Roofing emergencies tend to happen when you least expect them, and they don’t always wait for 9-to-5 working hours. However, not every issue is urgent and requires instant attention by professionals. Yes, quick response by an emergency roofing contractor in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is important, but the safety of the roofers and building occupants is equally so.
At Elite Roofing, we make it a priority to respond to emergency requests within 24 hours to ensure the safety of occupants and the building itself. However, sometimes there are timing contingencies that hamper our response, from building access to site safety. Today we’ll talk about what qualifies as a roofing emergency, how you as a building owner or manager can prepare, and what to expect from emergency roofing services in the Greater Toronto Area during urgent situations.
What Constitutes a Roofing Emergency?
A leak discovered at midnight is certainly concerning to property managers and owners; however, it doesn’t always demand a middle-of-the-night response from a professional. Many factors come into play when determining the severity of a roofing issue and what qualifies as a true emergency.
Here’s a look at some instances where we would prioritise fast action:
- An active roof leak that has infiltrated the interior, particularly when it involves a tenant space, electrical systems, or inventory areas.
- Blow-off of metal flashing, edge metals, or copings, which can become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
- Membrane failure or detachment after a storm with driving rain and heavy winds.
- Water leaking near electrical panels or equipment.
- Leaks in sensitive areas, such as classrooms, restaurant kitchens, medical and laboratory facilities, and food production facilities.
- Structural damage after severe weather.
- Ice or storm-related damage leading to indoor water intrusion.
- Leaks that disrupt immediate building operations or tenant access (i.e., water intrusion of customer-facing retail space that prompts a store closure)
- Loose or hazardous roof debris (insulation, ballast, metal) at risk of falling.
- Safety-related issues that pose an imminent risk of injury or property loss.
What’s NOT an Emergency?
As said above, we strive to prioritize truly urgent situations when compiling our degree of response. Here’s a look at what is not considered a situation requiring immediate emergency roofing services in the Greater Toronto Area:
- Ongoing issues where a prior temporary repair was left unfinished or waiting for approval on full repair (unless the situation has escalated).
- Cosmetic or isolated issues that do not directly affect operations or cause active leaks (minor flashing issues, discolouration).
- Ponding water without an active leak.
- Leaks during a storm where access and weather conditions are unsafe. (Unless a life safety situation or damage to critical infrastructure is reported, it’s safer to wait for the storm to pass.)
- Minor drips during heavy rain.
- Requests without proper access arranged to affected spaces or contact availability, which can delay service response or arresting of the leak.
In short, if we deem it unsafe to access the roof, such as during a storm or at night when visibility is poor, we’ll respond as soon as conditions allow us to do so safely.
What to Expect When Calling For Emergency Roofing Services in the Greater Toronto Area
When you call us for emergency roofing services in the Greater Toronto Area, you can expect the following steps to be set in motion.
Initial Response
- All emergency inquiries are sent to our team-wide group email, where they can promptly be seen by one of our staff members.
- We will categorize the nature of the request and respond within 24 hours, per safety and logistics considerations.
- Note: We won’t access roofs at night or in unsafe conditions (ice storms, lightning or very high winds).
Temporary Repairs
If we cannot initially make a permanent repair, we will apply:
- Roofing mastic (when conditions allow), or
- Portland cement as a short-term membrane, or
- Emergency tarps to limit water intrusion
These short-term temporary repairs will mitigate any immediate threat to the building until such time that we can perform a permanent, long-term repair. In addition, we will clear blocked drains and/or scuppers to allow any ponding water to drain off the roof.
Permanent Repairs
Once we have evaluated the full scope of the situation, we will provide a detailed description of our recommendations as well as a cost outline. The timeline for repairs may be impacted by:
- Client approval
- Weather
- Material availability
- Safety and access conditions
- Scheduling considerations
Sometimes it is more effective to perform a partial or full replacement or more comprehensive repair rather than replace or patch one small area. This is often more cost-effective over the long-term, and prevents the headache of recurring repairs in the same local area of the roof. We will often present more than one alternative depending on the particular circumstances.
Property Owners: Help Us Help You
Many times, our emergency response to your roofing request is delayed by factors out of our control, from access limits to lack of contact personnel on site. Here’s what you can do to help us facilitate a quicker response from our emergency roofing contractor in the Greater Toronto Area.
Provide Timely Notice
The sooner you notify us of the problem, the sooner we can explore safe and efficient access. This is especially important in residential and multi-tenant units, where landlords must provide 24 hours of advance notice for entry.
Provide Access Details
We can’t provide service if we can’t access the property. First off, is there someone to meet our crew on-site, a lockbox available, or are there access codes for the roof we will need to know about?
Next, we will need as much detail as possible as to:
- The precise location of the leaking unit, store or area (to the best of your knowledge).
- On-site contact info and phone numbers for personnel who can give us access.
- Business hours (i.e., hair salons that are closed on Mondays, restaurants that open late, schools with restricted access).
- Someone to meet us on-site, such as facility managers, building superintendents or property managers.
What You Can Do
We never recommend property owners and manager get up onto the roof on their own to check on an issue. This is extremely dangerous, especially in winter, and can lead to falls or other injuries. In addition, you could void roofing warranties or cause further property damage.
After requesting our emergency roofing services in the Greater Toronto Area, you can take the following steps to address interior leaking:
- Poke a hole in bulging ceiling tiles or drywall with a screwdriver or other implement, which allows the water to drain safely into a trash bin or other receptacle. This will prevent a messy drywall collapse and further damage to your interiors.
- Move or cover smaller equipment or inventory where possible. If electrical panels have been compromised by the leak, do not touch them.
- Use tarps and bungee straps to direct water into containers.
Prioritization During Emergency Roofing Response
We triage emergency roof situations based on urgency, risk of property damage or presence of life-safety conditions. High-priority calls generally include food service locations where leaks can damage inventory or equipment, classrooms, and healthcare offices where safety is a concern.
For less urgent requests, we schedule an inspection during regular business hours. Securing proper access permissions and approvals early on is essential for quick action, so we ask that property owners work with us on those. Putting off or declining our roof repair recommendations can risk a higher chance of emergency down the road. Long-term planning is always better than a short-term reactive response!
The Elite Advantage
Roofing emergencies rarely wait for a convenient time to hit, but you can reduce the risk of injury, property damage, and expensive repair bills with a little preparation. Part of planning ahead is working with an emergency roofing contractor in the Greater Toronto Area you can trust. Our team has been responding to leaks and other roofing emergencies for six decades. We take each call seriously and offer a mindful response based on your safety and that of your building. That’s the Elite Advantage!
Contact Elite Roofing Today for Emergency Roofing Services in the Greater Toronto Area
Got a roofing emergency? Not sure if your situation qualifies as an urgent one? Contact us today and we will triage your request for prompt attention based on safety and weather conditions.
