Ely Roofers carries out commercial roofing work in Upwell and the surrounding area, and if your roof is actively failing right now, here is what to do while you wait for a roofer to arrive.
Ely Roofers provides commercial roofing for warehouses, offices, retail units, and agricultural buildings in Upwell and across the wider area. We handle flat roof refurbishment, single-ply and EPDM membrane systems, metal sheet roofing, and general repairs.
This page covers the full picture of what commercial roofing involves, and then focuses on a question that matters urgently when a roof fails: what should you do while you are waiting for a roofer, and what should you avoid doing yourself?
Commercial roofing spans a wide range of building types and systems. Flat roofs on offices and retail units are typically covered with built-up felt, EPDM rubber membranes, or single-ply membranes. Industrial and agricultural buildings most commonly use profiled metal sheeting in box-profile or corrugated form. Each system has different failure modes, repair methods, and expected service lives.
A good installation starts with a thorough survey of the existing structure, assessment of the insulation, and a clear specification of the system being installed. Falls, drainage design, and the detailing at edges, upstands, and penetrations are as important as the surface material. Skimping on any of these is where problems begin.
A roof that is actively letting in water during a job or after a storm creates immediate pressure to do something. The most important thing to understand is that the right action in the first hour is about limiting damage inside the building, not about fixing the roof from the outside.
Start by identifying where water is entering the building. Place containers to catch drips and, if possible, move stock, equipment, or documents away from the affected area. If water is pooling on a suspended ceiling, be aware that ceiling tiles can give way suddenly under the weight, so keep people away from the area directly below.
Switch off electrical equipment in the affected zone if there is any risk of water reaching sockets, fuse boards, or cabling. Do not assume a roof is safe to walk on during or immediately after a storm. Wind, wet surfaces, and damaged sections create serious fall risks.
If the building has a flat roof and water is entering through a visible split or hole that you can safely reach from the inside, you can use a bucket to catch water at the point of entry. That is about the limit of what is safely and usefully done from inside.
From the outside, the only reasonable temporary measure that a non-specialist can apply is a heavy-duty polyethylene tarpaulin weighted or fixed down to cover the damaged area. This works on relatively simple flat roofs or pitched metal sheet roofs where access is safe and the damaged section is clearly defined. Use sandbags or timber battens to hold the tarpaulin down rather than relying on tape or ties that will not hold in wind.
A tarpaulin is not a repair. It buys time. It does not tell you how large the area of damage or water ingress actually is, and it should be replaced with a proper repair as soon as a roofer can get there.
The following are things that regularly cause more problems than they solve when attempted without proper training, equipment, or materials.
When you call to report an active roof problem, the more information you can give, the better. Useful things to mention: the type of roof and building (flat felt, single-ply, metal sheet), the approximate age of the roof if you know it, where inside the building you are seeing water, whether there has been recent wind or storm activity, and whether the problem is new or has been worsening over time.
This helps a roofer come prepared with the right materials and access equipment rather than making a preliminary visit before ordering what is needed. On commercial sites, being able to describe the roof type and size also speeds up the process of arranging a RAMS if the site requires one.
Once the immediate situation is under control, the next step is a proper condition survey to understand the full extent of the damage and what the roof needs in the medium term. An emergency repair or a tarpaulin is not the end of the process; it is a pause to allow a considered decision rather than a rushed one.
A survey will tell you whether the problem is isolated or whether the roof is approaching the end of its serviceable life. That determines whether repair or replacement is the better investment, and what the likely cost will be. From there, you can plan and budget properly rather than waiting for the next failure.
If your commercial building in Upwell has an active leak, call Ely Roofers for advice on managing the situation and to arrange a site survey as soon as possible. The sooner a proper assessment happens, the smaller the eventual repair bill is likely to be.
No obligation · We usually respond within 2 hours
Storm damage, active leak, damaged ridge - we aim to be on-site within 24 hours.
