What to Do When a Flat Roof Starts Leaking

Don’t go on the roof if it’s actively raining or still wet — wet membrane is dangerously slippery, and it’s not necessary to assess the situation from up there right away.

Contain the water inside with a bucket or container, and move anything valuable out of the way.

Photograph the damage as soon as you notice it, for both insurance and repair documentation.

Note when it started and what the weather was doing — this context speeds up diagnosis significantly.

Call for an inspection rather than waiting to see if it happens again. A leak that shows up once during a storm is very likely to show up again during the next one, and the damage compounds the longer it’s left alone.

Building a Simple Emergency Plan Before You Need One

If your flat roof is aging or has a history of issues, it’s worth having a basic plan in place before an emergency happens: know where your interior shutoff for any nearby electrical is, keep a few buckets or containers accessible, and have our number saved rather than searching for it while water is actively coming through your ceiling.

This kind of light preparation doesn’t take long, but it meaningfully reduces stress and potential damage in the moment if an active leak does happen.