Emergency Roofer in Ely: 24/7 Call-Outs

What counts as a roofing emergency

A roofing emergency is anything that lets water into your home or puts people at risk. Common examples include water dripping through a ceiling or light fitting, tiles or slates blown off in a storm, a ridge or verge that has come loose, a damaged chimney, lead flashing that has been torn away, or a flat roof that has split or lifted.

If you are not sure whether it is urgent, call anyway. We would rather talk it through and reassure you than leave a small problem to become a large one. Sometimes a leak can wait for a planned roof repair; sometimes it needs attention straight away. We will be honest about which it is.

What to do while you wait

Your safety comes first. Never go onto the roof or up a ladder in wind, rain or the dark, and keep everyone away from the area below any loose tiles, slates or chimney pots.

Indoors, place buckets or containers under drips and move furniture, rugs and electrical items out of the way. If water is near a light fitting or electrics, switch off the electricity to that circuit at the consumer unit if it is safe to do so. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep clear of it. Where you can reach the loft safely, a bucket or sheet beneath the leak can limit the damage.

Then take some photos. Pictures of the damage inside and out, taken from the ground or from a window, are useful for us and for your insurer.

How an emergency call-out works

An emergency call-out follows three clear steps. First, we make the roof safe: loose materials are secured or removed and temporary weatherproofing is put in place to stop more water getting in. Second, once it is safe to do so, we inspect the roof properly to find the real cause of the problem, not just the place where water is appearing. Third, we give you a clear quote for the permanent repair.

That way you are not pressured into a large decision in the middle of a storm. The roof is protected, you understand what has happened and you can decide on the permanent work with the facts in front of you. All of our work is fully insured and guaranteed.

Storm damage and insurance photo tips

Many storm-damage claims are covered by home insurance, so it is worth contacting your insurer early. Clear evidence helps. Photograph the damage from the ground, including any fallen tiles, slates or ridge pieces, and take pictures of internal water staining or ceiling damage as soon as you notice it. Note the date and time, and keep any broken materials that have fallen.

We can provide photos and a description of the damage we find during our inspection, which you can pass to your insurer. For more on wind and water damage, see our page on storm damage and roof leaks.

Emergency roofing around Ely

We cover Ely and the city's surrounding villages, along with Littleport, Soham, Chatteris and the wider Fens. Across this flat, open landscape, storms often hit ridges, verges and older chimneys hardest, and we are familiar with the cathedral-city terraces, Victorian villas and modern estates that make up the area. For non-urgent work, see our main Ely roofers page.

Our full 24/7 emergency roof repairs service covers the rest of Cambridgeshire too, so if you are further afield, still call us first.

What our customers say

Jake N. summed up our emergency work in his Google review: “Fast and definitely reliable service. Within 24 hours of my first call our problem was solved. Very happy I chose the right company.” Our other reviewers describe the same approach: reliable, on time, honest and tidy.

Once the emergency is over, we will make sure the permanent repair is done properly, whether that is replacing a few tiles, renewing a lead flashing, upgrading to a dry ridge system or carrying out a fuller repair. Free roof inspections and quotes are always part of the service.