Emergency building services

Control the damage.

Fast action matters, but so does the finish. We stay accountable from the first temporary measure through to permanent reinstatement.

Building damage rarely gives warning. A storm-loosened roof tile, a slow leak behind a wall, or subsidence cracks that widen over a few months — the longer it's left, the more expensive and disruptive the fix becomes. Our approach treats every callout as a two-part job: stop the damage from getting worse today, then plan and deliver the permanent repair properly, with the paperwork your insurer will actually accept.

24/7 RESPONSECalls answered in minutes, not hours

ONE TEAM, START TO FINISHNo subcontractor chains, no handoffs

WORK GUARANTEEDWritten guarantee on every stage we complete

LOCAL TO W5Years working specifically in Ealing, Acton, West London

What to do while you wait

What to do before we arrive

If it's safe to do so, a few quick steps in the first hour can protect both your property and your insurance claim:

Check for immediate hazards — gas smells, exposed wiring, or unstable structures — and keep everyone clear of the affected area until we've assessed it.
Photograph the damage before any temporary repairs are made, and again afterwards. Insurers rely heavily on this evidence.
Don't throw away damaged items or materials, even if they look beyond saving — they can form part of the claim evidence.
Keep any receipts for emergency measures you arrange yourself (a tarp, a plumber's temporary fix) — these are usually reimbursable.
Where possible, let your insurer know you're arranging emergency work before it starts, so it isn't queried later.

We take it from here — but these five steps make the difference between a smooth claim and a disputed one.

Types of damage we handle

What counts as building damage?

Building damage covers more ground than most people expect. We regularly attend:

Storm and wind damage — lifted roof tiles, damaged chimneys, fence and boundary wall failures, water ingress following wind-driven rain
Flood and water damage — burst pipes, escape of water from appliances, groundwater ingress, and the drying-out process that follows
Fire and smoke damage — structural make-safe, soot and smoke remediation, and reinstatement once the property is cleared for work
Subsidence and structural movement — cracking, sloping floors, and movement around doors and windows that needs proper engineering assessment, not just cosmetic patching
Impact damage — vehicle strikes, fallen trees, and accidental damage to structural elements

If you're not sure whether what you're dealing with fits one of these categories, call us. Most first visits are just to assess and advise, with no obligation to proceed.

Damage Assessment & Documentation

We inspect the full extent of the damage — walls, ceilings, floors, moisture levels — and document everything with photos and a written report, ready to hand to your insurer.

We know that a schedule of works only holds up with an insurer if it's specific: exact measurements, moisture readings recorded at the time of inspection, and photographs that clearly show both the damage and its likely cause. Where the claim may be disputed — for example, distinguishing storm damage from pre-existing wear — we document accordingly, so the evidence speaks for itself.

Full property survey
Moisture mapping
Photo documentation
Insurance-ready report

Emergency Make-Safe

The first job on any callout: removing immediate risk. We temporarily secure structures, roofing, and exposed areas so the property is safe within hours, not days.

This stage is about removing risk, not finishing the job — a tarped roof or braced wall is a holding measure, not a repair, and we're clear with you about that distinction from the start. Every make-safe measure is designed to survive until the permanent works can begin, whether that's days or weeks away depending on claim approval and material lead times.

Structural bracing
Temporary roof covering
Sealing off hazardous areas
Preventing further damage

Roof Repair & Leak Tracing

We trace the actual source of a leak and fix it — not just patch the symptom. Covers everything from a single repair to replacing a full section of roofing.

Leaks are notoriously difficult to pin down because water often travels a long way from the entry point before it shows up as a stain or damp patch. We trace the path methodically — flashing, valleys, felt, guttering — rather than replacing sections speculatively, which is a common source of repeat callouts with less experienced contractors.

Leak source tracing
Section repair & replacement
Flashing & guttering seals
Post-repair weather testing

Structural Repairs

Cracks, subsidence, and damaged load-bearing elements — we handle what affects the safety of the building, not just its appearance.

Where movement or load-bearing damage is involved, we coordinate directly with a structural engineer when sign-off is required, rather than leaving you to source one separately. This matters both for the safety of the work and because insurers often require engineer sign-off before releasing full settlement on structural claims.

Load-bearing wall & ceiling repair
Crack & subsidence remediation
Flood/impact structural recovery
Engineer sign-off coordination

Plastering, Decorating & Finishing

The final stage — restoring the property to how it looked before the damage, matching existing textures, colours, and finishes.

Matching existing finishes is often harder than the structural work itself — plaster texture, paint sheen, and even skirting profiles can vary between properties of the same era. We treat this stage as part of the reinstatement, not an optional extra, because a repair that's structurally sound but visibly patched isn't really finished.

Plastering & skimming
Colour-matched redecoration
Floor restoration
Minor joinery

Insurance Claim Support

We prepare documentation the way insurers expect it — reports, photos, itemised estimates — and liaise directly with your loss adjuster so you don't have to.

Loss adjusters see hundreds of claims and respond fastest to ones that are clearly costed and evidenced against current market rates, rather than a rough estimate. We prepare our documentation the way we know insurers actually want to receive it, which in most cases shortens the time between assessment and approved works.

Detailed cost estimates
Direct loss-adjuster liaison
Full claim documentation pack
Support through to claim closure

— Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Will my insurer cover this type of damage?

It depends on your policy and the cause of the damage. Storm and escape-of-water damage are commonly covered; gradual wear, poor maintenance, or pre-existing issues usually aren't. We can help you understand which category your damage likely falls into before you make a claim.

Do I need to get my insurer's approval before emergency work starts?

For genuine emergency make-safe work — stopping a leak, securing an exposed roof — most policies allow this to happen immediately, provided you keep records and receipts. For the permanent reinstatement, approval is usually needed first.

Can you deal with my insurer or loss adjuster directly?

Yes. We regularly liaise directly with loss adjusters, providing the reports, photos, and costings they need, so you're not stuck relaying information back and forth.

What if the damage turns out to be more extensive once work starts?

This isn't unusual, particularly with water damage or subsidence. We'll document any additional damage found, photograph it immediately, and update the schedule of works and your insurer accordingly before proceeding.

How long does the full process take, from assessment to completion?

Make-safe work is typically same-day or next-day. The full reinstatement timeline depends on claim approval and material availability — smaller jobs can complete in days, larger structural claims can take several weeks once approved.

Need help right now?

Let's get this sorted.

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