Tarping an opening
A properly fastened tarp is the standard emergency measure after a limb or wind damage. It works best on pitched roofs and is secured with strapping so that it does not flap and tear the shingles further.
Urgent? Call to reach a local roofer
Emergency Roof Repair in Trenton: Stop the Water First
Temporary tarping and make-safe work after a fallen limb, wind damage or a sudden leak, with the permanent repair planned afterward.
- Repairs and replacements for rowhouses and twins
- Nor'easter, ice dam and storm damage
- Connected to an independent local roofer
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Emergency Repair
Emergency Roof Repair: what it covers
Quick answer
Emergency roof repair means stopping water and making the roof safe, usually with a tarp or temporary patch, so the permanent fix can be planned. Trenton Roofing answers calls around the clock and puts you through to an independent roofer. The roofer sets when they can come; this line cannot promise an arrival time.
An emergency roof job and a planned replacement are two different kinds of work. A replacement is scheduled weeks ahead, priced from a written scope and done in dry weather. An emergency is the opposite: a limb through the shingles, a section peeled back by wind, a ceiling dripping during a storm. The goal is not a beautiful roof. The goal is to keep rain out of the house tonight.
That usually means a temporary cover. A roofer secures a heavy tarp or patches the opening so that water stops entering, and then you decide calmly what the permanent repair should be. Doing it in that order protects the interior, keeps the damage from growing and gives you time to compare options and, if you wish, talk to your insurer.
The number on this page belongs to Trenton Roofing, which answers calls and does not roof. The phone is answered around the clock, and the call is put through to an independent roofer who serves your town. How soon that roofer can reach you depends on the roofer's workload and on the weather, and nobody on this line can promise a time. Call (833) 751-2102 and say plainly that water is coming in.
- Service area
- Trenton & Mercer County
- Availability
- Call to reach a local roofer, emergencies first
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
What is the difference between emergency roof repair and a planned replacement?
Emergency repair stops water now with a temporary cover or patch, and is done in whatever weather caused the problem. A planned replacement is scheduled in advance, priced from a written scope and done in suitable weather. Emergency work protects the house; replacement renews the roof.
Because they are different jobs, they are usually quoted and billed separately. The emergency visit may be short and the permanent repair booked later, when materials are ordered and the roof is dry.
Do not feel pushed into a full replacement at the emergency stage. Get the house covered first, then compare options. The roof replacement page lays out what a planned job involves.
How fast will a roofer reach me in a storm?
That depends on the roofer's workload and on conditions, and this line cannot promise a time. Phones are answered around the clock and your call is put through to a roofer who serves your area. After a big storm many homes need help at once, so expect the roofer to prioritize and to be honest about timing.
Roofers cannot safely work in lightning, high wind or on a roof coated with ice. A crew that arrives late is sometimes a crew waiting out dangerous weather.
Make the interior safe while you wait: contain water, move belongings and keep away from wet electrical fixtures.
Should I tarp the roof myself?
No. Roofs are slippery and falls are serious, and a badly secured tarp can tear the shingles and let in more water. Contain the water from inside, photograph the damage from the ground and let a roofer cover the roof. If a limb is resting on the house, keep clear of it.
A tarp is only as good as how it is fastened. Properly done, it is anchored beyond the damaged area, pulled tight and strapped so that wind cannot get under it.
If you are worried about structural damage, such as a limb that has pushed through a ceiling, leave the room and ask for help.
What should I document for my insurer?
Photograph the damage from several angles, inside and outside, before anything is moved if it is safe to do so. Keep receipts for temporary repairs and note the date and cause. Whether a policy responds, and to what extent, is decided by the insurer. This line makes no promises about claims.
Dated photographs of the ceiling, the attic and the outside of the roof are useful to everyone. Ask the roofer to photograph what they find when the roof is open.
Read your policy for deductibles and for what it says about temporary repairs. Many policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage.
What should I have ready when I call about an emergency?
Have your town, the type of roof, what happened and whether water is entering ready, plus a couple of photographs if you can take them safely. Say if the house is attached to a neighbor, if anyone is in danger and whether a tree or wires are involved. Clear details let the roofer plan what to bring.
You do not need technical words. Describing what you can see is enough: a limb through the front slope, a section of shingles gone from the back, water running down the stairwell wall. The roofer will translate that into the equipment, the tarp size and the crew needed.
It also helps to say where the roof can be reached. A detached house with a driveway is a different problem from a row house with a narrow front and a rear roof reached only through the building. If there is a locked gate, a dog or a tenant, mention it so the visit goes smoothly when the roofer can come.
After the call, keep the phone nearby. The roofer may ring to confirm the address, ask for photographs or say when they can arrive. If the situation changes, such as water spreading or a ceiling starting to sag, call again and say so.
Warning signs
Signs you need emergency roof repair
If a limb is on the house, a ceiling is sagging, or there is a downed line, move people out of the area and call the emergency services. Never go onto a wet, iced or storm-damaged roof, and never touch a wire that has come down.
- A tree limb resting on or through the roof, or a large branch that has dented the shingles
- A section of shingles peeled back or missing after a high wind, with the felt or boards exposed
- Water running down an interior wall or dripping steadily from a ceiling during a storm
- A visible hole in the roof or a soffit torn open, letting weather into the attic
- A chimney that has shifted or lost bricks, or a vent stack knocked sideways
- A ceiling that bulges or sags under trapped water
- A skylight cracked or dislodged by debris
- Daylight in the attic where there should be none
Our process
How our emergency roof repair visit works
Make the house safe first
Move people away from any sagging ceiling. If a limb is on the house, stay out from under it, and if you smell gas or see a downed power line, leave and call the emergency services and the utility. Roof work waits until it is safe.
Call and describe what you see
Say your town, that water is entering and what caused it. Photos of the damage from the yard or a window, taken safely, help the roofer plan what to bring.
The roofer sets the visit
Your call is handed to an independent roofer who works your area. They tell you when they can come, which depends on their load and on conditions. Wind, lightning and ice can all make it unsafe for a crew to be on a roof.
Temporary cover or patch
The roofer clears loose debris and fastens a heavy tarp over the damaged area, usually anchored over the ridge or onto strapping, or patches a small opening. This buys time but is not a permanent repair.
Plan the permanent repair
Once the roof is dry, the roofer inspects the damage properly and writes a scope for the lasting fix. Ask how long the temporary cover is expected to hold, since tarps wear in sun and wind.
Options
Types and options for emergency roof repair
Temporary patching
A small hole, a missing section of shingles or a failed vent can sometimes be patched in place with roofing materials to hold until a proper repair. Roofers decide on site whether a patch or a tarp is more reliable.
Board-up and debris removal
Where a limb has broken boards, the roofer may cut away damaged sheathing and cover the gap before tarping. Clearing the debris is part of getting a roof dry. The storm damage roof repair page covers the larger repair that follows.
Job stories
Typical jobs for emergency roof repair
A fallen limb on a Princeton roof after a summer storm
- What homeowners notice
- A large branch lands on a steep roof during a thunderstorm and rain is entering through a split in the shingles and deck. The owner stays off the roof and keeps people out of the room below.
- What we do
- The roofer secures a heavy tarp over the opening, strapped beyond the damage, and photographs the area. Once the weather clears, a written scope is prepared for replacing the cracked boards, the shingles and the damaged flashing.
- What to expect
- Water is kept out in the meantime, and the owner has dated photographs and a written scope to share with an insurer if they choose to make a claim.
Cost
How much does emergency roof repair cost in Trenton?
Emergency work is priced by the roofer on arrival and depends on the size of the opening and the access. No figure is printed here.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Size of the opening | Judged on site | A few shingles is a small cover; a limb through the deck is a larger job |
| Roof pitch and height | Assessed on arrival | Steep or multi-storey roofs need more safety gear and time |
| Weather and hour | Ask the roofer | Work in the dark or in bad conditions can carry a surcharge, so ask before the roofer starts |
| Debris removal | Depends on volume | A large limb may need cutting and hauling before the roof can be covered |
| Permanent repair afterward | Separate quote | The emergency cover and the lasting fix are normally priced as two jobs |
Ask for the price of the temporary work before the roofer starts. Your exact price is confirmed with the roofer on site.
Need emergency roof repair today?
Call any hour and explain what is going on. You get a clear price before any work starts.
Mercer County
Why emergency roof repair is different in Greater Trenton and the Delaware River towns
The emergency calls in this area follow the weather in two seasons. Winter brings nor'easters, heavy snow and ice, which load roofs and bring branches down on older houses along tree-lined streets in Princeton, Pennington, Bristol and Burlington. Summer brings thunderstorms with sudden wind that lift tired shingles and send limbs onto roofs in the suburban developments on both sides of the Delaware.
Row houses add a wrinkle. A roof that is open at the back of a row may let water into a shared wall or onto a neighbor's property, so tell the roofer whether the house is attached, and let the neighbors know if water could reach them.
Related
Related services
Storm Damage Roof Repair
Inspection and repair after fallen limbs, high winds and thunderstorms, with photos and a written scope you can take to your insurer.
Roof Leak Repair
Finding and fixing roof leaks at chimneys, party walls, additions, valleys and vents on Mercer County and river-town homes.
Nor'easter Roof Damage
Checking and repairing roofs after nor'easters bring wind-driven rain, heavy snow and drifting to the Trenton to Philadelphia corridor.
Where we work
Emergency Roof Repair across Mercer County
- Emergency Repair in Fort Dix
- Emergency Repair in Trenton
- Emergency Repair in Millstone Township
- Emergency Repair in Morrisville
- Emergency Repair in Bordentown
- Emergency Repair in Princeton Junction
- Emergency Repair in Fairless Hills
- Emergency Repair in Levittown
- Emergency Repair in Roebling
- Emergency Repair in Florence
- Emergency Repair in Pennington
- Emergency Repair in Washington Crossing
- Emergency Repair in Windsor
- Emergency Repair in Chesterfield
- Emergency Repair in Allentown
- Emergency Repair in Titusville
- Emergency Repair in Bristol
- Emergency Repair in Langhorne
- Emergency Repair in Princeton
- Emergency Repair in Columbus
- Emergency Repair in Burlington
- Emergency Repair in Newtown
- Emergency Repair in Croydon
- Emergency Repair in Hightstown
- Emergency Repair in Hopewell
- Emergency Repair in Plainsboro
- Emergency Repair in Bensalem
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
FAQ
Emergency Roof Repair FAQs
Is this line open at night and on weekends?
Phones are answered around the clock. Whether a roofer can come out at night depends on the roofer and the weather, and the roofer you reach will tell you what they can do.
Can the roofer promise the tarp will hold?
No honest roofer can promise that. A tarp is a temporary measure that can be affected by wind and sun, so ask how long it is expected to last and plan the permanent repair soon.
Does emergency work cost more?
It can, particularly at night or in bad weather. Ask the roofer to state the price for the temporary work before they begin, and get the permanent repair quoted separately.
Will my insurance pay for the tarp?
Many policies treat reasonable emergency measures as part of a claim, but that is for the insurer to decide. Keep receipts and photographs, and read your policy.
What if a tree is on the roof?
Keep people out of the affected rooms and call for help. Removing a tree is usually a tree service's work; the roofer then covers and repairs the roof. Do not cut the limb yourself while it is loaded on the structure.
Do I need a permit for emergency tarping?
Temporary covers generally do not, but the permanent repair may. The guide on roofing permits in Trenton and Mercer County explains the pattern.
Should I call my landlord or my insurer first?
If the roof is open to the weather, ask for a temporary cover first so the damage does not grow, then tell your landlord or insurer. Renters should tell the landlord immediately, since the building owner usually arranges roof work.