Emergency Roofing: What Counts as a Roof Emergency and What to Do

It's 2am and water's dripping through your ceiling. Is this an emergency or can it wait until morning?

Here's how to tell the difference between "call someone now" and "call someone Monday."

What Actually Counts as a Roof Emergency

Call immediately (like, right now):

Active water intrusion during or after weather. Not a slow drip you've had for weeks. Water actively pouring or streaming into your home.

Structural damage you can see. Sagging ceiling. Visible holes. Daylight coming through where it shouldn't.

Fire or severe wind damage that's exposed your home's interior. If your roof deck is visible from inside, that's an emergency.

Complete shingle blow-off on a large section. We're talking 10+ square feet of exposed underlayment or bare wood.

Not an emergency (handle it this week, not tonight):

One or two missing shingles on an otherwise intact roof. Your underlayment is designed to handle this temporarily.

Small leak in your attic that you just noticed. If it's not actively raining and the leak isn't getting worse, this can wait for business hours.

Old roof that needs replacement. Yes, it's important. No, it's not a middle-of-the-night emergency.

Clogged gutters causing overflow. Annoying? Yes. Emergency? No.

The Middle Ground (Call First Thing Tomorrow)

You found significant damage but it's not currently raining. Roof is exposed but you can tarp it safely from inside (attic access).

Wind lifted shingles without tearing them off completely. They're flapping but still somewhat attached.

You have interior water damage but the active leak has stopped (storm passed, roof is dry).

For these situations, get on the phone first thing in the morning. Don't wait until Monday if it's Saturday.

What to Do Right Now (Before the Roofer Arrives)

Stop the interior damage first.

Move furniture away from wet areas. Put down buckets. Lay out towels or tarps to protect flooring.

Don't bother trying to mop up water while it's still leaking. You're fighting a losing battle. Contain it instead.

Locate the leak source (if safe).

Go into your attic with a flashlight. Look for water coming through the deck. Often the ceiling stain is 3-5 feet away from the actual roof penetration because water runs along rafters.

Mark the spot with painter's tape or chalk. This helps the contractor when they arrive.

Do NOT climb on your roof at night, in the rain, or in the wind.

We mean it. Every year Richmond homeowners end up in the ER trying to tarp their own roofs in bad weather.

If you absolutely must tarp (middle of the night, contractor can't come until morning, water is destroying valuables), work from inside the attic if possible. Push a tarp up through the damaged area and weight it down.

Better yet: call us. We do middle-of-the-night emergency tarping for active leaks.

When to Call Fire Department vs Roofer

Call 911 if:

Fire damage to roof (obviously)
Tree has fallen through the roof
Powerlines are down on your roof
Structural collapse or imminent danger
Anyone is injured

Fire department will make the scene safe. They don't fix roofs.

Call a roofer if:

Weather damage without structural danger
Active leak but no fire/collapse risk
You need emergency tarping to protect interior
Assessment and repair (not life safety)

Finding Emergency Help at 3AM

This is where most Richmond homeowners get into trouble.

You Google "emergency roofer near me" and call the first number. They say "we'll be there in an hour" and quote $1,500 to tarp your roof. You agree because you're desperate.

They show up, throw a tarp over the damaged area, collect cash, and leave. Next wind storm? Tarp blows off. You can't find them again because they're based in North Carolina and only came to Richmond after the storm.

Better approach:

Call local roofing companies even if their website doesn't say "24/7 emergency." Many of us respond after hours for existing customers and real emergencies, we just don't advertise it to avoid scam calls.

Look for companies with physical Richmond addresses, Google reviews going back years, and Virginia contractor licenses.

If you're calling a number that only works after storms, that's a red flag.

What Emergency Roofing Actually Costs

Emergency tarping: $300-900 depending on roof size, accessibility, and time of day.

Midnight on a Sunday in a thunderstorm? You're paying premium rates. That's fair. Someone's leaving their family to climb on your wet roof.

Tuesday afternoon after a storm? Should be cheaper.

Some companies include emergency tarping in the final replacement cost if you hire them. Some charge separately. Ask before they start work.

Emergency repairs: $500-2,000 for temporary fixes that get you through to permanent repairs.

This might include:

Replacing a few shingles
Temporary flashing repairs
Sealing obvious penetration points
Installing temporary protection

Emergency replacement: Some damage is so severe you can't wait. Full emergency replacement (starting within 24-48 hours) costs the same as regular replacement but you pay a scheduling premium to jump the line.

Normal replacement: $9,000-25,000 for typical Richmond home. Emergency replacement: Add 10-20% for expedited scheduling.

Common Emergency Roofing Scams

"I was driving by and noticed damage on your roof."

No legitimate contractor randomly knocks on doors. Especially not right after a storm.

"We can start today but I need 50% down in cash."

Walk away. Legitimate emergency work requires maybe 10-20% deposit, and they take checks or cards.

"Your whole roof is about to collapse, sign now."

Scare tactics. Get a second opinion before signing anything.

"I'll waive your insurance deductible."

That's insurance fraud. If they're willing to break the law on billing, imagine what corners they cut on your roof.

How We Handle Emergency Calls

Phone rings at 11pm. You've got water coming through the dining room ceiling.

First question: "Is anyone injured or in danger?" If yes, we tell you to call 911 first.

Second: "Is water actively coming in right now?" If yes, we talk you through immediate steps (buckets, move furniture, find the source if safe).

Third: "Can it be stabilized until morning or do we need to come tonight?"

If you need someone tonight, we come tonight. We're Richmond-based, not storm chasers from out of state.

We tarp it properly (not the "$500 tarp that blows off tomorrow" method). We document the damage with photos. We give you a written estimate for permanent repairs. And we work with your insurance company if you're filing a claim.

If it can safely wait until 7am, we schedule first thing in the morning and save you the after-hours premium.

Insurance and Emergency Repairs

Most policies cover emergency repairs to prevent further damage.

That means tarping costs are typically reimbursed. Keep receipts.

But check with your insurance company before doing major emergency work. Some policies require pre-approval for repairs over $1,000.

The exception: genuine life safety issues. Don't wait for insurance approval if your roof is actively collapsing. Fix it, document it, submit it later.

Richmond-Specific Emergency Considerations

Spring thunderstorms (March-May): We get calls about wind damage and hail. These usually happen during business hours or early evening. Response time is good because contractors are expecting storm season.

Summer storms (June-August): Afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Fast-moving, intense, but localized. If your neighborhood got hit, expect contractor delays as everyone calls simultaneously.

Hurricane remnants (September-October): These are forecasted days in advance. If you know a big storm is coming and your roof is already marginal, get it checked before the storm. Preventive work is cheaper than emergency work.

Ice storms (December-February): Rare in Richmond but devastating when they hit. Ice dams and weight loads can cause emergency situations. Contractors are stretched thin because we don't deal with this often.

After the Emergency is Stabilized

You've got a tarp on the roof. Water's stopped. Now what?

Get a proper inspection in daylight. Emergency response at night misses details. Have someone come back during the day to assess full damage.

File insurance within 48 hours if damage is significant.

Get 2-3 estimates for permanent repairs. Don't just hire whoever did the emergency tarp. They might be great, but get competitive bids.

Don't wait too long. Tarps are temporary. They're designed to last a few weeks, maybe a couple months if well-installed. They're not a long-term solution.

Questions to Ask Your Emergency Roofer

Before they come out:

"What's your Virginia contractor license number?" (Verify on DPOR website)

"Do you carry insurance?" (They're climbing on your roof at night. If they fall and aren't insured, you're liable.)

"What do you charge for emergency service?" (Get a number before they arrive.)

"Are you local or did you come in after the storm?" (Local = accountability)

When they arrive:

"What's the minimum to stop water intrusion?" (Sometimes it's a $200 tarp, not a $2,000 repair.)

"What should permanent repair cost?" (Ballpark is fine, but you need context.)

"Can this wait until morning/business hours?" (Good contractors will tell you if something truly isn't an emergency.)

What's NOT an Emergency

We've had homeowners call at midnight for:

Old roof that's been leaking for 3 years. It's been a problem for a long time. Another 8 hours won't matter.

Estimate requests. "Can you come give me a quote tonight?" No. We'll schedule that for a reasonable hour.

Preventive maintenance questions. "My roof is 15 years old, should I replace it?" Important question. Not an emergency.

Cosmetic damage with no active leak. Missing shingles that happened last week and haven't caused leaks aren't urgent.

If you're not sure whether your situation is an emergency, call and ask. We'd rather answer questions at midnight than have you make a bad decision about whether to wait.

Bottom Line

Real roof emergencies have three things in common: active damage, immediate risk, and time-sensitive response needed.

One missing shingle found on Monday morning? Not an emergency.

Water pouring through your ceiling during a storm? Emergency.

When in doubt: Is it getting worse right now? Is it causing damage to your home's interior? Can you safely wait 8-12 hours?

If the answers are yes, yes, and no, call immediately.

Emergency roof situation? Call (804) 238-7837. Richmond-based, properly insured, and we'll tell you honestly if it can wait until morning.