small hole with the end of a brush, for example, to let water drain away into buckets below. This seems like an odd thing to do, but it will stop further harm and at least you’ll be controlling the extent of the damage. If water threatens any electrical equipment, ensure that the power is switched off and call out a qualified electrician.

Never attempt to fix a problem on the roof while it’s still wet or in extreme weather conditions or you could be caught out by strong winds or even lightning. When it’s safe to do so, clear any standing water from your rooftop. Be careful on the roof, as the storm could have caused damage and even though it seems safe, there may be the possibility that it will collapse. If you’re clearing debris from the roof, take extra care as water that has pooled can create suction and you could get stuck in a roof drain.

You can spot the problem immediately if shingles have buckled or become loose in stormy weather. This is easily fixed with roofing cement. Make sure the shingle is dry before applying to the underside and pressing firmly into place.

If loose flashings are causing the problem, that too is easily fixed. You can apply roof cement between the roof and flashing and press into place to provide a temporary fix.

You can fashion a temporary patch for your roof using plywood, if the hole’s too big to cover up with roofing cement. A temporary patch should secure your property from the elements until you can have your roof fixed by a trained roofer. Apply a patch big enough to cover the area and fix with double-headed nails, making it easier to remove when you come to have permanent repairs. Make sure that the nails are fairly close together – no more than eight inches apart, as plywood is pretty flexible and could warp if not nailed down firmly to the roof. Make sure the piece of plywood extends beyond the damage by around six inches, to provide an effective cover. For larger areas, use a plastic material such as tarp, using nailed down strips of lath around the sides to secure the plastic sheeting. These simple solutions should hold out until you can find an emergency roofer in your local area.

While emergency roof repairs only provide a temporary solution for your damaged roof, it may save you from more extensive problems in the long-run. The best thing to do in an emergency is to call a trained roofer who provides an emergency roof repair service. It’s good to have a number on hand just in case something does happen and you need help fast.

Call G&A Roofing and Building, the professional roofing firm that offers a highly recommended emergency roof repairs service. Our trained roofers will respond as quick as lightning to property owners who need help due to storm damage. Contact the local roofers at G&A Roofing and Building for a reliable emergency roofer on 0800 626430.