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Roof leaking or storm-damaged? Here's what to do right now.

An active roof leak is a clock — the longer water gets in, the more it costs. Here's exactly what to do in the first hour, how same-day tarping protects your home and your claim, and how to avoid the storm chasers who follow every Gulf Coast hurricane.

Last updated · Complete Roofing LLC · Gulf Breeze, FL · FL Lic. CCC1337480

Quick answer
Right now: contain the water (bucket under the drip, move valuables), photograph the damage for your claim, and get the roof tarped to stop further damage — Complete Roofing offers same-day emergency tarping across Navarre, Gulf Breeze, and Pensacola. Then call a licensed local roofer (not a door-knocking storm chaser). Emergency? Call (850) 220-3965.

What to do in the first hour of a roof leak

Contain the water, protect your belongings, and document everything. Put a bucket under the drip, move furniture and electronics clear, and if the ceiling is bulging with trapped water, poke a small drain hole at its lowest point into the bucket — a controlled drip is far less damage than a collapsed ceiling. Then photograph it all and call for tarping.
  1. 1Contain it. Bucket or bin under the leak; towels around the edges. Relieve a bulging ceiling with a small drain hole at the lowest point.
  2. 2Protect belongings. Move furniture, electronics, and valuables out from under the leak and cover what you can't move.
  3. 3Document for your claim. Photograph and video the interior damage, the ceiling/walls, and (only from the ground) the roof. Note the date and the storm.
  4. 4Don't climb up in the storm. Wet, wind-loaded, or storm-damaged roofs are dangerous. Stay off it — let a pro assess it safely.
  5. 5Call a licensed local roofer. Get same-day tarping to stop the water, then a documented repair plan. Call (850) 220-3965.

Is this an emergency — or can it wait?

It's a true emergencyif there's active water entering your home, a large section of shingles or decking is exposed after a storm, the roof is visibly sagging, or something has punctured it. A few curled or missing shingles with no active leak is urgent but can usually wait for a scheduled visit — just don't let it ride until the next storm.

When you call, describe what you're seeing — active drip, stain spreading, daylight through the deck, a limb through the roof — and we'll tell you straight whether you need us today or whether it can be scheduled. Not sure how bad it is? Our signs you need a new roof guide helps you read the damage.

Emergency tarping: stop the damage before it spreads

A properly installed tarp is the difference between a one-room repair and a whole-house water-damage claim. Complete Roofing provides same-day emergency tarpingacross Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, and the surrounding Panhandle — we secure the exposed area so it's watertight until a permanent repair can be scheduled.

Tarping also protects your insurance claim. Florida policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss — and a documented tarp shows the carrier you did exactly that. We photograph the damage before and after, so there's a clean record of the original loss and the temporary fix.

Will insurance cover the emergency repair?

Usually, yes. Standard Florida homeowners policies include a "duty to mitigate"— you're expected to make reasonable temporary repairs to stop further damage — and they typically reimburse those reasonable emergency costs, including tarping. Keep every receipt and photograph the damage before and after.

The emergency repair is separate from the full claim for the underlying damage. We handle the documentation for both and meet your adjuster on-site. For the bigger picture on coverage, deadlines, and RCV vs. ACV, read does insurance cover roof replacement in Florida — and if your roof is older, see how roof age affects your coverage.

This page is general information for Florida homeowners, current as of June 2026 — not legal or insurance advice. Whether a specific emergency repair is reimbursed depends on your policy; verify with your own agent or the Florida Department of Financial Services.

Don't let a storm chaser turn your emergency into a scam

After every Gulf Coast hurricane, out-of-state crews flood the area, knock on doors, and demand big deposits. Note: Florida law no longer allows an Assignment of Benefits (AOB) on property policies issued on or after January 1, 2023, so anyone pushing one is behind the law — or worse. Verify a Florida license (prefix CCC), confirm a local address, and get everything in writing before you sign anything or pay a deposit.

Complete Roofing is a licensed Florida contractor (FL CCC1337480) headquartered in Gulf Breeze, with local crews and 30+ years on the Panhandle — and we never require an AOB. Know what to ask any roofer before you hire in our guide on questions to ask a roofer.

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Got Questions?

Roof Emergencies — Frequently Asked

Move valuables and electronics out of the way, put a bucket or bin under the drip, and if water is pooling in the ceiling, gently poke a small hole at the lowest point to drain it into the bucket (a contained drip beats a collapsed ceiling). Photograph everything for your insurance claim, then call a licensed roofer for same-day tarping. Don't climb onto a wet or storm-damaged roof yourself.

Yes. Complete Roofing provides same-day emergency tarping across Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Milton, Pace, and the surrounding Panhandle to stop water intrusion before it causes more damage. After a major hurricane, demand surges — call (850) 220-3965 as early as possible and we prioritize by severity. Our crews are local, not driving in from out of state.

Usually yes. Standard Florida homeowners policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss (the 'duty to mitigate'), and they typically reimburse reasonable temporary/emergency repairs like tarping. Keep every receipt and photograph the damage before and after the temporary repair — that documentation supports both the emergency cost and the full claim.

Treat it as an emergency if there's active water coming into your home, a large section of shingles or decking is missing or exposed after a storm, the roof is visibly sagging, or a tree or limb has punctured it. A few curled or missing shingles with no active leak is urgent but can usually wait for a scheduled visit — though it should still be addressed before the next storm.

Be very cautious. As of SB 2-A, Florida law no longer allows you to assign your insurance benefits to a contractor (an AOB) on property policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023 — such an assignment is void and unenforceable. So be skeptical of any out-of-town crew that knocks after a storm, pushes paperwork on the spot, or demands a large cash deposit. Verify a Florida license (prefix CCC) at myfloridalicense.com and confirm a local address first. Complete Roofing is licensed (CCC1337480), local to Gulf Breeze, and never asks for an AOB.

Tarping is same-day to stop the bleeding. The permanent repair timeline depends on whether insurance is involved — a straightforward repair can happen within days, while an insurance-backed replacement typically takes a few weeks through the claim and approval process. We document everything up front so the permanent fix moves as fast as your carrier allows.

Active leak or storm damage? Call us now.

Same-day emergency tarping across the Florida Panhandle. We stop the water, document the damage for your claim, and give you a straight repair plan — no AOB, no pressure.

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