Holiday Roof Emergencies: What To Do Before the Pros Arrive Tonight

December’s lake-effect snow and sudden thaws can turn a calm holiday evening into an urgent roof leak. If you’re dealing with dripping ceilings while guests are over, take a breath. Integrity Exteriors provides emergency roof repair throughout the Rochester area, and there are safe steps you can take right now—without climbing a ladder—to minimize damage until our crew arrives.

First 10 Minutes: Stabilize Indoors, Not on the Roof

Your priority is safety and limiting interior damage. Do these simple steps from the ground:

• Keep people and pets away from wet floors and any bulging drywall ceilings; if a ceiling sags, leave the room and call a professional immediately.
• Turn off electricity at the breaker to the affected area if water is near lights, outlets, or fixtures.
• Move furniture, rugs, and electronics; place a bucket under the leak and lay towels to protect floors.
• Photograph and video the damage for your insurance claim and our assessment.

If accessible and safe, peek into the attic from the hatch (do not walk on joists) to note obvious drips or frosted nails; then close it to maintain heat balance.

Should I tarp my roof myself in winter?

Short answer: Don’t. Winter tarping is hazardous—ice, wind, darkness, and steep pitches make DIY work dangerous and often ineffective. Professionals use harnesses, anchors, synthetic underlayments, and 2x4 battens to secure an emergency roof patch that resists wind uplift and shedding snow. Your safest move is to manage water inside and call an urgent roofing service equipped for cold-weather tarping and temporary dry-in.

What’s Causing Holiday Roof Leaks in Western New York?

• Ice dam leaks: Heat escaping into the attic melts rooftop snow; water refreezes at cold eaves and backs up under shingles. This is common after daytime thaws and overnight freezes.
• Wind-lifted shingles: Gusts along the Genesee Valley can break seals and expose nail lines, letting meltwater infiltrate.
• Tree and limb impacts: Heavy, wet snow can bring down branches that puncture shingles or gutters.
• Flat roof ponding: Freeze–thaw cycles stress TPO, EPDM, and modified bitumen seams, creating hairline openings that become steady drips.
• Gutter overflow: Clogged K-style gutters freeze, forcing water toward fascia, soffits, and wall cavities.

What You Can Do While You Wait

These actions are safe and help limit damage:

• Reduce interior humidity: Run bath and kitchen exhaust fans and a dehumidifier to slow condensation in attics and wall cavities.
• Lower thermostat a couple of degrees to reduce rapid melt at the roof deck, but keep the home warm enough to protect pipes.
• Create airflow: Open interior doors and aim a box fan on low at the ceiling leak to keep moisture from concentrating in one spot.
• Clear downspout exits and ground-level drains so meltwater has somewhere to go away from the foundation.

How Integrity Exteriors Handles Night and Holiday Calls

When you reach out for emergency roof repair, our dispatcher gathers details, photos, and your address to determine the fastest route in Monroe County. A technician arrives with cold-rated tarps, synthetic underlayment, and patch materials to stop active leaks. We safely secure a temporary roof patch, protect interior areas, and provide a written estimate for permanent repair. If the issue stems from an ice dam, we’ll outline ventilation and insulation recommendations, and if shingles are compromised, we’ll discuss options from asphalt shingle repair to standing seam metal roof replacement. For low-slope issues, we inspect TPO, EPDM, or modified bitumen seams and schedule flat roof repair as needed.

Prevent the Next Emergency After the Holidays

Once the weather allows, invest in upgrades that fit Rochester’s climate:

• K-style seamless gutters and downspout extensions to move meltwater away fast
• Enhanced ice and water shield at eaves, valleys, and penetrations during asphalt roof replacement
• Balanced attic ventilation with continuous soffit intake and ridge exhaust to keep the roof deck cold
• Siding and flashing tune-ups to seal wind-driven moisture at wall-roof intersections
• Proactive flat roof maintenance for TPO and EPDM to protect seams before spring thaws

Your Local Partner for Fast, Reliable Help

A roof leak doesn’t have to derail your holiday. Stabilize the space, stay off the roof, and call a certified team that understands lake-effect storms and cold-weather repairs. For urgent service tonight and a plan to prevent the next emergency, contact Integrity Exteriors for prompt estimates and professional repairs. Request help now at www.integrity-exteriors.com and keep your home dry, safe, and celebration-ready.