Tag Archives: maintenance

Can You Replace Only Half a Roof? Is it a Good or Bad Idea?

Have you got a damaged, broken or leaking roof? Maybe half of your roof has seen better days, but the other half is in a good condition? Roof repairs and especially replacements can be expensive, you probably know this already.

That’s why you might be wondering whether can you replace only half a roof. After all, it makes sense if the other half is in a good condition, and doing so might save you money on repairs. But is it possible? The reality is, replacing half a roof can be difficult.

It’s sometimes possible, but this depends on a lot of factors like the sort of roof you have and a number of other variables. So while you CAN replace half a roof, it isn’t a definitive “YES” in all situations.

We need to dig a bit deeper to give you a more definitive answer. So if you want to know a bit more about replacing only half a roof, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to look at a number of factors associated with only replacing half a roof so that you can make the right choice.

Can you replace only half a roof?

While you can replace half a roof, and some roofers will do this many experts actually agree that this is generally a bad idea for your home. It might seem like a good choice, especially if half of your roof is in great condition while the other isn’t.

Many people like the idea of replacing half a roof as they think it’s going to save them money, and if you can find a roofer who’ll do it—it will. But it isn’t always the best idea. Why? Let’s have a look…

Why might you want to replace half a roof?

If a tree or something has fallen on part of a roof, you might see a lot of damage. But this might not be on ALL of your roof. That can lead many homeowners with the idea of only replacing a bit of it. That might even be why you found this article.

One reason many people want to replace half their roof is because their insurer won’t pay out the full amount of an entire roof repair or replacement. This is a big problem, and insurers often look for reasons not to pay.

Make sure you always check the small print of your home or roof insurance plan. Get the best coverage you can to make sure that any eventuality to your roof will be covered AND the whole cost will, as many roofers agree that replacing half a roof isn’t always the best idea.

If you’ve got a leak or other small damage, the good news is that you probably won’t have to replace half a roof and can just get by with partial repairs.

When can you replace or repair part of a roof?

If you’re just looking to overlay rather than tear off and replace half a roof, this might be slightly easier. Other smaller spot fixes on partial parts of a roof can be possible and more recommended as well, for smaller issues like leaks and missing shingles.

If there was a storm or periods of heavy wind and you lost some shingles, a large-scale roof repair or replacement probably isn’t necessary. That means you can get by with regular roof repairs and have new shingles put in place.

Make sure you get a qualified expert roofer to come and half a look as soon as possible so that they can advise you what to do next.

If not much damage was done to the structure or underlayment of the roof, then you might only need partial spot fixes which can be easy for your roofer to do and not too expensive for you. However, you should be aware that new shingles might not match the color of your existing roof. This is only a minor cosmetic issue rather than a structural one, though.

Other smaller damaged areas of your roof can also be patched. If a massive area on your roof, like up to half of it, is damaged, this can have further complications and mean that partial patching and re-shingling isn’t possible. In these instances, you might want to replace half a roof, but this isn’t always a good idea.

Why is replacing half a roof a bad idea?

The first reason is that the slopes of your roof will be different ages. Shingles can last from between 25 to 50 years. If you only replace half the roof, one entire slope can be a different age to the other.

While a few newer shingles is acceptable from minor repairs, having half your roof a completely different age isn’t always a great option. It’ll mean that you’ll have to replace one half of the roof much earlier.

Many roofing companies won’t actually do half roof repairs, so it could also be harder to find someone to do it. What if you can find someone now, but not when you need the other half replaced later?

A half new roof won’t look right either. While a few unmatching shingles can blend in at a distance, if you’ve got an entire half of a roof the wrong color, this can look wrong. Kind of like those cars that have a door or hood with a different paint job. This is probably something you want to avoid.

Some roofs will simply be too old or brittle to be able to withstand a partial repair. It might not even be possible for your roof design or type. Trying to fix half the roof could cause major issues to the rest of your roof.

That’s why fixing half a roof isn’t always the best idea. Make sure you consult a trusted and reliable roofer to get the best advice for your roof and situation. Always seek the advice of a professional and get multiple quotes before you start paying for costly repairs.

How Much Wind Can a Roof Withstand? Tips And Advice

Do you live in an area that suffers from extreme weather, especially winds? You might be worried about how much wind can your roof withstand. When those wind speeds really start picking up and you notice lots of extra noise in your roof, it can be a worrying time.

Try not to worry too much, but make sure you’ve got the roof you need to withstand any weather you’re likely to have.

In this article, we’re going to look at:

How much wind can a roof withstand?
How strong is your house against wind?
Roof wind damage and more.

What might affect the strength of your roof in heavy winds. Many different roof materials have different wind ratings, so we’re going to look at some of the best – along with some to avoid. We’ll also look at how to secure your existing roof during high winds to make it stronger and more able to withstand extreme conditions.

How can strong winds damage roofs?

If you live somewhere windy, you might be a bit more concerned about your roof withstanding strong gusts and more. However, often people in windy areas will have had roofs constructed with that in mind, and sometimes homes at most risk are those in areas that don’t normally get a lot of wind and are therefore not prepared.

Heavy winds won’t always affect all of your roof, and the edges will be at the most risk. That’s where problems can start and grow from. Wind pressure will be much stronger at the edges of your roof, so that’s where most damage is likely to be.

As winds hit your roof, your shingles or slates might start to lift around the edges. They could also begin to separate or shift apart. As the winds pick up, shingles could fly off or fall away from your roof.

This could be dangerous to passers by, so you’ll need to be careful. Shingles falling off could also leave your roof even more exposed to the wind and other weather conditions like rain.

Even small holes can cause serious problems in your roof and can extend to the rest of your home. When the protection is gone, wind, rain and more can cause havoc in your roofing area. Missing shingles could be an indication that you need a complete roof replacement, or at least extensive repairs.

Wind isn’t only responsible for damaging your roof directly, it can also carry debris onto it. This, in turn, can damage your roof further, like when large branches puncture the exterior of your roof or leaves block your guttering to cause roof floods and overflowing.

This might seem like a minor issue, but overflowing gutters can actually affect the foundation of your home, so it’s something that should be avoided at all costs.

How do you check your roof for damage after strong winds?

Whenever it’s really windy, you want to keep extra vigilant and make sure you check your roof regularly. However, only go up onto your roof when it is not windy, and when it’s not likely to be.

Always put safety first when checking your roof, use the right safety equipment, and get a professional local roofer to do it if you’re not sure you can do the job with 100% safety.

When looking for damage after heavy winds, look closely at the shingles and make sure they are all still in place. Missing shingles is a big problem, but you also want to check existing shingles to see how well secured they are. Make sure the nails securing shingles are still tightly in place and everything else seems normal.

Also keep a look out for curling or damaged shingles, mold, decay or any other issues. Especially splitting. If you don’t want to do this yourself, you can get a roofing company to check for you.

Many of these will go up and have a look for free, as they might try and sell you a cleaning job. This is a good way to get your roof checked without spending any money, but make sure you’re sure that the work they offer to carry out is necessary before agreeing. You might want to get second and third opinions before you agree to anything.

How can you prevent, maintain and strengthen your roof?

While all roofs do get damaged over time, you can help put in place some preventative measures to keep your roof in good shape for many years. Make sure you check your roof regularly to see if there are any issues, as spotting something early could help stop further damage and bigger repair costs.

1. As we’ve seen, keeping gutters and overflows clear is important, so you might want to do this yourself after heavy winds, if it’s safe to do so. Check regularly even if you haven’t noticed much wind recently.

2. Make sure the edges of your roof are secure at all times, as this is where the wind hits first. If they aren’t, secure them temporarily and then get a professional to come and help.

3. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, your roof must be strong enough at all times to withstand a heavier load. Make sure weight is spread evenly over your roof as uneven loads can cause leaks and damage to both your roof and home.

4. Make sure you keep any nearby trees in order so that branches don’t grow over your roof and fall onto it. Make sure the sealant between shingles is strong enough and kept in place at all times. Some sealant doesn’t form the correct bond at low temperatures, so you’ll need to make sure you use the right material for your local area.

Regularly checking your roof is important, especially if you live somewhere that gets a lot of wind. If you notice a problem, get it fixed as soon as possible and call out professional help. It’s a good idea to have a competent roofer that you’re happy with on-call, so you can phone them up when you need them.

We hope this article helped you figure out how much wind can a roof withstand and if your roof is strong enough to hold in the next storm.

How to Get Rid of Ice Dams Fast. 4 Easy Tips

If you live somewhere that suffers particularly cold winters, you might be used to seeing ice dams in the local area. You should know that if you see this appear on your roof, you need to get rid of them as quickly as possible.

Ice can cause severe damage to your roof, even if it has been built for cold-weather climates. If you live somewhere that doesn’t normally get this sort of weather, you need to get rid of them even more quickly as your roof might not be as strong as it could be.

Ice dams are risky to your roof because they put a lot of additional weight on the structure. This can cause problems with your roof. Ice can also cause leaks and will obviously lead to a lot of liquid when the ice melts. Ice is particularly problematic on flat roofs but it’s also a problem on all common pitched roofs in cold locations.

How to get rid of ice dams fast

If you’ve got issues with ice and want to know what to do about it, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’re going to look at some of the best ways on how to get rid of ice dams fast on your roof so that you can preserve the integrity of your roof and get back to normal.

Not only that, we’ll also have a look at some long-term solutions as well as preventative measures to stop it happening again.

Why do ice dams form?

Ice dams form in cold weather (below freezing), as you can probably imagine, but they’re mainly the result of snow that’s melted and then refrozen. A lot of the time, they form because of poor ventilation.

Ventilation from a warm roof can make snow melt and cause droplets, which then refreeze as they fall off the roof overhang and have moved away from the warmth of the roof. This refreezing creates a barrier that stops any more water running down the roof and the ice continues to build up.

How to get rid of ice on roofs immediately

While this sort of ice build-up needs longer-term care like making sure ventilation is fixed (which we’ll look at shortly), you probably want to know how to get rid of recently formed ice straight away, to prevent further damage to your roof. Let’s have a look…

One of the most obvious choices is with a hatchet or ice pick. Simply pick away at the ice and remove it steadily and carefully. You could also use a crowbar for this. Make sure you don’t chip away any parts of your roof, and be careful. Climbing up on your roof is dangerous at the best of times, but especially in icy weather. So be extremely careful, make sure you’ve got the right safety equipment and know what you’re doing.

Another option is to use a chemical de-icer. This is similar to the sort you get for cars. They can contain a range of different chemicals, but their job is to slowly melt the ice with a chemical reaction. Again, be careful when getting up onto your roof and applying the de-icer. Some de-icers might be able to be applied from distance without actually getting onto your roof, so these might be a good option. Another way to get de-icer on your roof without getting up on the roof is by filling net bags and throwing them up there. This might not provide the whole coverage and isn’t the best solution, but it could work with smaller amounts of ice.

A cheaper (and easier to apply) option could be using a hose to spray warm water. This can melt the ice, just make sure the water is hot enough to not cool down and form ice itself, as this could make the problem even worse.

The best option might be to hire a professional firm to come in and take care of your ice problems, The right roofing companies will have experience doing this safely, so you can sit back and relax while they take care of it.

How to prevent ice in the long-term

Now that you’ve actually removed the initial ice, you might want to make sure this doesn’t happen again so you don’t have to keep doing it. Waiting for the ice to form before removal isn’t a great idea, as you’ll be risking ice forming that’s too hard to remove or ultimately roof damage occurring from the weight of the ice.

To prevent ice forming before it happens, there are a few things you need to look at. Firstly, this sort of ice is formed from melted snow, so the first step is to make sure snow doesn’t form or stay around on your roof. In some areas with a lot of snow, this might require a steeper pitch.

Reroofing can be expensive, so there are a few other things you can do first. Try removing snow quickly as soon as it falls. Remove anything on the roof that might be stopping the snow falling off easily. Dislodge large clumps of snow before it has a chance to cause damage to your roof by turning to snow.

Ice dams like this are normally the result of poor ventilation. That’s because the snow melts from roof heat and then re-freezes as it falls away from the heat. The solution to this is better ventilation.

You could have a system whereby the outside of the roof doesn’t get warm enough to melt the snow. However, this isn’t really the best option since heated roofs are one of the best ways of clearing both snow and ice.

A better idea is to have enough warmth that the snow doesn’t refreeze as it moves away from your roof. Heated cables around the edges of your roof would mean that the melted snow would simply fall off the roof as water rather than refreezing. That’s one of the best long-term options for keeping your roof clear of ice and preventing long term damage,

How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement

Are you staring down a roofing problem, worried about how much it’s going to cost to fix it? Minor leaks and missing asphalt shingles are usually no big deal, but what about something like hail damage or a hole in your roof? Who is going to pay for that? If you’re wondering whether your insurance company covers a large repair or how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement, then you’re in the right place! Let’s explore what normally must happen for insurance to cover repairs and what you can do to speed the claims approval process along.

Sure, everyone’s first priority with a damaged roof is safety. You always want to be safe under any roof. It doesn’t matter if it’s the office you work in, a retail store you own, or your house. You want to feel safe.

When a tree falls into your roof or some other major issue comes along, roof replacement is often the best course of action. When that’s the only option, people naturally wonder how much things will cost.

Frequently, emergency roof repairs or roof replacement are unplanned expenses. Especially when a storm causes damage, people don’t have time to plan for what is potentially a project that will cost thousands of dollars.

Thankfully, most people and businesses have homeowner’s insurance that, ideally, comes through when it matters most. What we are here to discuss today is how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement.

Read on to find out how to know when insurance covers your roof repairs and what else you need to know.

Choosing the Right Roofing Company

Working with an experienced roofing company is one of the best ways to move quickly through the insurance process.

Your roof is a critical part of your property. Replacing it or managing repairs often represents a significant investment of time and money. Having the right crew there to manage through your hole patching or a roof replacement is a must.

The most important thing with any roof repair is getting it done right. You want quality over speed and cost. Ideally, you’ll find an experienced roofing company with a good mix of quality, speed, and price to get your roof back online fast at an affordable cost.

Here are some ways to find a good local roofing company near you:

Read Online Reviews – Online reviews aren’t the only indicator you should use, but they are a good place to start. Pay more attention to a pattern of bad reviews than a long list of good ones. Avoid any company with a string of customers complaining about bad faith pricing or poor overall experiences. Find a handful of companies with good track records and start making calls.
Get Estimates – Good roofing companies will be happy to give you a pricing range over the phone based on the size of your roof and the damage you describe. They’ll be quick to tell you, however, that it may differ from what they see in person. They will send a roofer to your house or commercial property to take a look and quote you on roof replacement.
How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement – Ask them about whether they can help you with your insurance provider. Some companies may not offer roof insurance claims help. If it’s a priority, then hire a company willing to help with the process.

Talking to Your Insurance Company

A lot of homeowners are surprised when the roofing company brings up the insurance option. We pay for insurance policies year after year. At a certain point, it’s automatic and viewed as simply being part of our mortgage payment.

However, your homeowner’s insurance is there for a reason, and you should call upon your policy when the conditions are right.

Talking to your insurance company after you discover the damage and before repairs begin is the way to go. Here’s what you should discuss:

The extent and cause of the damage
How much coverage do you have?
The claims process
Documentation you need
How to manage repairs with a local roofing company
If the repairs will affect future premiums

The last item is the most important in many cases. Property owners must weigh whether increased premiums are worth using your insurance.

In some instances, there is no other choice. You have to repair your roof. If, however, you have the money on hand to pay out of pocket, then you should take a look at how much using your insurance will increase your premiums, if at all.

How to Get Insurance to Pay for Roof Replacement – The Basics

As we’ve already touched on, once you’ve found out how your roof got damaged, you can start looking at the small print in your insurance policy. Make sure the specific type of damage source is covered, and especially make sure the roof is included as part of your building insurance.

Before you make any calls, it’s probably a good idea to break out your policy documents or find them online. There, you’ll find a list of the things your homeowner’s insurance policy covers and what it doesn’t cover.

Things like regular wear and tear on your roof may not be eligible for coverage. There are generally accepted life expectancies for roofs. If your roof is as old or older than the lifespan range listed, then you may have to pay for roof replacement out of pocket.

However, insurance companies cover roof replacement in many instances, including:

Storm Damage
Hail Damage
Falling Trees
Lightning Strikes
Fires
& More

Insurance providers won’t cover things like water damage or wind damage. This is usually specific to where you live, and if you want coverage, you’ll typically pay more for it beforehand. It’s not something you can go back and say you want after the fact.

Assessing the Damage

Getting to the root cause of the damage is a must. How do you know how a massive hole appeared in your roof when you couldn’t see it from the street? Unfortunately, these things happen all of the time.

Here are some ways you can assess the damage:

Talk to a roofing company over the phone about what’s going on
Schedule a professional roof inspection
Call your insurance provider and describe what’s happening
Try to get a visual yourself

A professional inspection is probably the way to go because they can best tell you what caused the damage.

Once you know what caused the damage, then you can go to your insurance provider and let them know what happened. If it’s covered in your policy, then you can get the claims process started.

How to Get Insurance to Cover Roof Replacement – Filing Your Claim

File your claim before paying for any repairs.

If you repair your roof first and then call your insurance provider asking for coverage, there may be a problem.

You need approval from your provider first if you want them to cover roof replacement. They may also have roof companies they partner with that are in the area. Your policy could stipulate that you work with them if you want insurance to cover the repairs.

Here’s how the claims process typically works:

The Call -Depending on the situation, your first call will be to either your insurance company or local roofing service. If, for example, you discover a massive leak in your roof, your first step should be to schedule emergency repairs. Then you can call your provider.
The Inspection – After the call, roofers will inspect your roof. They’ll examine the extent of the damage and assess the cause. If your roof is relatively new or damaged by circumstances out of your control, then you’re likely eligible for coverage.
Filing Your Claim – Your insurance provider will require documentation and a declarations page before paying for repairs. This is sometimes a frustrating process that can take longer than you expect. A good roofing company will know what insurance providers need and how to speed up the process.
Approval – You may have to go back and forth a few times before approval. Once that happens, repairs can proceed, and your provider will typically work directly with your roofing company on payment.

This is a general overview of the insurance claims process. Your experience may vary based on where you live, your policy, the damage to your roof, and the insurance provider.

The Payment Process

Some insurance companies will give you the freedom to choose who repairs your roof. Others will require you to solicit multiple quotes, and they will then choose which company can handle the roof replacement.

In either case, you should get multiple quotes and communicate closely with your provider to guarantee you’re following the right steps. Whether you end up handing the check from the insurance company to your roofing service or your provider pays them directly, your policy should handle the total cost of the repairs or replacement when eligible.

Preparing for Resistance from Your Insurance Company

Remember, insurance companies exist to make profits. They aren’t here to help you. Yes, they provide a service, but they don’t make money if they pay every claim that comes their way.

Expect to go through what can be a rigorous process. When speaking to adjusters and customer service representatives, expect some pushback. They’ll question you and may even deny your claim the first time you file.

This is normal. Don’t lose heart. Persistence is how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement. You may go through several rounds of documentation before repairs proceed.

Keep at it and demand the service that you deserve.

How to Work on a Steep Roof. Safety Tips For Steep Roof Repairs

If you’ve got a particularly steep roof and need to get onto it to either clean or repair, you might be wondering where to start. if you haven’t done this sort of work before, it’s important that you follow safety guidelines and never rush your work.

While all roof work can be dangerous, it can be especially hard to work on a steeper pitched roof. If you want to know how, then you’re in the right place.

In this article, we’re going to look at how to work on a steep roof and some of the issues around a steeper roof as well as some tips on how to safely work on one.

There’s a reason why homes have pitched roofs, and why some roofs are steeper than others—and it might be important to find out a bit more about these reasons before you start working on them.

As with all roof work, safety is your number one concern. We’re going to look at the sort of equipment you’ll need as well as some more tips to help you get the job done effectively. Never take short cuts or compromise on safety.

How to work on a steep roof – The benefits of pitched roofs

If every roof was flat, there’d be a lot more leaks and water damage. Pitched roofs are there for a reason, they help the flow of rainwater and even snow to move away from the roof. otherwise it would settle in a puddle. Over time these puddles can cause rot, mildew and other issues. They also create issues with leaks. While some industrial buildings have flat roofs, these don’t have people living in them.

Some home builders have started installing flat roofs to homes. This can be ok in areas that don’t get much rain or snow, or if special guttering and other drainage is put in place. Otherwise, for most standard homes in normal areas, you need a pitched roof.

Why some homes have steeper roofs

While pitched roofs are important, you might have noticed some roofs are much steeper than others. This is for a few reasons. Firstly, local building codes might require a specific pitch amount. Some homes will have higher pitched roofs because they like the aesthetic, while others might have a larger room underneath the roof if it’s in a roof conversion.

An even steeper pitched roof might also be beneficial to homes as it helps water run off much faster. This is especially useful in areas that get a lot of rain where a standard pitch might not do the job well enough.

A steeper pitch can also reduce the risk of ice damage in the winter. Another benefit of a steeper pitch is that you can get more UV to your roof if you’ve got solar panels. You’ll also have more choice of roofing materials on a steeper roof.

While there are clearly some benefits to steeper roofing, it doesn’t make them easier to work on. If you want to know how to work on a steep roof, let’s have a look:

How to work on a steep roof

As we touched on earlier, safety should always be your number one priority with all roofs, especially steep ones. If you haven’t carried out this sort of work before or aren’t sure if you can do a safe job, then hire a team of experts instead.

Get the right equipment

If you do decide to carry out the work yourself, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right safety equipment. Let’s have a look at what you need…

Scaffolding

You probably need to know what you’re doing here, but scaffolding can help you get up to the side of your roof more safely without actually standing on the roof itself. If this works for the type of roof job you’re going to be doing, then it could be a good option.

Scaffolding can be good for roof inspections and other similar jobs where you don’t necessarily have to stand on the roof itself, although it can be an expensive and time-consuming option just for this.

Roof harness

If your roof is really steep, it might not be possible to even use scaffolding. If you know what you’re doing, you can use a roof harness to help you. Harnesses generally come with a rope, anchor and harness, along with an adjustable lanyard.

Anchor the harness in-place carefully using lag bolts into the rafters of the roof. This keeps you extra secure. Adjust the tension in the rope with the lanyard as you move across the roof.

Harnesses are a good option, but remember that you’ll need to re-anchor it if you need to move too far away. You’ll need to be extremely careful when anchoring the harness as you won’t have any support at that point. You should never try and carry out any work or move across the roof quickly before anchoring the harness.

Roof jacks

These are also sometimes known as brackets and can be purchased from many DIY stores. Fix the brackets in place and then nail a wooden board to them. These can help you walk across sections of your roof carefully as long as they are secured in place properly. Each jack is made to fit to the underside of the top layer of shingles.

Ladders

The standard piece of equipment for most roof work is a set of ladders. Make sure you’ve got someone to hold the bottom and only work steadily and carefully. Never use ladders if they aren’t in a secure and safe place. Ladders can be acceptable to get to the bottom side of a roof but you might need other equipment to do more advanced work on a steep roof.

2. Check the conditions

Never do roof work when it’s raining or windy. Make sure you’ve checked the forecast and only attempt roof work, especially on steep roofs, when the conditions are acceptable.

3. Work safely and methodically

Don’t rush your roof job. Always work safely, slowly and securely, Make sure you’re in full control at all times.

4. Get supervision

If you need help, ask an expert to supervise you. You could even hire a roofing firm to do the whole job if necessary.

Emergency Roof Repair – How To Handle It The Right Way

Think you’ve got an emergency roof repair and need to know what to do next? You’re in the right place. This article should only take a few minutes to read and should point you in the right direction of fixing your roof emergency as soon as possible.

Even if you don’t have a roof emergency right now – it could still be a good idea to familiarize yourself with what to do, just in case.

Just like roofs, roof emergencies can come in many shapes and sizes. Diagnosing the problem quickly can be half the problem, but getting someone on site and fixing it as soon as possible should also be a priority. Some roofing emergencies you might actually be able to fix yourself, but only if you’re careful and work safely.

What is considered an emergency roof repair?

There are a number of different types of roofing emergencies. Obviously, if part of your roof has clearly blown or fallen off – this is one of the most extreme roofing emergencies and you’ll need to get it fixed as soon as possible.

Within hours or days if you can. The one thing about this type of roofing emergency is that while it is serious – it’s also easy to spot. And rare. Some other roofing problems should still be considered emergencies and might be slightly less obvious. So what are they?

One of the most common types of roofing emergencies is a leak, or especially multiple leaks. These are also serious, but they’re also less easy to spot. You might only notice when it starts raining.

You’ll still need to get your leaks looked at by a professional as soon as possible, but you can apply temporary stops or leakage fillers in the meantime. If it’s not raining, repairs might not be quite as urgent, but you should still treat them as a priority.

Leaks will often be easy to find if you follow the flow of the water in your roofing cavity or loft. Again, this will only be clear if it’s raining or has been recently (or possibly snowing). Finding a leak in dry weather can be slightly more difficult, but you can aim a hose up on your roof and follow where the leakage goes.

You can consider your roof problems an emergency if they present a hazardous risk to you or anyone else. If slates or tiles are falling off regularly, this is a dangerous risk to people’s safety and should be considered an emergency. You need to make sure they are all secured as soon as possible.

Many minor issues can become more serious if they are left to develop by themselves. While you might think your minor roof issue isn’t serious, you need to get it fixed as soon as you become aware of it, or it could become more serious and turn into an emergency.

Who should you call?

Generally, you should have an emergency roofer’s details so you can call them at any time. Often, this might be the firm that installed the roof in the first place. One important thing to remember when going back to your original roofing firm is to be careful if the emergency is a result of their poor work.

If they didn’t install the roof properly in the first place, can they be relied upon to fix it properly now?

However, if the damage or emergency are a result of extreme weather or general wear and tear in the age of an old roof, your best bet might be to go back to who first installed the roof if possible, as they will know exactly how it was constructed and what issues there might be.

If you need to find a new roofing company to fix the issue, you’ll want to make a quick decision but still not a hasty one. Make sure you hire a firm that’s local enough that they can get to your home quickly to fix your emergency.

How can your roof emergency be fixed?

Fixing your roof issue will depend on the actual problem. Leakages can be fixed relatively easily. You might even want to try doing this yourself. Even finding the exact location of the leak yourself could save your roofer time and reduce costs.

If you want to apply sealant to the roof yourself, you can do it if you’re careful – especially when working externally.

For major roof issues like parts of the roof falling or being blown off, you will obviously need professional help. Some roofs can be part-fixed or relayed, or potentially overlaid. In extreme emergencies the whole roof might need to be removed and replaced. This will obviously be costly, but it is rare.

For falling tiles and shingles, you might need to get a professional to look over the whole roof and fix them one at a time. Hopefully, only a few were loose – but this isn’t always the case.

How much might it cost?

As you can probably guess, the costs will vary a lot depending on what needs done. Fixing a leak is generally a low-cost repair job. Getting someone on-site quickly might cost you a bit more, but many leaks can be fixed relatively easily.

If you have multiple leaks, there might be a more deep-rooted problem with the membrane of your roof which could require a more costly repair. Holes or serious damage to your roof will obviously cost a lot more to repair.

How to prevent roofing emergencies

If you take more care on your roof at all times, these roof emergency repairs will be less likely to occur. Make sure you check your roof thoroughly once a year and fix any minor issues before they become serious. Make sure you use a high-quality roofer for all your roofing work, so that poor workmanship doesn’t lead to problems.

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