Your roof is an integral part of your home, and it also helps protect the interior of your home from the various elements outside. We don’t realize it, but we depend more on the roof for the protection and safety it provides our home. In case of any unwanted events, the roof might require a couple of necessary fixings. Read on to know more.
The need for an emergency roof repair!
Now imagine a sudden accident that causes damage to your roof. God forbid that happens, but anything can happen anytime; who knows. How would you protect the inside of your home from any extensive damage during this roofing emergency? How do you handle an emergency roof repair? Let’s get turned all that right away.
Protect as best as possible
Whatever may be the reason for the damage caused to your home, you will be interested in minimizing interior damages as much as possible. Ensure that you’ve covered holes around the living area with waterproof materials or tarps. If the hole is huge, you have to keep buckets and other large storage containers under this hole so that the dripping water can be collected in them until the heavy storm receipts. Call up a professional roofer, especially since most of them have a 24/7 service. Of course, you should not expect them to send over any of their employees during the storm as it is quite unsafe then. Whatever happens, please remember not to climb the roof to try and repair the damage on your own.
Contact your insurance company.
Please make sure that you contact the insurance company as soon as the damage has been done to your roof. Unexpected roof damage can be quite a burden on your pocket. Since your home may be unsafe, you may have to vacate your home for a time. The insurance company under whom you are covered and insured may also have means or coverage for you to live in hotels or other living areas for as long as the roof is repaired. An adjuster from the insurance company will come to survey the damage caused to your roof and review the entire situation to determine the worth of the claim. You can always get quotes from several roofing companies and show those to your insurance company.
What to expect from a roofer
Whenever the roofer reaches your home, he will first inspect the area and look for any additional problems that may also exist. They will use strong plastic tarps to cover any holes and openings. These plastic tarps are secured tightly to protect your home from the elements. If a fire damages your house, the firefighters may have compromised the structural integrity of your roof when they were trying to douse the fire. In such a case, you may have to look for places to live for as long as the roof hasn’t been repaired or replaced.
Remain calm at all times
Whenever you have a roofing emergency, make sure to remain calm so that you can think more logically and rationally. Although it appears wrong, it may not be all that bad. A professional roofer will make you realize that. There is no use in panicking. Rather, if you keep your calm and presence of mind, you will be able to take the necessary steps rationally to see the entire emergency roof repair through.
Make sure to choose a licensed contractor.
Whenever you plan on opting for a roofing contractor to help handle an emergency roof repair, ensure that you choose one with licenses and is insured. There are companies known to run after homeowners after severe weather events. These companies are usually not at all long-term. This suddenly springs up in your neighborhood after a natural calamity and will convince all owners to use them to repair your homes. If you hired the services, their jobs and repairs would be substandard, or sometimes they may even ask for a large deposit. If you’re gullible enough to provide them with this large deposit, you’ll find them no more, especially since they vanish into thin air suddenly. Ensure that the company you choose has good references, and they can provide a genuine license, insurance certificate, and proof that they have successfully done such jobs before.
Different types of emergency roof damage
Different situations can cause damage to your roof. Shingles from the roof can be torn away by high winds. An exposed portion of the substrate can also be compromised by rain. Storms can easily blow off a part of your roof. Sometimes broken branches of leaves can hold down on your roof and cause significant damage. Again, during storms, lightning can strike and burn a hole into your roof. Squirrels and raccoons, among other wildlife, have been known to chew through the wooden structures of your roof, thereby creating holes. Sometimes these holes can be really big and large. Sometimes, fire can cause immense structural damage to the roof. This can be so bad that it may even be unsafe for you even to enter the house.
How to go about things in an emergency!
From the discussion above, you will agree that you must first ensure that you do not panic during any roofing emergency. Only when you’re calm will you be able to reason and take the steps necessary to get your roof repaired ASAP. Never try to fix the roof on your own, especially during an emergency.
Verdict Ensure that the roofing company you hire has the best references, the correct licenses, and the insurance certificates necessary to conduct a thorough emergency roof repair. It would be best to make sure that the on-site people are genuinely trained and skilled professionals and that the materials used to repair your roof are of the highest standards and quality. Even when an emergency occurs and your roof requires repair, know that it is not a tough task. Be patient and the professionals will get your roof back to normal.