Roof leak

What to do now

1. Keep the room safe. If water is near lights or outlets, or the ceiling sags, keep people out of the room. Turn off the power to that area only if you can do it safely. Do not touch wet electrical equipment.
2. Catch the water. Put buckets or bins under the drips. Move furniture and valuables out of the way.
3. Take photos. Record the wet ceiling, walls, floors and things before you clean up.
4. Stay off the roof. Look at it only from the ground. Call a roofer to cover the damage with a tarp.
5. Dry out fast. The EPA says to dry wet areas and things within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold.
6. Keep every receipt. Save the receipts for the tarp and any other temporary repair.

Our guide to roof leaks and emergency tarps gives more detail, with ladder safety and the free Operation Blue Roof program after some disasters.

Will insurance pay?

It depends on the cause. A leak from a sudden event your policy covers, such as wind or hail, may be covered. A leak from wear and tear, age, poor upkeep or slow seepage usually is not. Your own policy decides.

If you plan to claim, call your insurer soon. Do not make large permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage. If a storm caused the leak, start with storm or hail damage.

Then: repair or replace

A roofer finds where the water gets in. Common spots are around the chimney, vents, skylights and valleys. A newer roof may only need a repair. An older roof may need replacement.

Ask for written findings with photos, and get more than one opinion on a big job. Our guide to roof repair or replacement explains how to decide.

Pay with care, even in a hurry. Pay by credit card or check, never by wire or cash. Do not pay everything up front, and never sign over your insurance check.

Find a roofer near you

Choose your state and city in the “Find roofers near you” box. You see the companies that list emergency roof repair on their website, or else roof repair. Where a city has neither list, you see every roofer in the city. You can also browse emergency roofing companies or roof repair contractors by city.

We check that each phone works, that the website is live and that it says the company does roofing. We do not check licenses or insurance. Check a roofer’s license and insurance before you sign.