What to Do When Your Roof Is Actively Leaking: A Step-by-Step Guide for Florida Homeowners

If your roof is leaking right now: move what is under it, catch the water, relieve any ceiling bulge, photograph everything, then call a roofer. Think about the roof itself last.

Not sure what to do if your roof is leaking? Work the list below from the top. Each item is short enough to follow on a phone.

Roof Leaking What to Do: The Same-Night Checklist

1. Move what is under the leak and cut power near it: Get valuables, electronics, and furniture out of the water’s path, and cover what you cannot move with plastic sheeting. If water is near a light fixture, ceiling fan, or outlet, shut off that room’s breaker first. Do not walk through standing water to reach the panel. If you cannot reach it safely, stay out of the room and call an electrician or your utility.
2. Catch the water: Put buckets under active drips and lay plastic or drop cloths across the floor. Brown water or a musty smell means the water has likely passed through insulation or debris, so treat it as possibly contaminated. EPA guidance calls for protective equipment and professional help when water may be contaminated.¹ You cannot fix a leaking roof from the inside, only limit what it costs you. Interior steps catch the water and protect the ceiling, and the repair itself happens on the roof.
3. Relieve the ceiling bulge: A bulge or sag means water has pooled above the drywall, and that weight can bring the ceiling down. With power off in that area, stand to the side, wear eye protection, and set a bucket below. Poke a small hole at the lowest point with a screwdriver so the water drains in a controlled way. If the ceiling is badly sagging or sits near a fixture you cannot de-energize, stay out of the room and wait for a professional.
4. Photograph everything: Take photos and video of the ceiling, walls, floor, and belongings, plus any exterior damage you can see safely from the ground. Write down when the leak started and what the weather was doing. Our list of photos to take for your insurance claim covers what an adjuster looks for. Keep a sample of anything an adjuster may want to see, such as a stained ceiling tile, then dry or remove what is wet. EPA guidance treats the first 24 to 48 hours as the window to dry wet materials and prevent mold growth. It is a guideline, not a guarantee, and it is written for clean water.¹
5. Call a licensed roofer, then your insurer: If your first thought is “my roof is leaking, who do I call,” make two calls. Call a licensed roofer for emergency roof repair, and ask whether they can tarp tonight, or when they can get to you. Then call your insurance company about the claim. Check the roofer’s license on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation site before anyone climbs onto your roof.² Contact your insurer as soon as possible after the damage.³ Before you sign a repair contract, ask whether your policy has managed repair provisions or preferred vendors.⁴
6. Leave the roof to the roofer: Only after the first five items should you think about the roof itself, and even then the work belongs to a licensed contractor.

What Not to Do When Your Roof Is Leaking

• Do not go on a wet roof: Wet roofing is slippery, and a fall can cause serious injury or death. Do not climb up to inspect the damage, and do not go up to throw a tarp over it.
• Do not spray sealant over the source: Sealant applied over a leak without finding the source can trap moisture and hide the damage, which makes it harder for a roofer or adjuster to see what failed. Our guide answers will roof cement stop a leak in more detail.

When a Tarp Is Right

A tarp is right when a roofer can identify the damaged area, the weather allows safe access, and the permanent fix cannot happen right away. Those three conditions together, not any one of them.

It is a temporary waterproof cover secured over the damaged section, and it stops further water getting in until the real repair happens. It is not a repair.

 If wind or lightning makes tarping unsafe tonight, a safe delay is better than a rushed job.

Florida’s Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights advises policyholders to make and document emergency repairs that prevent further damage.⁴ Keep the invoice and photos for any tarp a roofer installs. Our guide on how to tarp a roof in an emergency explains what a proper install involves.

What FoxHaven Does When You Have an Emergency Roof Leak

Here is what happens when you call FoxHaven for emergency roof repair on an active leak:

1. You call, and FoxHaven dispatches a crew for emergency tarping. Give the address and describe where the water is coming in.
2. The crew tarps the damaged area to stop water from getting in. This is the temporary step that protects your home until the permanent repair.
3. The crew inspects the roof to find the full extent of the damage. Tarping stops the water, and the inspection shows what caused it and how far it spread. FoxHaven documents every roof inspection with photos and a written report homeowners can hand to their insurer, and guides clients through the insurance claims process.
4. You get your options and a timeline. Many emergency repairs, including tarping and minor patch work, can be finished the same day. Larger repairs take longer, and FoxHaven gives you a clear timeline after the on-site inspection. If the inspection shows the roof is past repair, replacement is the next conversation. FoxHaven’s 30/30 Promise gives homeowners a roof estimate in 30 seconds and completes most replacements within 30 days of signing.

FoxHaven serves Martin, St. Lucie, and Palm Beach counties.

Insurance Claims After a Roof Leak

Your insurer decides coverage, and the paperwork behind the claim matters. Photos of the interior damage, a written inspection report, and a record of any emergency tarp give an adjuster something concrete to review. Keep all of it together from the first day.

FoxHaven Roofing Group documents every inspection with photos and a written report with explanation and remedy, the kind of file an insurance company or adjuster expects, and its team guides Treasure Coast and Palm Beach County homeowners through the roof insurance claims process from first inspection to final scope.

If the Leak Means the Roof Is Past Repair

Some leaks turn out to be the last symptom of a roof at the end of its life. When that is the finding, the timeline becomes the main question.

FoxHaven’s 30/30 Promise backs every contract: a roof replacement estimate in 30 seconds through the instant online quote tool, and most replacements completed within 30 days of signing, with shingle-to-metal conversions finished in as little as two days.

Once the emergency is handled, our roof leak repair tips walk through the repair side.

Call Our Emergency Line: 772-249-4954 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a leaking roof an emergency?

Yes, when water is actively coming in, a ceiling is bulging or sagging, or water is near light fixtures or outlets. A small stain from an older leak is less urgent, but it still needs an inspection because hidden moisture keeps damaging materials.

How do I stop my roof leaking in heavy rain?

You cannot stop it from the inside, so focus on limiting the damage. Move belongings, cut power near the leak, catch the water, and relieve any ceiling bulge. Then call a roofer for emergency tarping and stay off the roof.

Does homeowners insurance cover roof leaks?

It depends on your policy and the cause of the leak. Policies commonly cover sudden and accidental damage and commonly exclude wear, deterioration, and neglect, so read your policy and ask your insurer directly. If a claim is disputed, the Florida Department of Financial Services offers free help through its Insurance Consumer Helpline at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO (1-877-693-5236).⁵

How much does it usually cost to fix a roof leak?

Most roof leak repairs in South Florida run between 300 and 1,500 dollars, and where yours lands depends on where the leak starts, the roof type, how much of the roof is affected and how much interior damage there is. FoxHaven provides an on-site estimate before any work begins. Our breakdown of the average cost of roof leak repair in South Florida covers what to expect.

Who do I call when my roof is leaking?

Call a licensed roofer for the roof and your insurance company for the claim. Verify the roofer’s license first.² If you are in Martin, St. Lucie, or Palm Beach County, FoxHaven’s emergency line is 772-249-4954.

¹ U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings, Table 1: Water Damage, Cleanup and Mold Prevention. https://www.epa.gov/node/255259

² Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, license verification. https://www.myfloridalicense.com

³ Florida Department of Financial Services, Getting Help with Your Property Insurance Claim. https://www.myfloridacfo.com/docs-sf/consumer-services-libraries/consumerservices-documents/understanding-coverage/consumer-guides/getting-help-property-insurance-claim_web.pdf

⁴ Florida Statutes, section 627.7142, Homeowner Claims Bill of Rights. https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2024/627.7142

⁵ Florida Department of Financial Services, Consumer Guides. https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/understandingCoverage/Guides