Emergency Roof Repair: Some Crucial Tips
There are a lot of things that can go wrong with a house. Some of these unfortunate events can be more common than others. It is likely, for example, that at some point you’ll have to have some plumbing work done for a leaky sink. A serious problem with your roof, however, can be a home-owning catastrophe. Whether from a fallen tree of a hurricane, if you find yourself with a hole in your roof, you need to take swift action. Follow our tips below for emergency roof repair!
Cover the Hole
No matter what the cause of the hole is, your first concern should be preventing any further damage. Get a sturdy tarp and cover the hole fully. You want to prevent any debris from entering into the house. You especially want to prevent any moisture from getting into the house or under the exposed shingles. Getting mold in your roof can make a bad situation even worse. Make sure the tarp is held down securely!
Document the Damage
The next thing you’ll want to do is document and photograph the damage. The more information(and the quicker) you can give your insurance company the better. The sooner they have the information, the sooner they can begin processing the claim. Speaking of…
Contact Your Insurance Company
Contact your insurance company as soon as you can! They’ll need a description of the damage, as well as the pictures you’ve(hopefully) taken. Your insurance company will be able to tell you what your policy covers, and this will aid you in your decisions regarding how to proceed with repairs. Generally, an insurance company will send an inspector out to verify the extent of the damage. This protects them from false claims, and also helps to better assess what you may need.
Repair Damaged Shingles
If you can safely do so, you can reaffix loose shingles around the edge of the hole with an adhesive and roofing nails. Often, an incident which causes a hole can loosen those surrounding shingles. Tightening them can prevent further water from seeping into the roof until a full repair can be made.
Contact the Professionals
In the internet age, tackling your own home repairs can be tempting. Indeed, this can be a great way to save money. With some things, however, it’s best left to the professionals. Getting up onto your roof to repair it, especially if the damage is caused by hurricane weather or snow, is difficult enough on it’s own. Damage to a roof should be handled by an experienced roofing company. As was mentioned above, when there is a tear or hole in a roof, water getting into the roof and causing mold or further rot is a real concern. By contracting a reputable company, you’ll save yourself further headaches in the future. And, as an added benefit, you won’t need to take multiple trips up and down a ladder.
For all your roofing needs, reach out to Galaxy Construction and Roofing. Our qualified team is here to help, no matter the situation!
