What to Do Right Now (In Order)
- 1
Move anything valuable away from the leak — furniture, electronics, rugs.
- 2
Place a bucket and a towel under the active drip. If water is pooling on a ceiling, poke a small hole with a screwdriver to let it drain into the bucket (this prevents the whole ceiling from collapsing).
- 3
Take photos of everything — the leak, the damaged area, anything wet. Date-stamped phone photos are your friend with insurance.
- 4
Call us at (862) 881-0028. We'll triage over the phone and dispatch a tarp crew.
- 5
Do NOT climb on the roof. Wet shingles are slick and storm-damaged structures are unsafe.
How Our Emergency Response Works
Step 1: Call us — we answer 24/7
Pick up the phone and call (862) 881-0028 any hour. A real person answers — no voicemail, no answering service.
Step 2: Triage over the phone
We'll ask about the leak location, what you're seeing inside, and walk you through immediate steps to limit interior water damage while we head over.
Step 3: Emergency tarp installed
Our crew arrives with tarps, sandbags, and roofing nails. We secure the damaged area, photograph the original damage, and stop water entry.
Step 4: Insurance documentation
We write a detailed scope of damage with date-stamped photos. You forward this to your adjuster. We coordinate directly with insurance if you authorize us to.
Step 5: Permanent repair scheduled
Once the immediate emergency is contained, we schedule the full repair or replacement — usually within 3–7 days depending on the scope.
Types of Emergencies We Handle
- Active roof leaks during or after rain
- Wind-storm shingle blow-off
- Hail damage (visible granule loss, dents, cracks)
- Fallen tree on the roof
- Ice dam backup pushing water under shingles
- Chimney leak emergencies
- Skylight failures
- Storm-damaged flashing
- Lightning strike damage
- Hurricane / nor'easter cleanup
Emergency Roof Repair FAQs
Do you offer 24/7 emergency roof repair in New Jersey?
Yes. Tri-State Roofing & Chimneys answers emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For active leaks, storm damage, fallen tree damage, or any situation where water is entering your home, call (862) 881-0028 anytime. We dispatch emergency tarp service across Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Hudson, Morris, and Union counties same-day, and across the rest of NJ as fast as we can mobilize.
How fast can you get to my house for an emergency roof leak?
From our Garfield, NJ base we can usually be on-site within 1–3 hours in our primary service counties (Bergen, Passaic, Hudson, Essex, Morris, Union). Extended-area counties (Middlesex, Somerset, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean) typically take 2–5 hours depending on time of day and traffic. We'll give you a realistic ETA when you call.
What does emergency roof tarping cost?
Emergency tarp service is priced on the specifics of the call — roof access, size of the affected area, and whether it's daytime or after-hours. The tarp is a temporary measure to stop water entry until a permanent repair can be scheduled. We quote it on the phone before we dispatch, document everything with photos for your records, and roll the cost into the permanent repair scope when you'd like.
Should I call my insurance company before or after calling a roofer?
Call the roofer first if water is actively entering your home. Mitigation of further damage is your legal obligation under almost every homeowners policy — meaning you need to stop the leak before damage compounds. Once the tarp is on and water is contained, file your insurance claim. We document the original damage with date-stamped photos that we share with your adjuster.
Can I climb on my roof to check for damage after a storm?
No. Wet shingles, hidden rotten decking, and storm-damaged structures are extremely dangerous. Most fall injuries we hear about come from homeowners trying to assess damage themselves. Walk the perimeter from the ground, take photos with your phone's zoom, look in the attic for water stains or daylight, and call us. We'll do the roof inspection safely.
What counts as a roof emergency?
Active leaks (water dripping inside your home), missing shingles after a wind storm, fallen tree on the roof, lightning damage, hail damage with visible granule loss or punctures, ice dam backups causing interior water, and any storm damage where the roof structure is compromised. If you're not sure, call — we'll triage over the phone and send a crew if needed.
Water is Coming In — Call Now
Don't wait until business hours. Mitigation is on you under most insurance policies. We're on the phone 24/7.
(862) 881-0028