The Key To Roofing Emergencies Is Acting Fast
One of the worst scenarios a property owner or manager can find themselves in is when a natural disaster has substantially damaged their building. Not only is there a mess to clean up after a storm, but a leaky roof can give way to other problems right away or even over time. This usually ends up causing massive headaches and a depleted budget.
At Colbert Roofing, we’re all too familiar with the kinds of things that cause emergency roof issues. Since 1958 we’ve come to the aid of so many families and businesses over the years that we’re confident we’ve seen it all! In our neck of the woods, emergency roofing services are most likely needed due to the following:
- Storm & Wind Damage
- Ice and Snow Build Up
- Fallen Tree Limbs
- Neglected Roofs / Lack of Maintenance
- Improper Past Installations or Repairs
Anything from severe weather to poor workmanship by less reputable contractors can cause roof leaks and other issues that may warrant the need for emergency service. Roof leaks and other issues may not always appear following the passing of a major storm, however. Sometimes the cause of the reported roof leak is a small problem that has been ignored for too long.
At the first sign of trouble, it’s imperative that you act fast to address any roofing or waterproofing issues that you’re made aware of! Whether it’s visible signs of leaks (i.e., wet ceiling tiles) or visible damage on the roof (i.e., missing shingles or loose metal flashing). The problem will not go away on its own, and the longer you wait to address the issue(s), the worse the problem will get! We see this happen all the time when a building owner, property manager, or homeowner is trying to save a few bucks today only to pay a lot more for repairs tomorrow. Don’t pay dearly like these folks who wait to fix their roofs!
First and foremost, when you believe you have possible roof damage and need emergency service, give us a call right away! When storm events occur, roofing contractors like us receive a flood of emergency service requests all at once. To ensure we can address everyone’s needs quickly, it’s critical to contact us at the first sign of possible damage. Waiting only delays the inevitable and can make things worse and more expensive later!
When the Colbert Roofing Corporation is called out for service, we assess the situation and make a determination whether we can temporarily or permanently repair the reported issues. Worst case scenario, our team will do everything in our power to temporarily waterproof the roof to stop the leaking. Our #1 goal in these emergency situations is to prevent the issue(s) from going from bad to worse and, at a minimum, preventing any further damage to the interior.
Once the initial work is complete, we can work on scheduling permanent repairs to the roof and develop a future plan to proactively maintain the roof.
Most roofers know that fixing a problem early will be more affordable than waiting until you’ve reached the point of no return. Only the best roofing contractors in Virginia will work with you to prescribe the right solution to address the most immediate problems and ensure your roof is in the best condition possible going forward.
Our mission is to find the right solution for our clients. The priority is giving the customer the best possible solution for their budget!
Colbert Roofing: The Emergency Roof Repair Specialists
Emergency commercial Roofing Services
Property Managers and Building Owners have enough to worry about: keeping tenants happy, addressing needs, and staying on top of maintenance all without breaking the bank. What they don’t have time for is a full-on roofing emergency that leads to major leak issues and, ultimately, unhappy tenants or damaged assets.
The reality is that there’s nothing most property managers or building owners can do about roof damage other than call the local professionals! Roofing is complicated, dangerous work and is best left to the professionals.
So what does one do when a major storm has damaged the roof and torrential downpours have caused major leaks in multiple tenants’ spaces? They call the roofing professionals at Colbert Roofing!
Colbert has the knowledge and expertise to safely and quickly remedy roofing emergencies in a hurry, so a small problem doesn’t turn into a huge disaster.
Whether you have damaged flashing on the roof or are missing shingles after a storm, Colbert has you covered! We’ve been helping Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. businesses and homeowners cover and repair their damaged roofs for over 60 years. As a result, we’re the number one choice by locals in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas.
When our customers are panicking and need an emergency response, we’ll dispatch a team as quickly as possible to move heaven and earth to get our client’s roofs back in good shape. In the 6 plus decades servicing roofs in the great DC metro area, we’ve found these to be the most common causes of emergency roof service requests:
- Roof Damage – When we say we’ve seen it all…trust me, we mean it all! From minor damage like missing shingles on residential homes, to major roof damage caused by a rooftop unit (RTU) kart-wheeling across a low-slope commercial roof in a major wind storm, and even full branches that have penetrated customers’ roofs. No matter what it is, our crew is ready to take on the challenge!
- Leak Repairs – Leaks can be caused by various issues depending on whether it’s a pitched roof or flat roof. The source of the leaks could range anywhere from membrane punctures to open seams, missing shingles, slate to missing/damaged flashing to cracked sealant, or just neglected roof maintenance, or it even could be something unrelated to the roof, i.e., cracked mortar or exposed caulk joints. What matters is there’s water making its way into your building…..and that’s a problem we can help you fix!
- Neglected Maintenance – From our experience, roughly 30-50% of emergency leaks are due to a lack of basic preventative roof maintenance. Clogged roof drains, gutters, and through-wall scuppers can cause backups that lead to leaks. Cracked sealant at exposed termination bars, pipe penetrations, and pourable sealer pockets (“pitch pockets”) can all lead to leaks after a heavy rain storm. Simply having your roof inspected twice a year with a proactive roof maintenance plan in place greatly reduces the majority of these issues! It’s always cheaper and easier to take care of an issue before it turns into a “stage 5 fire drill” emergency
Following emergency roofing service, our remedial, short-term repairs or more permanent roof repairs are all backed by the same workmanship guarantee as all our regularly scheduled roofing work. The opportunity to service our customers in a time of great need brings us a lot of pride and we appreciate them for putting their trust in us!
When your property is in need of emergency roofing service, you can count on Colbert roofing to take care of your request seriously and to do everything in our power to expedite your request. Depending on the severity of the situation, we will move things around to accommodate after hours or same day service requests. If you have any questions about whether you have damage or need emergency service, don’t hesitate to call us today!
Things To Remember In A Roofing Emergency
When disaster strikes and buildings are damaged, it’s completely reasonable to be stressed and overwhelmed. No matter if you’re a first time home owner or a seasoned property management professional, it’s still not a fun thing to have to deal with. Sometimes people want to take matters into their own hands and get to work immediately, making repairs and cleaning up the mess before the roofer arrives.
We get it – you can’t afford to sustain any more losses from things like unaddressed leaks!
While it’s tempting to start trying to fix the damage on your own right away, you should pause and consider some points to remember when emergencies happen.
- Delaying repairs always will cost more later
When you’re in need of help and you delay contacting a local licensed roofer you guarantee your spot at the back of the line and you likely won’t get the roofer you actually want. After a major storm, the best local roofers will get tied up first but overall every roofer will have their hands full addressing everyone’s emergencies. By not acting quickly, you run the risk of causing more harm to your building whether it’s saturated insulation, structural decking issues, etc. If you think you have roof damage, the best thing you can do is call a professional to inspect and repair the problem immediately!
- Don’t try to fix the problem yourself
Roofing is dangerous work and should only be performed by professionals like the specialists at Colbert Roofing. Also, when homeowners and building engineers try to perform their own repairs, they often make the problem worse! For starters, trying to perform this type of work without the proper safety equipment, and training exposes someone to the risk of serious injury or worse. Secondly, when you want to DIY the repairs yourself, you run the risk of making matters worse. For example, if you go to Home Depot and buy “miracle in a bucket” to repair what you believe is the cause of the leak(s) it’ll take the roofer twice as long to clean and prepare the area(s) to make permanent repairs therefore costing you more money. Also keep in mind that performing amateur repairs often voids the manufacturer’s warranties. So when emergency damage occurs, call a local roofing professional immediately to assist.
- Cover up valuables and take pictures of damage
In the event of extensive damage, you need to do everything in your power to protect your valuables and take lots of photos to document any losses for filing an insurance claim. Ever heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words?” In this case, it’s critical in helping contractors do their job better and frankly helps out the insurance adjuster do his/her job better. With insurance claims, there’s no such thing as too many photos!
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Colbert Roofing aims to be the top choice for building owners, property managers, and homeowners throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. Trust a locally proven company to serve you in times of your greatest need!