EMERGENCY

Emergency Roof Repair: What to Do Right Now (SW Suburbs Guide)

By AJ Roofing | April 2, 2026 | Southwest Suburbs of Chicago

A severe storm just rolled through your neighborhood. Whatever the situation, you need to act quickly. If you have an active leak, call our emergency 24/7 response team immediately. Here's exactly what to do, in order, when you have an active roof emergency.

Step 1: Document Everything Before You Touch Anything

Your instinct may be to start cleaning up immediately, but documentation is critical for your insurance claim. Before moving anything or covering damage, take photos and video of everything: the exterior damage visible from the ground, any interior water damage, damaged personal property, and the condition of the ceilings and walls. Time-stamp your photos if possible.

Note the date and time the storm hit, and check weather services for hail reports in your zip code. The National Weather Service and private services like HailTrace keep detailed records of storm events, and your insurance company will use this data when processing your insurance claim.

Step 2: Contain the Water Inside

If water is actively coming in, minimize further damage to your home's interior. Place buckets under drips. Move furniture and valuables out of the affected area. If water is pooling on a ceiling and you see it bulging, carefully poke a small hole in the lowest point to drain it in a controlled way — this prevents a larger ceiling collapse. Lay down plastic sheeting and old towels to protect floors.

Do not run fans or dehumidifiers yet if active water is still entering — that comes after the roof is stabilized. Right now, focus on reducing the water's path through your home.

Step 3: Get an Emergency Tarp — But Don't Go on the Roof Yourself

Emergency tarping protects your home from further water intrusion while repairs are arranged. A heavy-duty poly tarp secured over the damaged area buys you critical time. However, we strongly advise against homeowners climbing their own roof after storm damage. The roof may be structurally compromised, shingles may be slick, and the damage pattern from above may be different from what you expect.

AJ Roofing responds to emergency storm damage calls and can deploy emergency tarping quickly. Professional tarping is also documented, which strengthens your insurance claim. Call us first — don't put yourself at risk.

Step 4: Call AJ Roofing

Once your interior is stabilized, call (630) 313-9805. Our team handles emergency situations across all Southwest Suburbs communities — Orland Park, Tinley Park, Naperville, Bolingbrook, Homer Glen, Frankfort, and more. We'll assess the damage, provide emergency tarping if needed, and give you a written damage report you can submit to your insurer.

Do not call a random storm-chaser contractor who shows up at your door uninvited in the days following a major storm. These out-of-state crews surface after every major weather event and often disappear once they've collected payment — leaving warranties that can't be honored.

Step 5: Open Your Insurance Claim

Call your insurance company to report the damage as soon as you've secured the property. Have your policy number ready. Report the date of the storm event and describe the visible damage. Ask specifically about your claim timeline and what documentation they need.

Illinois insurers generally allow homeowners up to one year from the date of loss to file a claim for storm damage, but filing sooner is almost always better. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to establish that damage was storm-related versus pre-existing wear.

What NOT to Do During a Roof Emergency

Don't climb on the roof. This is worth repeating. Even professional roofers take precautions after storm events — there are too many variables for a homeowner without safety equipment.

Don't sign anything at the door from an uninvited contractor. Assignment of Benefits agreements signed in haste can complicate your insurance claim and limit your options.

Don't make permanent repairs before the adjuster inspects. Emergency tarping is fine and expected. Replacing shingles or repairing decking before the adjuster sees the damage may reduce what insurance pays.

Don't throw away damaged materials. Broken shingles, pieces of damaged flashing, and dented gutters are evidence. Keep them until your claim is fully settled.

After the Emergency: The Path Forward

Once the immediate crisis is handled, you'll move into the insurance process. An adjuster will schedule an inspection — ideally with your roofing contractor present. AJ Roofing attends adjuster meetings on your behalf, ensuring that all storm-related damage is properly documented and included in the scope of repairs. Our goal is a complete, accurate claim so your home is fully restored — not just patched.