Emergency Roof Repair — What to Do When Your Roof Is Actively Leaking

An actively leaking roof is a home emergency. Water entering your home causes damage that compounds quickly — wet insulation, mold growth, damaged drywall, and in severe cases structural damage. Acting quickly and correctly minimizes the damage.

Here’s exactly what to do.

In the First 30 Minutes

1. Protect your interior first.
Move furniture and belongings away from the leak area. Place buckets, pots, or trash cans to catch active dripping. Lay plastic sheeting or tarps on floors and furniture that can’t be moved. If water is reaching electrical fixtures or outlets, turn off the circuit breaker for that area and do not use those outlets until the situation is resolved.

2. Contain the water source if you can safely reach it.
If water is pooling on your ceiling and the ceiling is sagging, the pooled water is putting pressure on the drywall that could cause a sudden failure. Create a small hole in the lowest point of the bulge to allow controlled drainage rather than a sudden collapse. This sounds counterintuitive but prevents larger damage.

3. Document everything.
Take photos and video of all interior water damage — ceiling, walls, flooring, affected belongings. This documentation is critical for your insurance claim. Time-stamp everything.

4. Call Alamo at (219) 248-2194 — 24/7 emergency response.
We serve Lake County, Porter County, and northern Illinois with 24/7 emergency response. We can reach most of our service area within 30-60 minutes and provide emergency tarping to stop water entry while permanent repairs are planned.

Professional inspection ensures no damage goes undetected

What NOT to Do

Do not climb on a wet roof. This is the most important safety point. Wet roofs — especially after rain or during a storm — are extremely dangerous. Roofing professionals use specific fall protection equipment. Homeowners attempting to get on a wet roof sustain serious injuries every year.

Do not attempt permanent repairs in dangerous conditions. Emergency tarping to stop water entry is appropriate. Attempting to nail down shingles or seal flashing during active rain or on a slippery surface is not.

Do not use a shop vac on ceiling water without checking for electrical hazards. If the area near the leak has any electrical components, treat the water as potentially electrically charged until the circuit is confirmed off.

Quality materials and expert installation make the difference

Emergency Tarping — What It Is and When It’s Needed

Emergency tarping involves covering the compromised area of your roof with heavy-duty poly tarps weighted and secured to prevent wind lift. It’s a temporary measure — not a repair — but it stops water infiltration while permanent repairs are planned and scheduled.

When tarping is appropriate:

• Active leak with significant water entry
• Storm-related damage that creates a large opening
• Fallen tree or limb through the roof
• Major shingle blow-off exposing the deck

Keep receipts for any emergency tarping materials you purchase — these costs are typically reimbursable under your homeowners insurance as necessary mitigation expenses.

Alamo Roofing serves Lake County, Porter County & northern Illinois

After the Emergency — Next Steps

Once the immediate water entry is controlled:

1. Contact your insurance company to open a claim. Get a claim number.
2. Schedule a professional damage assessment — Alamo will document all damage with drone photography for your insurance claim.
3. Get permanent repair or replacement scheduled — we’ll provide a written estimate and work with your adjuster.

How Fast Can Alamo Respond?

From our Portage, Indiana base:

• Crown Point, Schererville, Munster, Hammond, Hobart, Portage: 15-25 minutes
• Valparaiso, Chesterton, Michigan City: 25-45 minutes
• Lansing, South Holland, Chicago Heights, Oak Lawn: 30-45 minutes
• New Lenox, Mokena, Joliet, Lockport: 45-60 minutes

For a roofing emergency, call (219) 248-2194 any time — day or night.