If water is coming in right now: keep people clear of the area, contain what you can, protect belongings, document as you go, and call a professional. Do not climb on the roof, especially during an active storm. HammerTime answers a 24/7 emergency line at (866) 261-8980.
First: safety, then containment
- Stay clear of a sagging or bulging ceiling. Trapped water is heavy and ceilings can give way
- Watch for electricity near water. Keep away from fixtures and wiring in the wet area; if it's safe to reach the panel, cut power to the affected circuit
- Move belongings out of the drip path: furniture, rugs, electronics, anything that shouldn't get wet
- Catch the water: buckets, trash cans, towels. Protect flooring with plastic or towels
- If the ceiling is bulging with trapped water, carefully relieve the pressure by poking a small hole with a screwdriver, with a container underneath. It sounds backwards, but a controlled drain beats a collapse
Document as you go
Photos and video of the leak, the damage to belongings, and the surrounding area, with timestamps. This record helps your contractor trace the source and helps your insurance company understand the loss. Don't wait until things are cleaned up to start.
When is emergency tarping appropriate?
- Shingles are missing or decking is exposed
- The leak is active and the roof surface can be safely accessed
- More rain is forecast and the entry point needs a temporary cover
Tarping is a professional job on a wet or storm-active roof. Never climb a roof during a storm, at night, or alone; falls from wet roofs are one of the most common storm injuries.
The stain usually is not under the leak
Water travels. It enters at a penetration, a missing shingle, or a flashing gap, then runs along rafters and decking before it finds a place to drip. The ceiling stain in your bedroom can come from a cracked pipe boot twenty feet away on the ridge. That's why tracing a leak means getting on the roof, not just looking at the stain.
When should a contractor inspect?
Active leak: immediately, to stop the water. After the storm: as soon as it's safe, before any repair talk. Here's what the visit covers:
- Locate the entry point on the roof, not just the symptom inside
- Tarp or temporary repair to stop active water intrusion
- Photo documentation of the source and the interior damage
- A plan for the permanent fix, with options
What happens during emergency mitigation
Stop the water, then keep it from turning into a bigger problem. HammerTime provides tarping, temporary repairs, and water mitigation services: assessment, drying, and remediation to protect the property from long-term damage. Water damage compounds quickly and can lead to mold and structural issues, so the hours after a leak matter more than most people expect.
For roof damage caused by a storm, once the water is stopped we document everything for the conversation with your insurance company. Your carrier decides coverage; we document, guide, and restore.
Water coming in right now?
Our emergency line is answered 24/7. We'll help you stabilize the situation tonight and plan the permanent fix.
Related Questions
What should I do if my roof starts leaking during a storm?
Stay inside, keep clear of the wet area and anything electrical near it, and contain the water with buckets and towels. Do not go on the roof in active weather; no repair is worth a fall. Call the 24/7 emergency line so a crew can respond as soon as conditions allow, and document the interior damage while you wait.
How do I find out where my roof is leaking from?
Usually not from inside. Water enters at one point, travels along the roof structure, and drips somewhere else entirely. A professional traces the stain back to the entry point with an on-roof inspection, checking penetrations, flashing, and shingle condition along the way.
When is emergency roof tarping needed, and how fast can a crew respond?
Tarping is needed when shingles are missing, decking is exposed, or active water entry needs a temporary cover until a permanent repair. Call the 24/7 line and we'll dispatch as conditions and routing allow; storms affect the whole metro at once, and we'll give you an honest window when you call.
My ceiling has water stains after rain — what does that mean?
It means water found a way in at some point: a missing or cracked shingle, a failed pipe boot, flashing, or a blocked gutter that pushed water where it shouldn't go. It may not be active right now, but the stain is evidence of a path. Find and fix the entry before repainting, or the stain returns.
How do I limit damage from a roof leak until a roofer arrives?
Contain, protect, document. Move belongings out of the drip path, catch water with containers and towels, protect flooring, cut power to wet circuits if you can reach the panel safely, and relieve a bulging ceiling with a small controlled puncture before it collapses. Photograph everything before you clean up.