A plain explanation of emergency roofing: what genuinely cannot wait, what a make safe visit includes, what it costs and how the temporary work leads into the permanent fix.
Water running into a property rather than dripping, a ceiling that has come down or is bulging, exposed roof structure after wind damage, a slipped stack or loose masonry above a pavement, and any damage over an escape route or public footpath all justify an immediate visit.
Those situations share one feature: leaving them until tomorrow makes the damage or the danger materially worse, and in the case of falling masonry there is a liability question as well.
What can safely wait for daylight
A slipped tile with no water coming in, a small damp patch that has stopped spreading, a blocked gutter overflowing away from the building, and a cracked ridge tile that is still seated can all be dealt with in normal hours.
Waiting usually gets you a better job. Working in the dark, in wind or on a wet roof means a temporary fix, and a temporary fix has to be paid for and then redone.
What a make safe visit involves
The aim is to stop water entering and remove any danger, not to complete the repair. That typically means sheeting a damaged area, securing or removing loose tiles and masonry, clearing a blocked outlet, and taking photographs for your insurer.
You should be left with a clear description of what was done, what remains, and what the permanent repair will involve and cost.
Emergency make safe visits are typically £150 to £350 depending on access and time on site, with permanent repairs quoted separately once the roof can be worked on properly.
Access is the main variable. A two storey rear roof at night with no ladder position costs more than a garage roof beside a driveway, because the safe way to reach it takes longer to set up.
Insurance and who calls it in
Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, which is exactly what a make safe visit is. Keep the invoice, the photographs and the dates, because insurers ask for all three.
Do not wait for an insurer to authorise emergency work while water is entering. Mitigation first, claim second, is the order almost every policy expects.
Do you charge extra for evenings and weekends?
Out of hours attendance is priced within the make safe range above, and we tell you the figure on the phone before we set off rather than after we arrive.
Is the emergency visit cost taken off the repair?
Where the permanent repair follows on from our make safe visit, we take the temporary work into account in the repair quotation. We will confirm that in writing.
How quickly can you get to us?
Same day in most cases across Witney, Oxford and the surrounding area if you ring early. Ring 07960 482233 and we will give you a realistic time, not an optimistic one.
Can you sheet a roof in high wind?
Not safely, and neither can anyone else. In severe wind the honest answer is to protect the inside of the property and attend as soon as conditions allow.
What should I have ready when I call?
Where the water is coming in, when it started, whether anything is visibly damaged outside, and whether the property is occupied. That tells us what to bring.
Something has gone on your roof today?
Ring 07960 482233. We will tell you straight away whether it needs us tonight or whether the morning is safer and cheaper.
Evans Roofing & Maintenance Ltd, Witney, Oxfordshire. Call 07960 482233 for a free written quote.