Roof emergency response

Stop the ingress.

Active leaks don't wait. Neither do we. We contain, secure, and repair — from emergency tarpaulins to permanent restoration.

A roof leak rarely stays where it starts. Water travels along rafters and battens before it ever shows up as a stain on your ceiling, which is why the visible damp patch is often nowhere near the actual entry point. Our first job on any callout is tracing that path and stopping it — with a containment measure that will genuinely hold until the permanent repair is scheduled, not a quick fix that reopens in the next downpour.

What to do while you wait

What to do if your roof is leaking right now

If water is actively coming through, a few steps in the first few minutes can limit the damage:

Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the affected area and place a bucket or container directly under the drip.
If the ceiling is bulging or sagging, pierce it carefully from below to release trapped water in a controlled way, rather than letting it collect and collapse a section of ceiling.
Switch off electrics in the affected room at the consumer unit if water is anywhere near light fittings, sockets, or wiring.
Photograph the leak, the water damage, and any visible cause (missing tiles, damaged flashing) — this becomes useful evidence if you claim on insurance.
Don't attempt to go onto the roof yourself, especially in wind or rain — this is exactly the kind of job our team is equipped and insured for.

Call us as soon as it's safe to do so — the earlier we contain it, the less internal damage there is to repair afterwards.

Common causes

What usually causes a roof leak

Leaks rarely appear without a reason — they're almost always traceable to one of a handful of common failure points:

Slipped, cracked, or missing tiles and slates, often after high winds
Failed flashing around chimneys, vents, and roof valleys — one of the single most common leak sources on older properties
Blocked or damaged guttering causing water to back up under the roof edge rather than draining away
Perished felt or blistering on flat roofs, particularly after prolonged sun exposure or standing water
Cracked or displaced ridge tiles along the roofline
Ageing underlay that's no longer doing its job even when the tiles above look fine

Knowing the likely cause helps us prioritise the inspection — but the only way to confirm it is a proper on-site assessment, which is exactly what stage 01 below covers.

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

Emergency Leak Containment

Active leaks demand immediate action. We locate the ingress point and deploy temporary containment measures to stop water entering your property within hours.

Containment isn't guesswork — we trace water back along the likely path (rafters, battens, felt) rather than sealing the first thing that looks damaged, which is a common reason DIY fixes fail within days. Where the ingress point isn't immediately obvious from inside, we'll get onto the roof itself to check tiles, flashing, and valleys directly, weather permitting.

Emergency tarpaulin deployment
Internal water diversion
Ceiling drainage intervention
Temporary seal application

Storm Damage Response

High winds and falling debris leave roofs vulnerable. We secure exposed areas, remove hazardous materials, and weatherproof until permanent repairs can be completed.

After a storm, the visible damage — a missing tile, a dented gutter — is often only part of the picture, so we check the surrounding area for looser fixings that haven't failed yet but are likely to in the next high wind. Where debris has caused the damage, we also document this clearly, since it's usually relevant to how an insurance claim is assessed.

Loose tile removal
Guttering repair
Fascia and soffit stabilization
Emergency weatherproofing

Flat Roof Failure

Flat roofs fail differently — pooling water, blistering felt, and failed seams. We patch, seal, or overlay to stop ingress immediately.

Flat roofs are unforgiving because small failures — a blistered patch, a lifted seam — tend to worsen quickly once water finds a way in, spreading laterally under the membrane rather than staying contained to one spot. We check the wider surface for ponding and membrane condition even when only one area has visibly failed, since it's rarely an isolated problem.

Ponding water extraction
Felt patching
Seam resealing
Temporary overlay installation

Tile & Slate Repair

Missing or slipped tiles leave your roof exposed. We replace damaged units, re-bed ridge tiles, and check underlay condition.

A missing tile is often a symptom rather than the whole story — we check the surrounding battens and underlay for wear before simply replacing what's visibly gone, since fitting a new tile over failing underlay just delays the next leak. Where slates or tiles are an older or discontinued profile, we source matching stock rather than mixing visibly different materials.

Tile replacement
Ridge tile re-bedding
Underlay inspection
Batten repair

Leadwork & Flashing

Failed flashings around chimneys, vents, and roof valleys are a leading cause of leaks. We repair or replace leadwork to restore watertight integrity.

Flashing failures are especially easy to miss from the ground, since a small gap or lifted edge around a chimney or valley can let water in for months before it shows up as an internal stain. We inspect all flashing points during any roof callout, not just the one that prompted the visit, since a failure in one area often means the same ageing lead is close to failing elsewhere.

Chimney flashing repair
Vent pipe sealing
Valley lead replacement
Apron flashing renewal

Full Roof Assessment

Once the emergency is contained, we provide a complete roof survey with photos, prioritized repairs, and clear costs — no pressure, no surprises.

This stage exists specifically so you're not making decisions about further work under pressure — once the emergency is dealt with, we give you a clear, photographed record of the roof's actual condition and let you decide what to prioritise and when. Where multiple issues are found, we rank them by urgency (safety and further water ingress first) rather than presenting one large, undifferentiated quote.

Full roof survey
Photo documentation
Prioritized repair list
Written quotation

— Common questions

Frequently asked questions

How quickly can you actually stop a leak?

In most cases we can deploy emergency containment — tarpaulin, internal diversion, or a temporary seal — within hours of your call, which is enough to stop the leak from getting worse while we plan the permanent repair.

Will a temporary repair hold until you can come back?

Yes — our emergency measures are built to last through further weather, not just patch things over for a day or two. We'll always tell you honestly how long a temporary fix should hold and when the permanent repair needs to follow.

Is roof leak damage covered by home insurance?

Sudden damage — a storm, fallen debris, an accident — is usually covered. Gradual leaks from long-term wear, poor maintenance, or an ageing roof are less likely to be, though this depends entirely on your policy. We can help you understand which category your situation likely falls into.

Do you work on flat roofs as well as pitched/tiled roofs?

Yes — flat roof failures (felt, membrane, ponding water) are a significant part of what we deal with, alongside tiled and slate roofs.

What if you find more damage once you're up on the roof?

This is common, particularly after storms — hidden damage often only becomes visible on close inspection. We'll photograph and explain anything additional we find before doing further work, so there are no surprise costs.

Can you provide documentation for an insurance claim?

Yes — our full roof assessment (stage 06) includes photo documentation and a written report suitable for handing directly to your insurer or loss adjuster.

Roof leaking right now?

Call us immediately.

Call 07458 148224 ↗