Water is dripping through the ceiling, or the wind just peeled a strip of shingles off the house, and you need emergency roofing in Orlando before the next storm rolls in. In that moment you’re thinking about a lot at once: the furniture, the drywall, what this is going to cost and whether the first roofer who knocks on your door is someone you should trust.
Most roof emergencies can be brought under control, and a few smart steps in the first hour make a real difference.
APC Roofing is a GAF Certified contractor, licensed in Florida (CCC1337030) and insured, working across the Greater Orlando area. Inspections and estimates are free. Call 407-270-1129, tell us what’s happening and we’ll set up a visit.
What to do right now, before the roofer gets there
None of these steps involve climbing on the roof. Please don’t go up there in the rain or wind, and stay off a roof that’s wet.
- Protect what’s under the leak. Move furniture, rugs and electronics. Put down a bucket and towels.
- Watch for a bulging ceiling. If the drywall is sagging with water, keep people and pets out from under it. If you’re comfortable doing so, a small hole poked at the lowest point lets the water drain into a bucket instead of bringing the ceiling down.
- Shut off power to that room if water is near light fixtures, outlets or a ceiling fan.
- Take photos and video. Get the ceiling, the wet floor, anything damaged inside, and whatever you can safely see of the roof from the ground. Note the date and time.
- Call your roofer. Then, if the damage came from a storm, call your insurance company to report it.
What counts as a roofing emergency in Central Florida
Orlando roofs fail in a few predictable ways, and most of them come from weather. Summer brings an afternoon thunderstorm most days, often with heavy, sideways rain that finds any weak spot in flashing or a cracked pipe boot. Hurricane season runs June through November, and one strong storm can lift shingles, crack or dislodge tile, peel back metal edges or drop a tree limb through the roof deck.
You should treat it as urgent if:
- Water is actively coming into the house.
- You can see the roof deck (the wood under the shingles or tile) from the ground.
- A limb or tree is resting on the roof.
- Shingles, tiles or metal pieces are missing over a large area.
- The ceiling is sagging or the attic insulation is soaked.
A few missing shingles or a slow drip that only shows up in sideways rain still needs attention soon. It just may not need to be handled tonight.
Temporary protection vs. a real repair
When a roof is opened up by a storm, the first job is keeping more water out. A tarp done right goes up and over the ridge, extends well past the damaged area and gets fastened with wood strips so it doesn’t flap loose in the next gust. A tarp that stops short of the ridge lets water run right under its top edge.
A tarp is a stopgap, though, not a fix. Florida sun and humidity are hard on anything left on a roof for months. A tarp left up too long can trap heat and moisture against the shingles and the deck underneath, and the damage spreads. The goal is to get from temporary protection to a permanent repair as quickly as your situation allows.
The permanent fix depends on what actually failed. Sometimes it’s a single pipe boot or a stretch of flashing where the roof meets a wall. Sometimes it’s a whole section of shingles or a run of broken tile. And sometimes the storm finished off a roof that was already near the end, and a replacement makes more sense than another patch. For more on repair options, see our emergency roof repair in the Greater Orlando area page.
Storm damage and your insurance claim
If a storm caused the damage, your homeowners policy may cover some or all of the repair, depending on your policy and the cause. Here’s how it works with APC Roofing. You file your own claim and you pay your own deductible. We inspect the roof, photograph and measure the damage, give you a written estimate and work with your adjuster so everyone is looking at the same facts. Be wary of anyone who offers to waive or cover your deductible.
Be careful with crews that knock on doors after a big storm and push you to sign that day. Ask for a Florida license number and look it up on the state’s license search before you agree to anything. Our storm damage roofing in Greater Orlando page covers this in more detail.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Book your free inspection. Call 407-270-1129 or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. You’ll get photos of the damage and the parts of the roof that are fine, with the problems ranked by how urgent they are. You decide what gets done.
- Get your roof repaired and your yard cleaned up. The crew protects your landscaping, does the work and runs a magnet across the yard and driveway for stray nails before leaving.
If the job turns into a bigger repair or a replacement, financing is available through partners including Aqua Finance, Fortifi, Hearth and Home Run Finance.
Questions about emergency roofing in Orlando
Should I get on the roof to put a tarp up myself?
We’d rather you didn’t. Wet shingles and tile are slippery, storm-damaged decking can be weak and falls from roofs cause serious injuries. Protect the inside of the house and let a roofer handle the roof.
Will my insurance pay for emergency roof repairs?
Often, if the damage came from a covered event like a windstorm. Wear and age usually aren’t covered. Report the damage to your insurer, keep your photos and receipts, and remember that you pay your deductible.
My roof leaked once in a storm and stopped. Is it still an emergency?
Not tonight, maybe, but don’t ignore it. A leak that only shows up in wind-driven rain usually points to flashing or a pipe boot, and those spots get worse with every storm. Get it inspected while it’s still small.
Do you handle tile and metal roofs, or just shingles?
All three. We repair shingle, tile, metal and flat roofs across the Greater Orlando area.
Get back to a dry, quiet house
Water damage moves fast once it’s inside. It soaks into insulation, stains drywall and can lead to mold within days, so a leak handled this week costs far less than one handled next month.
Soon enough, the storm passes, the roof is sound again and the next afternoon downpour is just background noise. Call 407-270-1129 to book your free inspection, or start with our free online estimate. You can also browse all our roofing services in Greater Orlando.
