Emergency Roof Repair

NEED EMERGENCY ROOF REPAIR IN THE CHICAGO AREA?

Your roof is an integral part of your home, protecting the interior from wind, rain, hail, snow and other inclement weather. Whether you realize it or not, you depend on your roof to protect your home from storm damage. For example, what happens if a tree branch falls onto your roof during a Spring thunderstorm in the middle of the night? How do you protect the inside of your home from extensive damage during a roofing emergency? Learn more about how an emergency roof repair can be handled.

Remain Calm When You Have a Roof Emergency

The first step after a roof emergency is to remain calm. Often, roof damage appears far worse to a homeowner than it will to a professional roofer. You want to try to protect your home as much as possible, but if you panic, you will be unable to manage the steps you need to take to do so.

Protect as Your Home and Roofing The Best You Can

If your home has been damaged during a storm, you will want to minimize damage to the interior as much as you can. Try to cover any holes in the living area with plastic tarps or other waterproof materials. If the hole is vast, you may need to place buckets or other containers under the hole to collect water until the storm subsides. You should call a professional roofer as most of them have 24/7 emergency lines, but keep in mind they will not send someone out during the storm as that would be unsafe for their employees. Do not try to climb on the roof yourself to repair the damage.

What Will a Roofer Do?

Once the roofer can get to your home, they will inspect the area and look for any additional issues that may exist. They will cover the opening with strong plastic tarps that are secured tightly against the elements. If your home was damaged by fire, it is possible that firefighters compromised the structural integrity of your roof. This may mean you will need to find an alternate place to live until the roof can be restored.

Contact Your Insurance Company
As soon after the damage as possible, contact your homeowner’s insurance company. Unexpected roof damage can cause significant financial difficulty. If you must vacate the home as it is unsafe, your insurance company may offer coverage for hotels or other living areas while your roof is being repaired. The insurance company will send out an adjuster who will review the damage and determine how much the claim is worth. If you feel the estimate is too low, you can get estimates from different roofing companies and provide those to the insurance company as proof of the damage.

Types of Emergency Roof Damage

There are many different situations that could lead to roof damage. High winds can tear shingles from the roof, exposing the substrate which could then be compromised by rain. Tree limbs can be thrown into your roof, causing significant damage. Lightning strikes can actually blow a hole in your roof as well. Wildlife, including squirrels and raccoons, are known to chew through wooden structures and create holes that can be quite large. As mentioned, fire can lead to structural damage to the roof that may even make your home unsafe to enter.

Any roof repair need should be considered urgent, as compared to most other home repair and upgrade projects. But, clearly, some roof jobs are more urgent than others. And the most urgent of all qualify as true emergencies.

Here are three different levels of roof repair urgency, beginning with emergency roof repairs.

What Counts As A True “Roofing Emergency?”

There are a number of specific situations that easily qualify as a roof repair emergency. Here are 4 key examples when you have a roof repair emergency:

A tree, branch, or other falling or wind-borne object has smashed a hole into your roof. Part of the roof is now caving in, and there’s nothing to stop the weather and outdoor critters from coming inside your home.

A storm has torn off shingles and/or flashing or otherwise caused major leakage points on your roof. The water comes in fast and abundantly whenever it rains.
A section of your roof has been damaged so severely that a tarp has to be put over it to prevent expensive water damage. A temporary “patch” job may be needed as well to avert any further damage until the full repair can be completed.
A fire may have burned up a section of your roof. This can compromise the integrity of the roof deck and the roofing it bears, even when the shingles themselves are still intact. You shouldn’t delay at all to get this inspected and repaired.

WHAT IS A ‘SEMI-EMERGENCY’ ROOF REPAIR?

Every roofing leak is serious and calls for immediate attention, but some roof leaks are more urgent than others. A small drip-drip ceiling leak may call for immediate attention and we advise making an appointment with a roofing contractor;  Unlike immediate roofing emergencies, your roof leak may not need same-day response and a may only require a patch job and tarp.
The danger of procrastinating on roofing leaks until they turn into real emergencies is very real. You may be able to “get by for a while”,  but inevitably you are better off scheduling a roof repair inspection from a reliable contractor right away.

WHAT ARE THE LEAST URGENT ROOFING REPAIRS?

Roof repairs are among the most important home improvements needed in your house. There are some roofing needs that are less urgent than the others, but roof damage is serious, especially if your Chicago Suburb has been through a hail storm or tornado.  Hail damage for example, would require a quick visit from your home insurance agent and a roof inspection. Then, damaged shingles may need to be replaced because hail stone impacts weaken a roof’s long-term durability. But it’s not usually an emergency need. When you see shingles flying off your roof, holes or leaks in your roofing, this can be stressful, but not a home emergency.
Also, if your roof is showing signs of its age and is in need of repair or replacement, it doesn’t have to be done tomorrow. But, the sooner you replace old roofing, the sooner you eliminate its inherent risks and gain important benefits like a long warranty, renewed curb appeal and a more effective water barrier that will stay low-maintenance for years to come.
Home owners should understand, roofers may only go up on the roof when conditions are safe. If rain, high winds, or a storm are still underway – repairs can only be done when such dangers pass. However, you can start calling a roofing contractor and begin setting a date for an inspection and repair. Many times your roofing restoration will be covered under homeowner insurance due to a bad storm. For a free roof inspection or storm damage assessment, call JnJ Restoration today at 312-804-1336 or Email us at info@jnjrestoration.com