The storm has passed, but water is dripping through the light fixture in the hallway. Or a limb from the neighbor’s tree is lying across your roof and you can see daylight in the attic. The rain might start again tonight, and you’re not sure who to call or what to do first.
Emergency roof repair in Overland Park has two parts: protecting your home right now, then making a permanent repair once it’s safe and dry. Here’s how you can handle the first few hours, and what happens after that.
APC Roofing has a Kansas City-area office in Shawnee. APC is GAF Certified, licensed and insured, and has been in business since 2017. Call 913-398-5020 and tell us what’s happening.
Is it a roof emergency, or can it wait a few days?
It’s urgent when:
- Water is actively coming into the house
- There’s an opening in the roof from wind, a fallen limb or missing sections
- A ceiling is sagging or bulging with water
- Water is getting near light fixtures, outlets or electrical panels
It can usually wait for a scheduled inspection when a few shingles are missing but nothing is leaking, when you’ve noticed granules in the gutters after a hailstorm, or when there’s an old stain that isn’t growing. Those still need attention, just not tonight.
What to do right now
Stay off the roof. A wet, storm-damaged roof is slippery, and damaged decking can give way. Leave the roof to a crew with the right equipment.
Watch for electrical hazards. If water is near wiring, a fixture or the electrical panel, and you can reach the breaker safely, shut off power to that area. If you can’t do it safely, stay away and call an electrician.
Contain the water. Put buckets or towels under drips, move furniture and electronics out of the way, and roll up rugs.
Take photos. Photograph the ceiling, the attic if it’s safe to go up there, and any damage you can see from the ground. Those photos help later, especially if you decide to file an insurance claim.
Call a roofer. Describe what you’re seeing and where. Your description helps the roofer understand the problem before arriving.
What causes most roof emergencies around Kansas City
Severe thunderstorms and high wind
Strong straight-line winds can peel back shingles, tear off ridge caps and lift flashing in one storm. Once a section is open, the rain that follows goes straight into the deck. The wind damage roof repair page covers what wind does to a roof.
Hail
Most hail damage doesn’t leak right away. Large hail can crack shingles, break roof vents or punch through older roofing, and that’s when it becomes an emergency.
Falling trees and limbs
Overland Park has a lot of mature trees, and storms bring limbs down. A heavy limb can crack rafters and punch through the deck. Have a tree service remove the limb before roof repair begins.
Ice dams in late winter
When snow melts and refreezes at the eaves, water can back up under the shingles and come through a ceiling near an outside wall. These leaks often show up during a thaw, sometimes all at once.
Emergency roof repair in Overland Park: stopping the water, then fixing it right
The first goal is keeping more water out. That usually means covering the damaged area temporarily until a proper repair can be done. A temporary cover is just that: it protects the house, but it doesn’t fix the roof.
The permanent repair comes next. Wet decking needs to dry out or be replaced, and shingles don’t seal well on a wet surface or in very cold weather. Rushing the permanent fix onto a soaked roof can trap moisture and cause problems later.
Once the area is dry, the damaged decking, flashing and shingles get repaired or replaced. If the damage turns out to be widespread, we’ll show you photos and talk through whether a repair or a roof replacement makes more sense.
Be careful who you hire after a big storm
After a major storm, out-of-town crews often show up knocking on doors. Some do fine work. Others are gone by the time a problem shows up. Before you hire anyone, ask where their local office is, check that they’re licensed and insured, and get the estimate in writing. Be wary of anyone who pressures you to sign that day, or who offers to waive or cover your deductible.
Emergency roof repair and insurance
Sudden storm damage is often something homeowners file a claim for. If you do, you file the claim with your insurance company, and you’re responsible for your deductible. We document the damage, provide the estimate and work with your adjuster. The insurance roof claims page explains the process in more detail.
How it works with APC Roofing
- Call us. Call 913-398-5020 and tell us what’s happening, or request a free online estimate.
- Get a clear, honest assessment and estimate. We inspect the damage, document it with photos and explain the temporary and permanent steps.
- Get the roof repaired and the site cleaned up. Once it’s safe and dry, the permanent repair is done and the crew cleans up.
Emergency roof repair questions
Is the inspection free?
Yes. The inspection and estimate are free, even when the visit starts with an emergency call.
Should I go into the attic to look?
Only if it’s safe. Watch your footing, step only on framing, and stay away from wet wiring. Photos from the attic hatch are often enough.
Will my insurance cover emergency roof repair?
That depends on your policy and the cause of the damage. Sudden storm damage is often covered, while wear and age usually aren’t. Your insurance company makes that call.
Can you fix the roof while it’s still raining?
The permanent repair waits for dry conditions. Until then, the goal is keeping more water out.
Get your house dry again
The longer water gets in, the more it reaches: insulation, drywall, flooring. Acting quickly keeps the damage, and the repair bill, smaller.
Soon this will be behind you: the roof sound again, the house dry, and nothing left to worry about the next time it rains. Call 913-398-5020 and tell us what’s going on. For other repairs, see the roof repair in Overland Park page.
