Your Roof Is Leaking Right Now. Here's What To Do.
Water dripping through your ceiling. A storm just tore shingles off. You can see daylight through a hole in your roof. These aren't problems that can wait until Monday morning or next week when you get quotes from three contractors.
Roofing emergencies need immediate attention because every hour of delay means more water damage, higher repair costs, and bigger insurance claims. That wet spot on your ceiling? It's soaking into insulation, damaging drywall, and potentially growing mold. The exposed roof deck from missing shingles? Rain is rotting the wood underneath right now.
Joe's Roofing Construction provides emergency roofing services throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. We respond to true emergencies within 24 hours - often the same day depending on your location and the severity of damage. We understand that roofing emergencies happen at the worst possible times, and we're equipped to help when you need it most.
This guide tells you exactly what to do right now while you wait for professional help to arrive.
What To Do RIGHT NOW (Before Help Arrives)
Don't panic. Follow these immediate steps to minimize damage:
Call an emergency roofing service first. Don't wait to get multiple quotes or research contractors. Call someone who can respond today. The faster you get professional help coming, the less damage your home suffers. Explain what's happening - active leak, storm damage, or whatever emergency you're facing - and ask about response time.
Contain interior damage immediately. Place buckets, pots, or containers under active leaks. Lay down towels to absorb water and protect flooring. Move furniture, electronics, and anything valuable away from affected areas. If water is pooling on your ceiling, poke a small hole in the lowest point with a screwdriver to drain it into a bucket. This prevents larger ceiling collapse from water weight.
Take photos of everything right now. Your phone's camera is your best friend during roofing emergencies. Photograph the leak inside your home, water stains, damaged belongings, and visible roof damage from ground level. Make sure your phone captures date and time stamps automatically. Insurance companies need this documentation, and memories of what things looked like fade quickly.
Stay off the roof - seriously. Don't climb up there yourself, especially during storms, at night, or on wet surfaces. Roofs are dangerous even in perfect conditions. Add rain, wind, darkness, or stress from an emergency, and you're risking serious injury or death. Most roof damage is visible from the ground anyway. Let professionals with proper safety equipment handle roof access.
Turn off electricity in affected areas if water is near outlets or fixtures. Water and electricity kill people. If your leak is near light fixtures, outlets, or electrical panels, shut off power to that area at your breaker box. Better to sit in the dark for a few hours than risk electrocution.
Contact your insurance company within 24 hours. Most Massachusetts and New Hampshire homeowners insurance policies require quick notification of damage. Call your insurer, report the emergency, and get a claim number. Tell them you've called an emergency roofing service to prevent further damage. Emergency repairs to protect your home are typically covered even before your adjuster inspects.
These immediate actions limit damage while help is on the way.
Is Your Situation A True Roofing Emergency?
Not every roof problem requires emergency response. Understanding the difference helps you make the right call.
TRUE Emergencies (Need Same-Day or 24-Hour Response)
Active leak causing interior damage. Water coming into your home right now needs immediate attention. Every minute that leak continues causes more damage to ceilings, walls, insulation, and belongings. Active leaks qualify as true emergencies.
Missing shingles or exposed roof deck after a storm. If you can see bare wood where shingles used to be, your roof deck is exposed to weather. Rain soaks directly into wood, causing rot and interior leaks within hours. This needs emergency tarping today.
Tree or debris damage creating holes in your roof. Fallen branches that punctured through shingles into your attic create immediate exposure to weather. These holes let in rain, snow, and wind. Emergency response prevents catastrophic interior damage.
Structural damage or sagging sections. If part of your roof is sagging, bowing, or looks structurally compromised, evacuate that area of your home and call emergency services immediately. Sagging roofs can collapse, especially under snow load or during storms. This is a safety emergency, not just a repair issue.
Fire or wind damage that compromised roof integrity. Roofs damaged by fire or severe winds might look intact but have hidden structural damage. If your roof experienced fire or extreme winds (60+ mph), get emergency inspection even if you don't see obvious problems.
Our storm damage repair team handles these true emergencies with same-day response when possible.
Urgent But Not Emergency (Can Wait 2-5 Days)
Small leak that only happens during heavy rain. If your leak appears during storms but stops when rain stops, you have a few days to schedule repairs. It's still urgent - you need it fixed soon - but it's not actively destroying your home right now.
Loose or damaged flashing without active leaks. Flashing damage will eventually cause leaks, but if your home is currently dry, you can schedule regular repair appointments within a few days rather than emergency service.
A few missing shingles with no visible leaks yet. Missing shingles expose underlayment, which provides temporary protection. If weather is dry or your underlayment looks intact, you can schedule repairs within a week. Don't wait longer though - underlayment isn't designed as a permanent roof surface.
Gutter damage that isn't affecting your roof. Damaged gutters are important but rarely qualify as emergencies unless they're causing roof damage or foundation flooding. Schedule regular repair within a week or two.
Be honest about urgency. True emergencies cost more because they require immediate response. If you can safely wait a few days, regular scheduling saves money and doesn't tie up emergency response capacity that someone else might desperately need.
Emergency Roof Repairs We Provide
When you call us for a roofing emergency, here's what we can do to protect your home:
Emergency tarping stops further damage immediately. We secure heavy-duty tarps over damaged areas to keep weather out until permanent repairs are possible. Tarping prevents additional water intrusion, protects your interior, and gives you time to work through insurance claims without panic. Emergency tarping typically costs $300-800 depending on your roof size and damage extent. Insurance usually covers this as part of storm damage claims.
Leak detection finds the actual source of water intrusion. Water rarely enters where it appears inside your home. Leaks travel along roof deck boards before dripping through ceilings. We find the real entry point - often damaged flashing, lifted shingles, or failed valleys - and seal it temporarily until permanent repairs are scheduled.
Debris and tree branch removal clears hazards from your roof. Fallen branches, torn shingles, and storm debris need removal before we can assess actual damage. We safely remove debris, inspect underneath, and determine what repairs are necessary. Leaving debris on your roof causes additional damage as it shifts in wind or holds moisture against shingles.
Same-day shingle replacement when weather permits. If damage is limited to a small area and conditions are safe, we replace missing shingles the same day. This provides permanent fixes for localized damage and prevents your temporary emergency from becoming a long-term problem.
Flashing repairs stop active leaks at their source. Most leaks come from failed flashing around chimneys, vents, or roof-to-wall transitions. We repair or replace damaged flashing to stop leaks immediately. Proper flashing repair often provides permanent solutions without requiring extensive roof work.
Full damage assessment for insurance claims. During emergency response, we document all damage with photos and detailed notes. This documentation helps you file accurate insurance claims and ensures adjusters see the full extent of what happened. Many homeowners miss secondary damage during emergencies - we catch everything.
Response Times You Can Expect
Active leaks: Same day or within 24 hours depending on your location in Massachusetts or New Hampshire and current weather conditions. We prioritize active water intrusion that's currently damaging your home.
Storm damage: Within 24-48 hours. After major storms affecting many homes, demand spikes and response times extend slightly. We work through emergencies in order of severity - active leaks before potential leaks.
Permanent repairs: Scheduled after emergency stabilization. Once your emergency is contained with tarping or temporary fixes, we schedule permanent repairs when weather permits and materials arrive. This usually happens within 1-2 weeks of initial emergency response.
Our roof repair services handle both emergency situations and the permanent repairs that follow.
Emergency Roof Repair Costs
Here's what emergency repairs actually cost so you know what to expect:
Emergency tarping: $300-800 depending on roof size, pitch, and accessibility. Steep roofs or large damaged areas cost more. Multi-story homes with difficult access cost more than single-story ranches. Tarping includes securing heavy-duty material over damaged areas to prevent weather intrusion until permanent repairs.
Leak repair: $200-600 for straightforward fixes like flashing repair or small shingle replacement. Simple leaks from damaged vents or loose flashing fall into this range. Complex leaks requiring extensive investigation or multiple repair points cost more.
Small section replacement: $400-1,200 for replacing shingles over 50-150 square feet. This covers small storm damage areas or sections damaged by fallen branches. Includes material, labor, and disposal of damaged shingles.
Major storm damage: Varies widely from $1,000 to $5,000+ depending on how much of your roof was affected. Extensive damage requiring multiple tarps, significant debris removal, or structural assessment costs more. These larger emergencies are almost always covered by insurance.
What Insurance Typically Covers
Most Massachusetts and New Hampshire homeowners insurance policies cover:
- Storm and wind damage from named storms, nor'easters, or high winds
- Tree damage from fallen branches that punctured your roof
- Emergency tarping and temporary repairs to prevent further damage
- Permanent repairs for covered damage after your deductible
Insurance doesn't cover wear-and-tear, old roofs that failed from age, or damage from lack of maintenance. If a storm damaged your roof, you're likely covered. If your 30-year-old roof just started leaking because it's worn out, that's not covered.
We provide insurance claim assistance including documentation, adjuster meetings, and detailed estimates. Our experience with Massachusetts and New Hampshire insurance companies helps you get fair settlements that cover necessary repairs.
After The Emergency: What Comes Next
Once we've stabilized your emergency with tarping or temporary repairs, here's what happens:
We schedule permanent repairs. Emergency fixes buy you time, but they're not permanent solutions. We work with you to schedule proper repairs when weather permits and materials arrive. Most permanent repairs happen within 1-2 weeks of emergency response.
We complete your insurance claim documentation. If you're filing an insurance claim, we provide detailed damage reports, photos, and repair estimates. This documentation helps your claim succeed and ensures you receive fair compensation for all damage.
We inspect for hidden damage. Emergency situations often reveal additional problems that weren't obvious initially. We look for secondary damage to flashing, ventilation, or underlying roof structure and include it in permanent repair plans.
We answer your questions. Roofing emergencies are stressful. We explain what happened, why it happened, what needs permanent repair, and how to prevent similar emergencies in the future. You shouldn't be confused about your own roof.
Emergency situations test both homeowners and contractors. Our goal is protecting your home first, then making proper repairs that prevent future emergencies.
Preventing Future Emergencies
Most roofing emergencies are preventable with regular maintenance:
Schedule inspections every 3-5 years. Professional inspections catch small problems before they become emergencies. Loose flashing, worn shingles, or poor ventilation all get worse over time. Find them early during scheduled inspections instead of during 2 AM storms.
Fix small problems immediately. That one missing shingle? The loose flashing you noticed last month? These turn into emergencies during the next storm. Small repairs are cheap and scheduled at your convenience. Emergency repairs are expensive and happen when it's least convenient.
Clean gutters twice yearly. Clogged gutters cause water backup that damages roof edges and creates leaks. Two hours of gutter cleaning prevents thousands in emergency roof repairs. Do it every spring and fall.
Trim trees away from your roof. Branches rubbing against shingles wear them down. Overhanging limbs break during storms and puncture roofs. Keep trees trimmed back at least 6 feet from your roof surface.
Address ice dams quickly. Ice dams are emergencies waiting to happen. If you see ice buildup at roof edges, remove it before it causes leaks. Better yet, improve attic insulation and ventilation to prevent ice dam formation.
Regular maintenance costs less than one emergency repair visit. Prevention beats panic every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How quickly can you respond to a roofing emergency?
A: For active leaks and severe damage, we typically respond within 24 hours, often same-day depending on your location and weather conditions. After major storms affecting many homes, response times may extend to 24-48 hours. We prioritize the most urgent situations first.
Q: What counts as a roofing emergency?
A: True emergencies include active leaks causing interior damage, missing shingles exposing roof deck, tree or debris damage creating holes, structural damage or sagging, and any situation where your home's interior is at immediate risk from weather exposure.
Q: How much does emergency roof repair cost?
A: Emergency tarping costs $300-800 depending on roof size. Simple leak repairs run $200-600, and small section replacements cost $400-1,200. Many emergency repairs are covered by homeowners insurance if caused by storms or sudden damage. We provide documentation to help with insurance claims.
Q: What should I do while waiting for emergency roof service?
A: Place buckets under active leaks, move furniture and valuables away from affected areas, take photos of all damage for insurance, and turn off electricity near water intrusion. Don't go on the roof yourself, especially in bad weather. Call your insurance company to report the damage.
When Disaster Strikes, We Respond
Roofing emergencies don't wait for business hours or convenient times. They happen during storms, at night, and on weekends. When you need emergency help in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, call Joe's Roofing Construction at (603) 952-1684.
We respond within 24 hours for true emergencies, provide transparent pricing, document everything for insurance claims, and perform quality repairs that solve problems permanently.
Save our number now - before you need it in an emergency.