An active roof leak is stressful, but the first hour matters most. Acting quickly and safely limits the damage to your home and your belongings. Here is what to do right now, and where to draw the line and call a pro.
First, protect what is inside
Before you worry about the roof itself, limit the damage indoors:
- Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the water.
- Put down buckets or bins to catch drips, with towels around them.
- If a ceiling is bulging with trapped water, place a bucket underneath and carefully pierce a small hole at the lowest point to let it drain in a controlled way. A bulging ceiling can collapse if left alone.
- Photograph everything as you go. This documentation helps your insurance claim.
Should you tarp it yourself?
Be honest about the risk. A wet, steep, or storm-damaged roof is dangerous, and most serious roofing injuries are falls. If the weather is still bad, if the roof is steep or high, or if you are not fully confident, do not get up there. Containing the water inside and calling a roofer is the right call, and it is what we would tell our own family to do.
"No belonging is worth a fall. Protect what is inside, document the damage, and let someone with the right gear handle the roof."
Shawn, Owner, Blue Rhino RoofingHow professional tarping works
A proper emergency tarp is not just a sheet thrown over the roof. We secure a heavy-duty tarp over the damaged area and anchor it so wind cannot lift it and water is directed away, buying time until a full repair can be scheduled. Done right, it stops the active leak and prevents the damage from spreading into the decking and interior while you and your insurer sort out next steps.
Document for your claim
Before any temporary fix, take clear photos of the damage inside and out. Keep receipts for anything you buy to limit the damage. When you file, we document the full extent of the storm damage and meet your adjuster on the roof. See how we handle the process on our insurance claims page.
When to call us now
If you have an active leak, water coming through a ceiling, or visible storm damage, that is the time to call. We provide emergency roof repair and tarping for the Katy area, then handle the permanent storm damage repair once the immediate threat is contained.
Shawn
Shawn leads Blue Rhino Roofing, a BBB A+ accredited, Texas-licensed roofing company based in Katy. He's on the roof and on the phone, and known for telling homeowners the straight truth.