Water coming through the ceiling has a way of making people panic — and panicked decisions are usually expensive ones. The first hour of a roof leak matters, but not in the way most people think. Here’s what to actually do, in order.
1. Deal with the water, not the roof
Put containers under active drips. If a ceiling is bulging with trapped water, put a bucket underneath and pierce the bulge with a screwdriver — one controlled hole drains it before the weight brings the whole section down. It feels wrong; it’s right.
2. Kill the electrics if water is near them
If water is running anywhere near light fittings, sockets or your consumer unit, switch off the affected circuits. Water in a ceiling rose is not a “keep an eye on it” situation.
3. Move things, then photograph everything
Get furniture and valuables clear, then photograph the water coming in, the damage so far, and — from the ground only — anything visible on the roof, like slipped tiles or a dislodged ridge. These photos matter for your insurance claim later, and they help a roofer diagnose the problem before arriving.
4. Do not get on the roof
A wet roof in bad weather is one of the most dangerous places a homeowner can be. Nothing you can do up there in the rain is worth the risk, and insurers won’t thank you for it either. Torch through the loft hatch to spot where water’s entering: yes. Ladder against the gutter in a storm: no.
5. Call a roofer and describe what you can see
A good emergency callout starts with a phone conversation: where the water’s coming in, how fast, what you can see from the ground, roughly how old the roof is. That determines whether you need someone tonight or first thing tomorrow — an honest roofer will tell you which, because a 2am visit in a storm often achieves nothing a 7am visit can’t do better and safer.
What the emergency fix actually is
First response is about stopping the water, not fixing the roof: a secured tarpaulin, a temporary patch, slipped tiles pushed back and clipped. That holds things stable so the proper repair can be planned, quoted in writing, and done in decent weather. Expect the temporary work and the permanent repair to be quoted separately — both are usually claimable if insurance is involved.
Active leak right now? Call us on 0117 214 1175 — we cover all of Bristol the city centre–Fishponds. Otherwise, get in touch and we’ll take a proper look.