What Counts as a Roofing Emergency?
Not every roof issue is an emergency. Here's what requires immediate response:
- Active water entering your home dripping from ceiling, wet walls, water pooling indoors
- Fallen tree or large limb on or through your roof
- Storm damage exposing decking shingles completely stripped, large sections missing
- Structural damage sagging roof deck, visible hole through to interior
- Lightning strike damage requiring weatherproofing
- Hurricane aftermath multiple issues after a named storm
If you're unsure, call. We'll tell you honestly whether it can wait 2 days or needs immediate action.
Our Emergency Response Process
1. Call Sarge Answers (352) 696-8989
You reach Sarge directly, not a call center. Quick triage: what's happening, how severe, what's the address. If it's a true emergency we mobilize immediately.
2. Emergency Tarping (First 24 Hours)
If the damage is active (water entering), we install a professional tarp to stop the water. This is critical for three reasons:
- Prevents further interior damage (ceilings, floors, drywall, electrical)
- Satisfies insurance "duty to mitigate" requirement
- Gives us time to plan proper permanent repair
Professional tarping uses proper fasteners, boards, weighting, and slope direction. Not a blue Home Depot tarp held down with bricks.
3. Damage Assessment & Documentation
Detailed photos, measurements, and written report. This becomes the foundation of any insurance claim. We document:
- Cause of damage (storm, tree, age failure)
- Extent of damage (area, components affected)
- Interior damage flowing from roof issue
- Recommended scope of repair
4. Insurance Coordination (If Covered)
We can meet your adjuster on-site, explain the damage, and ensure nothing gets missed. Insurance companies sometimes try to minimize payouts having a licensed contractor walk through with the adjuster protects you.
5. Permanent Repair or Replacement
Once the tarp is up and insurance is processing, we execute permanent repair. For emergencies that bypass insurance (small repairs), we can often do permanent work within a few days.
What to Do BEFORE We Arrive
- Get everyone safe. If structural damage is visible, stay out of affected rooms.
- Turn off electricity to affected areas if water is entering near outlets, lights, or electrical boxes.
- Move valuables out of wet areas if safe to do so.
- Catch dripping water in buckets, but don't climb into the attic yourself.
- Take photos and videos from inside. Document the timeline of damage.
- Call us and your insurance company if damage exceeds a typical deductible.
What NOT to Do
- Don't climb on a wet roof yourself
- Don't try to "fix it quick" with spray sealants that void warranties
- Don't sign anything from door-to-door contractors who show up after storms
- Don't delay the call damage compounds fast
- Don't assume insurance will deny let them make that decision
Storm Chaser Warning
After every Florida storm, out-of-state contractors descend on damaged neighborhoods. They go door to door, sign people up with Assignment of Benefits contracts, do marginal work, then disappear. Always verify any contractor's Florida license at myfloridalicense.com. Our licenses: CCC1334499 and CRC1335172.
Emergency Service Area
Same-day emergency response throughout: