Water through the ceiling or a tree on the roof? Start with safety, then request quotes from up to 3 licensed, insured local roofers, who usually reach out within 24 to 48 hours.
Prefer to talk? Call or text Ben Arp at (423) 920-4333
Takes less than 60 seconds
Roof emergencies rarely happen at a convenient time. A limb comes down in a summer thunderstorm, wind peels back a section of shingles, or a slow leak suddenly soaks through a ceiling in a heavy rain. In the first few hours the goals are simple: keep people safe, stop more water from getting in, and document everything for your insurer. This page covers what to do right away, what a temporary repair should involve, and how Tennessee law treats emergency roofing charges.
Safety comes first. If water is near light fixtures, outlets or the electrical panel, shut off power to that area at the breaker if you can reach it safely, and keep everyone out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging. A ceiling bulging with water can be relieved by poking a small hole at the lowest point over a bucket, which keeps the water from spreading across the drywall.
Move furniture and electronics, put down towels and containers, and take photos and video of the damage inside and anything visible outside. Stay off a wet or storm-damaged roof. A fall is a far bigger risk than the leak, and a roofer has the equipment to work up there safely.
The usual short-term fix is a heavy tarp over the damaged area, secured with wood battens and carried over the ridge where possible so water can't run under its top edge. A roofer may also install a temporary patch or seal around a broken vent or torn flashing until a permanent repair can be scheduled. A tarp is meant to last weeks, not seasons; sun and wind break it down, so book the permanent fix rather than living under blue plastic.
Ask what the temporary work will cost before it starts, and keep the receipt. Homeowners policies commonly expect you to protect the property from further damage, and reasonable costs for doing so are often part of the claim. Check your policy wording or ask your agent.
Tennessee's residential roofing law treats emergency work separately when a roofing contract is expected to be paid by insurance. The roofer can charge for emergency repairs you acknowledge in writing as necessary to prevent damage to your property, and that charge stands even if you later cancel the main contract after an insurance denial.
The same statute prohibits a roofer from misrepresenting that emergency repairs are needed. If someone at your door insists the whole roof has to be replaced tonight, slow down. A legitimate emergency visit focuses on stopping water, with the permanent repair or replacement quoted separately.
Summer thunderstorms are a likely culprit: the NWS office in Morristown found that wind damage becomes the dominant type of severe weather in its area in June, and that storms peak in the afternoon. Large hail peaks earlier, in May, and spring systems can bring both hail and wind.
Winter brings its own problems. Knoxville averages only about 4.6 inches of snow a year, yet the NWS period-of-record average is about 68 nights at or below freezing. Ice in clogged gutters or valleys can back water up under shingles at the eaves, so leaks that appear only during a thaw often trace back there.
Once the house is dry and the damage is contained, get written quotes for the permanent repair. The roofer who tarped the house isn't automatically the right choice for the full job, and a second quote is reasonable. Before you sign, check the license on the state's search site; in Knox County, home repairs priced from $3,000 up to $25,000 call for a Home Improvement license.
If drywall, insulation or flooring got wet, ask whether the roofer's scope covers any of it or whether you'll need a separate contractor for drying and interior repairs. Wet materials left in place can grow mold, so don't let that part wait.
Even in a hurry, the usual payment rules apply. TDCI advises against paying in cash or paying the full price up front, and notes that state law limits home improvement deposits to one-third of the contract price. Photograph the finished work before the final payment.
Only if you can do it safely from a ladder on a low, dry roof in calm weather, and even then a second person should hold the ladder. A wet, steep or storm-damaged roof is dangerous, and a fall costs far more than a leak. Containing water inside and calling a roofer is usually the better choice.
It may, depending on your policy and the cause of the damage. Policies commonly expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, so keep receipts and photos of the temporary work. Report the claim promptly; TDCI notes that policies may set deadlines for notice.
Roofers you're matched with through this site usually reach out within 24 to 48 hours. After a widespread storm, local crews can be booked up, so if water is actively coming in, contain it inside, call your insurer, and keep documenting the damage while you wait.
Under Tennessee's residential roofing law, yes, for emergency repairs you acknowledged in writing as necessary to prevent damage. Other payments must be refunded within 10 business days if you validly cancel after an insurance denial. The law also forbids a roofer from claiming emergency repairs are necessary when they aren't.
Yes. Homeowners never pay us anything. Roofing contractors in our network pay a referral fee, and you are under no obligation to hire any of them.
Tell us about your roof once and get up to 3 free quotes from licensed local roofers. No cost, no obligation.
Roofers usually reach out within 24-48 hours
