Emergency Roof Leak: What to Do Right Now

Emergency-Roof-Leak
If your roof is leaking right now, take these steps immediately: place buckets under active drips, move furniture and electronics away from the affected area, and if water is pooling on the ceiling, puncture the bulge with a screwdriver to release it into a bucket rather than risking a ceiling collapse. Then call a professional roofer — on Long Island, Rapid Roofing provides 24/7 emergency response and can reach your home within hours. This guide covers the full emergency containment process, how to minimize interior damage while you wait, and what to expect from a professional repair.

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Diagnosing a Leaking Roof

Major roof leaks are generally impossible to miss, but for minor roof leaks there are some subtle indications that you may be able to spot prior to further damage occurring.  

If it feels like monsoon season in your home, it’s patently obvious you’ve got a leak – although even something as simple as an unexplainable damp or musty odor emanating from your walls and ceilings hint at a compromised section of roofing. For a detailed walkthrough of how to trace the water trail to its source, see our guide on how to find the source of a roof leak. If that is the case, we recommend that you investigate your attic, upper rooms and ceilings for any indications of mold and mildew proliferation. You may also discover water stains or damage on ceilings that generally imply that water is leaking into your home.

Contact a Professional Immediately

In the case of a confirmed roof leak, it’s critical that you call a professional roofer immediately as it may take some time for the contractors to arrive at your home. 

Expert roofers know to look for and recognize all points of potential damage such as the roof shingles, underlayment, flashing and ventilation, so there’s considerably lesser risk of recurring roof leaks.

Professional roof repairs are also covered by warranties and provide peace of mind, knowing that your roof is adequately repaired for the foreseeable future. Some roofing contractors, like Rapid Roofing, provide 24/7 emergency leak repair services and can be at your home to fix your roof within 2 hours. Learn more about our professional roof repair services across Long Island.

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Minimizing Damage

Once you have contacted a professional, it’s recommended that you take certain actions to reduce potential structural damage and prevent the proliferation of mold and mildew.

    1. If the ceiling is leaking water, poke a hole in the center of the affected section of drywall in order to drain it and prevent further damage. Position a bucket underneath in order to prevent spillage.

    2. Place a tarp over the affected shingles and roof area to prevent further precipitation from seeping into your home. If your roof doesn’t have suitable access, or you are simply too uncomfortable to perform this step, wait for a professional to arrive.

    3. Ensure that the tarp is placed securely over the peak of your roof and nail the edges of the tarp down – you can use bricks to weigh down the tarp prior to nailing (if necessary due to high winds).

While it may be possible or pertinent to complete a makeshift repair of the roof yourself; depending on the extent of the damage, this will only be a temporary fix until a professional arrives on scene. Makeshift repairs performed by an inexperienced homeowner, if left unchecked for a prolonged period of time, can lead to further problems and reduce the resale value of your home down the line.
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About Rapid Roofing

Our mission at Rapid Roofing is to provide a stress-free, refreshingly simple, world-class roof installation experience for our customers in Long Island, NY. We look forward to protecting you. With over 110+ 5 star reviews on Google, you can trust the expert roofing contractors at Rapid Roofing to replace your roof on-time and within budget.

For a quick, no-obligation estimate on your next roofing project, fill out our estimate form!

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Picture of Joseph Elshazly
Joseph Elshazly
Joseph Elshazly is the President and Chief Marketing Officer of Rapid Restoration Group. "Skills are cheap, passion is priceless" is the motto he lives by.

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