If water is coming through your ceiling during a November storm, the first goal is to limit damage inside the house, not to fix the roof. Never climb onto a wet roof in wind or rain. Most roof injuries happen to homeowners doing exactly that.
In the first hour
- Catch the water. Put a bucket under the drip and a towel inside it to quiet the splashing.
- Relieve a bulging ceiling. If drywall is sagging with trapped water, poke a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver so it drains into the bucket instead of collapsing.
- Move what you can. Pull furniture, rugs and electronics away from the wet area.
- Check the attic if it’s safe. With a flashlight, look for wet insulation or a stream of water. Note where it enters; that saves time later.
- Take photos. Ceiling stains, the attic, and any shingles or debris in the yard. Insurers ask for these.
Within 24 hours
Call a local roofer for an inspection and, if needed, an emergency tarp. A properly installed tarp, fastened over the ridge and battened down, can hold through the rest of the storm season while you plan a roof repair. A tarp thrown loosely over the roof usually blows off at the next gust and can tear more shingles with it.
What usually causes storm leaks here
On the Kitsap Peninsula, most storm leaks come from a few places:
- Lifted or missing shingles after southerly gusts, especially on exposed waterfront and hillside homes.
- Failed pipe boots and vent flashing. Rubber boots crack after 10 to 15 years and let wind-driven rain in.
- Chimney and skylight flashing that has pulled away or was sealed with caulk instead of metal.
- Clogged valleys and gutters under firs and cedars, which back water up under the shingles.
- Fallen limbs that puncture the roof deck.
Should you file an insurance claim?
Sudden storm damage is often covered; slow leaks from wear usually are not. Have a roofer document the damage first so you know what you’re dealing with before calling your insurer. [
Repair or replace?
One leak on a roof in good shape is a repair. Several leaks, widespread lifted shingles or a roof over 20 years old usually means it’s time to talk about replacement, and we’ll tell you honestly which it is. Our guide, Repair or Replace? How We Decide on Kitsap Peninsula Roofs, walks through the checklist we use.
Need help now?
Hood Canal Roofing is based in Silverdale and serves Kitsap, Jefferson and Mason counties. Call 360-689-0321 or request an inspection online.
