So Your Roof Developed A Leak During A Recent Storm — Here’s How To Handle It

The recent record-setting storm may have moved on, but some of us are still dealing with water damage from a leaky roof.

You’re not the only one with buckets still out while the sun is shining. Here’s some tips for getting it fixed fast — and saving some stress during the next atmospheric river.

What to do about your roof

Jason Perez is the president of Legends Roofing, a family-owned company based in Pasadena. He told LAist that if you notice a leak, you should call a licensed contractor to come out and take a look right away.

“Most roofing companies do free estimates,” Perez said. “So they'll come out to assess the damage.”

He added that a lot of companies will be able to get to you pretty quickly, but you should also look to see where the water is coming from while you wait. If it’s a major leak or your ceiling is falling through, he recommends putting a tarp over the area to minimize the damage.

But Perez said the most important thing you can do to avoid a leaky roof, and the anxiety and headaches that come along with it, is regular maintenance.

“Be proactive instead of reactive,” he said.

Legends Roofing has been doing a lot of repairs since the storm started, but he said many of the issues could have been prevented.

He recommended having a company come out at least every couple of years to make sure all the flashings are sealed properly, leaves aren’t piling up, and everything is still watertight.

If it's a newer roof, Perez said you should have someone check on it every 5 to 7 years. But if it's a bit older, he recommends cutting that down to every 3 to 5 years.

“The roof is the most important part of your house because it protects everything,” Perez said. “It’s definitely worth spending a little bit of money to maintain it, and protect your most valuable asset.”

He said it’s better to spend some money on maintenance now, instead of losing out on a lot more later to fix water damage.

While you're waiting for help

Andre Afsharian is the CEO and owner of Roof Repair Specialist, another family-owned company based in Los Angeles. He told LAist they’ve been bombarded with more than 600 repair requests since Monday morning. 

Afsharian said if your leak is just a little stain on the ceiling, don’t panic. He recommends going up into the attic (if you have one) and putting a bowl or plastic down to catch the water before it hits the ceiling. 

Now, if it's a bigger leak, you might notice a bubble forming in the drywall or in a pocket of paint. Afsharian said that’s from water pooling to the point it starts to sag. 

“Creating a hole to allow water to come down is definitely the best way,” he said. “Allowing the water to drain is always best, when possible.” 

Yes, that means you can pop it like a pimple. 

Afsharian agreed that being proactive with maintenance is the best way to avoid a leak, but be wary of any company who cold-calls or just shows up at your front door. The Better Business Bureau has warned about a spike in roofing scams after major storms.  

He said online reviews can tell you a let about a company — even the negative ones. 

Afsharian said it’s a positive sign if a roofer is open to dialogue and willing to fix their mistakes. 

He also recommended reaching out to companies that do repairs, and not just installations. 

“A lot of roofing companies will go in saying that they'll do a repair, and will automatically try to sell a brand new roof to someone that doesn't need it,” he said. “We see that happen all the time, and companies just take advantage of homeowners in a bind.”

Afsharian added that most people don’t need entirely new roofs, so just make sure whoever you’re working with can do both. 

What to do about your insurance

Harvey Rosenfield is the founder of Consumer Watchdog, a nonprofit based in California. He told LAist we often experience a natural disaster, and then we experience the disaster of filing a claim with an insurance company.

“It's hard to pick which is more stressful or debilitating,” he said.

Rosenfield said as soon as you see water leaking in, you need to contact your provider and document everything.

Take notes for every single phone call you make — including the time of day, the name of the person you spoke to, and what was discussed.

Rosenfield said you should also take videos and pictures of the leak, and then try to limit the damage in any way you can.

That doesn’t mean you should climb up on a ladder in the middle of a storm, but he said you also have a responsibility to try and prevent any more problems under your insurance policy.

As soon as you file a claim, your insurance will send out an adjuster to make sure the company isn’t missing anything.

“Dealing with an adjuster can be a mixed blessing,” he said. “Some of them are really easy to work with, some of them are really difficult.”

Rosenfield recommends being patient and friendly in every interaction, but don’t be afraid to be direct and stand your ground.

The company’s adjuster will provide a proposed settlement, but Rosenfield said you shouldn’t sign the first thing they hand over. He recommends waiting a while to make sure you’ve seen all the damage, and the company has been notified, so that you can expand the claim if need be.

If you’re unhappy with the proposed settlement, Rosenfield said hiring a public adjuster can help. They’ll also assess the damage and assist with any negotiations.

“That can be a very positive and powerful way to resolve a dispute between the policyholder and the insurance company,” he said.

If the damage is serious enough, Rosenfield said you can also hire a lawyer. On the other hand, if the leak is minor, he said it’s sometimes not even worth filing a claim.

“It could be an extremely stressful, even devastating experience, if your insurance company gives you a hard time on your claim,” he said. “People are victimized twice — once by the rain, once by their insurance company.”

If your roof made it through the latest storm in one piece, Rosenfield recommends taking a video of the inside and outside of your property to establish a baseline of what it looked like before anything bad happens.