An emergency roof repair has two separate goals: make the situation safe and limit water ingress now, then carry out a permanent repair when conditions and materials allow. Trying to force the finished job in unsafe weather can create a second problem.
We respond to urgent roofing issues around Crawley including active leaks, missing tiles, loose ridge materials, storm damage and failed flat-roof details.
What counts as urgent
Active water near electrics, loose materials above public areas, a large opening in the roof and rapid storm ingress all need prompt attention. A small historic stain that is dry today may be important but is not necessarily the same type of emergency.
When you call, tell us whether water is currently entering, whether anything is loose externally and whether the affected room can be isolated.
Making the building safe first
Loose tiles, sheets or flashing can create a falling-object risk. Internal water can also affect ceilings and electrics. The first visit may therefore focus on safe access, removing an immediate hazard or temporary weatherproofing rather than completing the final repair.
HSE guidance is clear that roof work remains high risk even when the task is short, so urgency does not remove the need for safe access.
Temporary waterproofing
A temporary patch is useful when wind, rain or missing materials prevent a robust permanent repair. It should limit further damage without creating a dangerous loose covering or making later repair unnecessarily difficult.
We explain when a temporary measure needs a follow-up visit rather than leaving it ambiguous.
Permanent follow-up repair
Once the roof can be inspected properly, we identify why the emergency happened: storm damage, an aged covering, failed flashing, blocked drainage or another defect. The permanent scope then deals with that cause rather than simply reinforcing the temporary patch.
Where an insurer is involved, photographs and a clear repair description can help the property owner document the event.
What you can do safely while waiting
Move possessions away from the affected area, use containers for drips if safe, and avoid rooms where ceilings are bulging. If water is reaching electrical fittings, seek appropriate electrical advice and do not touch wet equipment.
Do not climb onto the roof or lean ladders against damaged gutters to try to tarp the area yourself.
Questions homeowners often ask
Safe temporary action may be possible, but roof access can be unsafe in high wind or heavy rain. We will not put workers at unnecessary risk to create a rushed permanent repair.
Temporary work is intended to reduce immediate ingress until a permanent repair can be completed. Its limitations should be clear from the outset.
Avoid the fitting, keep people out of the area and seek electrical advice. The roof defect and the electrical safety issue both need attention.
Technical context behind the advice
Roofing standards and regulations depend on the building and scope of work. These sources are useful background; the right specification still needs to be decided for the actual roof.
What affects the size and cost of the job?
A repair price depends heavily on access and diagnosis. A ten-minute material repair may still need safe roof access, while an apparently small leak can take longer to trace if water has travelled through the roof build-up.
- Height, pitch and safe access method
- Time needed to trace the source of water
- Extent of damage once the area is opened
- Availability of matching tiles, slates or system-specific repair products
- Whether temporary weatherproofing is needed first
- Chimneys, valleys, rooflights or other complex details near the defect
A quote you can actually compare
For repairs, the quote should describe the defect being addressed and the repair area rather than promising to “seal roof” without explanation. Where the exact condition cannot be known until coverings are lifted, the assumptions should be stated clearly.
We prefer defined scopes to vague allowances. If an important part of the roof cannot be confirmed until material is lifted, that uncertainty should be explained before work begins rather than appearing as a surprise at the end.
What we inspect and work on
What happens after you contact us
Tell us what you have noticed, when it happens and the property postcode. Safe ground-level photos are useful if you already have them, but there is no need to climb onto the roof. We arrange the right level of inspection, explain the defect in plain English and quote for a defined scope of work.
Where opening-up reveals something materially different from what could be seen beforehand, we show you the issue and discuss the next step rather than quietly expanding the job.
Roofing across Crawley and nearby towns
We cover Crawley, Three Bridges, Horley, Horsham, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill, Redhill, Reigate and Lingfield. For neighbourhood detail and Crawley-specific services, see our Crawley roofing page.