Emergency Roof Repair

What 'emergency' means in roofing

Active water ingress, recently slipped or missing tiles exposing the deck, a damaged flat roof letting water in. That's what we drop other work for. Cosmetic issues or long-standing damp will be booked in like any other quote — fair to other customers.

What to do right now (before we get there)

Five things that buy you time and limit damage between your call and us arriving:

• ▸Move furniture and electronics away from the active drip — don't trust 'just a bit of damp'
• ▸Put a bucket down and pierce the bulging ceiling with a screwdriver to release trapped water — sounds wrong, but a controlled hole is much better than a collapsed ceiling
• ▸Turn off the electrics to the affected room at the consumer unit if water is anywhere near a light fitting
• ▸Don't go on the roof yourself — wet tiles and slates are lethal, and most emergency jobs we go to started as a DIY tarpaulin attempt
• ▸Photograph everything — ceilings, walls, contents — for your insurance claim

Typical emergency call-out costs

Honest pricing — we don't load 'emergency' onto the bill. Same-day visits are charged at standard rates; out-of-hours has a small premium for evening/weekend hours.

• ▸Daytime make-safe visit (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm): £150 – £250
• ▸Out-of-hours make-safe (evenings / weekends): £200 – £350
• ▸Tarpaulin / shrink-wrap make-safe: £180 – £400 depending on roof size
• ▸Re-bed of 2–6 slipped tiles from short access: £180 – £320
• ▸Internal ceiling containment & temporary catchment: £80 – £150 add-on
• ▸Make-safe cost credited against the permanent repair if you proceed with us

What we do on an emergency call-out

First visit: make safe. That usually means a temporary tarpaulin or a quick re-bed of slipped tiles to stop water entry. Then we quote and book the permanent repair within a few days.

Common emergency causes we see

Across Buckinghamshire the pattern is fairly consistent — wind events drive most call-outs.

• ▸Storm-lifted ridge tiles (sand-cement bedding finally lets go)
• ▸Slipped concrete tiles on 1960s–80s estates where nails have rusted out
• ▸Lead flashings torn back from chimney stacks in high wind
• ▸Splits in old felt flat roofs — usually at the upstand
• ▸Tree branches down on the roof — full structural make-safe needed
• ▸Blocked gutters causing overshoot under the eaves and back into the soffit

Working with your insurer

Most home policies cover sudden storm damage but not 'wear and tear' or a roof that was already failing. We write reports that distinguish the two clearly — including timestamped photos, weather data for the date of damage, and an itemised scope. That's what your insurer needs to settle.

FAQs