Roof emergency warning signs in Seattle: when to call for emergency roof repair

Water coming through the ceiling is the clearest sign, whether it drips, stains the drywall or pools on the floor. Call the same hour you see it, because the roof deck and insulation keep absorbing water for as long as it rains.

After a wind event, look from the ground for missing shingles, lifted edges, bare patches of underlayment or flashing hanging loose at a chimney or vent. Debris on the roof, such as a fallen limb, also counts, even if nothing has leaked yet. Sagging in the roof line, daylight visible in the attic and a roof section that looks pushed in are structural signs, and you should stay out from under that part of the house.

Seattle's record is wet more than violent. The 1991-2020 normals at the Boeing Field station show 36.5 inches of precipitation a year, so a small opening has many chances to let water in.

Start with safety. If a ceiling is bulging with water, put a bucket under it and, if you can do it safely, poke a small hole to let the water drain in a controlled way instead of letting the ceiling fail. Move furniture and electronics out of the room. If water is near light fixtures or outlets, turn off power to that area at the breaker.

Do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof. From the ground or a window, take photos and video of the damage, the interior leak and any fallen debris, with the date visible if your phone records it.

Then call Roofers Hotline, which answers 24 hours a day. Describe where the water is entering and what the weather has been. Emergency tarping and leak repair is the first goal, so the house stays dry until a full repair can be scheduled.

An emergency visit is about stopping water, not finishing the job. The first step is finding where the water is getting in, which is often not directly above the stain, since water travels along rafters and decking before it shows up on a ceiling.

Once the opening is found, the damaged area is covered with a tarp or temporary seal so rain cannot get in overnight. Loose shingles, flashing and debris near the opening are secured or cleared where it is safe to do so.

You should come away with a clear picture of what was damaged and what a permanent repair involves. Roofers Hotline provides a written estimate before any work starts on that permanent repair, so you can compare it against your photos and decide on your schedule. Washington requires contractors, including roofers, to register with the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), and you can look up any license at Washington L&I.

Insurance rules are set by your policy, so read the sections on storm damage, water damage and the deductible before you make decisions. Policies often set time limits for reporting damage, and some require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further loss. Temporary tarping is commonly one of those steps, so keep the receipt and the photos you took in the first hour.

Deductibles are never waived or rebated, so expect to cover the deductible amount yourself under your policy's terms. If the repair costs less than the deductible, the policy may not apply at all.

Do not wait for a final decision from your insurer before stopping the leak. Keep damaged materials if you can, write down dates and times of the storm and your calls, and ask your insurer in writing what its reporting deadline is.