A leak during a Memphis thunderstorm is stressful, but the next 30 minutes matter more than the next 30 days. Here's a simple checklist.
1. Move what you can
Get furniture, electronics, and rugs out from under the drip. Throw a plastic tarp or trash bag over anything you can't move. Water damage to a couch costs more than the roof repair.
2. Catch the water
Put a bucket — or a 5-gallon paint pail, or a trash can — under the active drip. Lay an old towel in the bottom of the bucket to muffle the dripping sound and prevent splashing. If water is bulging the ceiling, take a screwdriver and poke a small hole in the lowest point of the bulge. That sounds wrong, but a controlled release into a bucket is much better than the whole ceiling collapsing.
3. Don't go on the roof
Wet shingles are slippery. Even experienced roofers don't get on roofs during active storms. Stay inside.
4. Take photos
If the damage is significant enough that you might file an insurance claim, photograph everything — the wet ceiling, the bucket, the water stains, any items that got soaked. Timestamps from your phone are your friend.
5. Call us
Our line answers seven days a week: (901) 493-1219. For active emergencies in the Memphis metro, we can usually tarp the roof same-day or first thing the next morning. A proper tarp job buys you weeks before the actual repair has to happen.
What we'll do
On a leak call, we come out, find the source (it's often not directly above where the water is showing up — water travels along rafters), and either patch the leak or tarp the area until weather allows a full repair. If insurance is involved, we'll document everything and meet your adjuster.
Don't wait. Small leaks turn into rotted decking and ruined drywall faster than you'd think — especially in Memphis humidity.
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