A Complete Guide to Dealing With Emergency Roof Repair

There’s no doubt that winter’s on its way and, although the autumn has so far been fairly storm-free, that’s unlikely to last. Your roof will generally get battering over the winter, whether from heavy rain, snow, high winds, or freezing temperatures.

If your roof is damaged, it won’t be able to do its job of keeping you warm and dry, so it’s vital to identify and repair any issues as quickly as possible.

Check for Damage

You can’t repair damage to your roof unless you know that it’s there. It’s important, in any case, to inspect it at least twice a year, but remember to also check after any extreme weather event, such as a storm or an extreme cold spell.

You’ll mainly be looking for:

• Broken or missing tiles 
• Sagging areas of the roof
• Damage to the flashing around the chimney stack or other structures
• Cracked guttering 

You can examine the roof from ground-level through binoculars, though if you’re confident with ladders it’s better to look up close.

You can also spot evidence of damage indoors. If there are water stains, mould, or mildew on the walls, that means the problem is advanced, but there are ways of catching leaks before they reach that point. Go into the roof space in daylight, with no artificial light, and any pinpricks of light will point to a hole in the roof.

Repairs — Temporary and Permanent

Some damage can’t be left until a professional roofer can get to you. If there’s a hole in your roof, for instance, if possible you need to put tarpaulin over it straight away, while you can put containers under leaks to minimise the water damage.

However, these measures are only stopgaps, and a full solution is vital as soon as possible. If you’re an experienced DIYer, you may be able to do a few simple repairs yourself, like fixing the gutters. However, anything that involves going onto the roof, such as replacing tiles, needs to be left to the professionals.

Besides avoiding personal risk to yourself, this will ensure that the work is done properly. Trying to DIY a job that should be left to experts can result in more extensive damage that will cost more to fix than the original work. In any case, weather damage may well be covered by your building insurance.

Ongoing Maintenance

The best way of reducing the need for emergency roof repairs is to have regular maintenance done. This can be combined with the checks twice a year — a professional roofing company will be able to find damage you might miss and repair it straight away.

This won’t completely rule out damage in a severe storm or an extreme freeze, although it will certainly lower the risk. On the other hand, if this does happen, you’ll already have the number available for a roofing firm you trust — with roofers who know your roof.

Whether you need emergency roof repairs or ongoing maintenance, give Empire a call to find out how we can keep your roof doing its job.