Emergency Roof Repairs: What to Do the Moment Your Roof Fails
By Leonard Walton, owner & lead roofer3 min read
When a roof lets go in a storm — a slipped section, a chimney down, water coming through the ceiling — the instinct is to do something fast. The right something is to stay safe and get the water stopped, not to climb up in a gale. The priority in an emergency is to make the roof safe and watertight — stop water getting in and secure anything loose — and that's a job for an emergency roofer, not a ladder in the rain. Here's what to do and what happens next.
What to do right now
- Stay off the roof. In wind or rain it's genuinely dangerous — most serious roofing injuries are falls.
- Protect the inside. Move furniture, valuables and anything electrical out of the way, and catch drips in buckets or a bin.
- Turn off electrics to any area where water's coming through, if it's safe to reach the switch.
- Take a few photos from ground level — useful for us and for any insurance claim.
- Call an emergency roofer to make it safe, rather than attempting a fix yourself.
What we do first
The first visit is about making safe and watertight, not the finished repair. We stop water getting into the property, secure anything that's come loose so it can't cause more damage or danger, and get the situation under control. It's a deliberate temporary fix — the right move when the weather or the light won't allow a proper job yet. Once it's safe to assess, we quote the lasting repair properly, free and in writing.
How our 24/7 call-out works
Storms don't wait for Monday morning, so nor do we. Our emergency line is open any hour, any day — 07447 352091 — and the aim is simple: get to you, make the roof safe, and stop the water. You're dealing with our own team, fully insured, not a stranger sent by a call centre. And because we photograph our work, you get a clear record of the damage and what was done — invaluable if you're claiming on insurance.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do first if my roof is leaking badly?
Stay safe — keep off the roof in bad weather. Inside, move valuables and electrics out of the way and catch water in buckets. Then call an emergency roofer to make the roof safe and watertight rather than trying to fix it yourself in a storm.
How quickly can you get to an emergency?
Storm damage and active leaks don't keep office hours, and neither does our emergency line. We aim to make a roof safe and stop water getting in fast — day or night — then quote the lasting repair once it's safe to assess.
What does an emergency repair actually do?
The first job is to make safe and watertight — stopping water getting into the property and securing anything that's come loose. It's a controlled temporary fix that buys time until conditions allow the permanent repair.
Should I climb up to check the roof myself?
No — especially not in wind or rain. Most serious roofing accidents are falls. Assess from the ground, keep everyone safe inside, and let a roofer with the right access deal with the height.
Roof failed or water coming in? We run a 24/7 emergency roof repair service across Hull, Beverley, Hessle and the East Riding — make-safe fast, then a proper fixed quote. Call 07447 352091, any hour.