Emergency Roof Repair: What To Do Right Now

Active roof intrusion compounds damage every hour it continues. Wet drywall, wet insulation, mold growth within 48 hours, and electrical hazards around wet fixtures — the damage total after 24 hours of ignored leak is often 3–5x the damage from the first hour. Here's the prioritized checklist for what to do right now, plus what to document for insurance.

First hour: stop the damage

1. If there's active leaking into interior: move furniture, valuables, and electronics away from drip zones. Put buckets or towels under active drips.
2. Turn off electricity to affected rooms if water is near light fixtures, outlets, or ceiling fans. Water + electricity is a serious hazard.
3. Document with photos and video. Water actively dripping, damaged drywall, damaged belongings. Timestamps on photos matter for insurance.
4. Call for emergency tarping. (210) 504-1295 — we offer same-day response during business hours and next-morning response for after-hours calls across the San Antonio metro.
5. Do NOT climb on the roof during active weather. Wet roofs with wind present are dangerous. Tarping during an active storm is a professional job.

First 24 hours: mitigate and document

1. Get a professional tarp installed over the damaged area. Cost: $350–$1,200 depending on scope and access. Often reimbursable by insurance as mitigation expense — keep the receipt.
2. Remove wet insulation from the attic above affected areas to prevent mold growth. Dispose of it.
3. Run fans and dehumidifiers in the affected room to dry out drywall, carpet, and framing.
4. Contact your insurance carrier to open a claim. Don't commit to any scope yet — just open the claim and schedule an adjuster visit.
5. Document damaged belongings separately. Furniture, electronics, clothing, personal items. Contents claims run parallel to structural claims.
6. Don't sign anything from door-knocking contractors. Storm chasers flood affected neighborhoods after events. AOB contracts transfer your claim rights — don't sign.

First week: get the permanent fix scoped

1. Get a professional inspection to determine the actual source. Ceiling stains don't indicate leak location accurately — water travels along rafters and can appear far from the actual entry point. See our leak detection guide.
2. Scope the permanent repair or replacement. Written estimate with line-item pricing. If damage is extensive, this may require the adjuster meeting first.
3. Coordinate with your insurance adjuster. For significant damage, wait for adjuster scope before authorizing permanent work. For minor damage, repair quickly and save the receipts.
4. Schedule drying and interior repairs only after roof is permanently repaired. Otherwise you're repairing something that will leak again.

When emergency tarping is worth the cost

Emergency tarping runs $350–$1,200 for residential work. It's worth it when:

• Active intrusion is ongoing or imminent (rain in forecast)
• Permanent repair can't happen within 48 hours
• Interior finish damage exceeds $500 per day of continued intrusion
• Insurance claim is pending and permanent work requires adjuster approval first

Most homeowner insurance policies reimburse emergency tarping as mitigation expense (required under most policies — failing to mitigate can be grounds for coverage denial). Keep the receipt.

What to avoid during an emergency

• Don't sign AOB contracts. Out-of-state operators will pitch them hard after storms. They transfer your claim rights. We never ask you to sign one.
• Don't take deductible-waiver offers. Illegal in Texas (Insurance Code § 27.02). Class B misdemeanor. Any contractor offering this is exposing you to fraud liability.
• Don't commit to replacement before inspection. The damage may be much smaller than it looks, or it may qualify for a different claim type than first assumed.
• Don't climb on a wet, windy, or damaged roof. Leave that to professionals with safety equipment.