Active leak. Storm damage. Tree through your roof. When the situation is urgent, you need a roofing contractor who picks up the phone and shows up fast. Here is what to do and what to expect.
Fort Wayne sits in a weather corridor that delivers everything from 70 mph straight-line winds to baseball-sized hail to ice storms that load hundreds of pounds onto a roof in hours. When severe weather strikes, the damage can be immediate, dramatic, and stressful. Knowing what to do in the first hours after a roof emergency can mean the difference between a manageable repair and a catastrophic water damage claim.
Big Dog Roofing responds to emergency calls across Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana. We are a veteran-owned company with all in-house crews — no subcontractors, no call centers, no waiting days for a callback. When you call 260.999.0347, you reach us directly.
Not every roof issue is an emergency — but some situations require action within hours, not days. The following scenarios call for same-day response:
Before help arrives, here is what you should — and should not — do:
Stay off the roof. This is the most important rule. A roof that has sustained storm damage may have compromised structural integrity that is not visible from the surface. Wet surfaces, steep pitches, and debris create extreme fall hazards. Leave access to the trained professionals with proper safety equipment.
Limit interior damage. Place buckets under active drips. Move furniture, electronics, and valuables away from the affected area. If water is pooling on a ceiling, carefully puncture the lowest point of the bulge to direct water into a bucket — counterintuitive but correct, as it prevents the ceiling from collapsing under water weight.
Document everything before cleanup. Photograph and video the damage from multiple angles — both exterior and interior. Do not discard damaged materials, torn-off shingles, or debris. Your insurance adjuster needs to see the evidence. Take photos of any water staining on ceilings or walls, and note the time of each photo if possible.
Call Big Dog Roofing immediately. The faster we can get eyes on the damage, the better position you are in — for both the immediate repair and the eventual insurance claim. Call 260.999.0347 and describe the situation. We will prioritize your call and dispatch a crew as quickly as conditions allow.
Report to your insurance company. Once the immediate situation is stabilized, call your insurer to open a claim. Let them know temporary protection has been or is being installed. Most policies require prompt notification of a loss, so do not delay this step.
When a permanent repair cannot be completed immediately — due to active rain, nightfall, material lead times, or insurance adjuster scheduling — emergency tarping protects your home from additional water intrusion. Big Dog Roofing installs heavy-duty polyethylene tarps secured with batten boards and proper fastening so they stay in place through subsequent storms.
A properly installed tarp is not just a sheet thrown over a hole. It needs to extend well beyond the damaged area, lap correctly over the ridge if the damage is at the peak, and be secured in a way that will not cause additional damage to the underlying structure. Our crews have installed tarps in all conditions — at night after severe storms, in February ice, and on steep slopes that most contractors will not touch.
Emergency tarping costs are typically covered by your homeowner's insurance as part of the damage claim. We document the tarp installation with photos and include it in the insurance claim package. You should not pay out of pocket for emergency protection on a covered loss.
When you call us for an emergency, here is exactly what happens:
Once the immediate emergency is stabilized, the next question is whether to repair the affected area or replace the entire roof. This is a decision we approach with transparency, not salesmanship. Factors that point toward repair:
Factors that point toward full replacement:
For storm damage and hail damage claims, insurance often covers a full replacement when damage meets the threshold — meaning the cost difference to you as a homeowner (beyond your deductible) is the same whether you repair or replace. In those cases, we will always recommend the option that gives you the best long-term outcome for your home.
We prioritize emergency calls and aim to respond same-day for active leaks and significant storm damage in the Fort Wayne area. Call 260.999.0347 and let us know the situation. We will get a crew to your property as quickly as possible to assess the damage and provide emergency tarping or temporary protection.
First, stay safe and stay off the roof. If water is actively entering your home, place buckets and move valuables away from the affected area. Document everything with photos and video before any cleanup. Do not discard damaged materials — your insurance adjuster will need to see the evidence. Then call Big Dog Roofing at 260.999.0347.
Emergency tarping typically helps your claim rather than hurting it. Most insurance policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a covered loss. Failure to protect your home from additional water intrusion can actually reduce your claim payout. Big Dog Roofing documents all emergency work with photos and written reports that support your insurance claim.
This depends on the extent and distribution of damage across your roof. Localized damage typically warrants repair. When damage covers more than 30-40% of the roof surface, when the decking is compromised, or when the roof is already near the end of its service life, replacement is usually the smarter long-term investment. We will give you an honest recommendation based on what we actually find.
Yes, in most cases. A tree falling on your roof due to a storm or natural causes is typically covered as a sudden, accidental loss under standard Indiana homeowner's policies. The tree removal itself may also be covered up to a policy limit. Call your insurer to report the loss and contact Big Dog Roofing immediately for emergency stabilization and documentation.