I learned this lesson the hard way last year. First big storm in our new place, and I spotted a tiny drip in the guest room. Figured I’d just toss a towel down and deal with it after work. Well, by the weekend, that “tiny” leak had soaked through the ceiling and started bubbling the paint. Ended up calling a roofer for an emergency patch, but the water had already gotten into the insulation. Insurance covered some of it, but we still had to pay out of pocket for the drywall and repainting.
Looking back, I wish I’d at least thrown a tarp up or called someone sooner. The quick fixes just delayed the real problem, and it cost way more in the end. I get wanting to save money, but honestly, even a temporary professional patch beats hoping for the best. Storms here (Midwest) are no joke, and water damage spreads fast. If I see anything now, I’m on it right away—lesson learned.
That’s a rough one. I’ve seen folks try to “wait out” a leak, and it almost always ends up costing more. Out of curiosity, did your insurance give you any grief about the timing? Sometimes they’ll nitpick if you don’t act fast enough. Around here, I’ve seen storm repairs run anywhere from a few hundred for a quick patch to several grand if water gets into the walls or attic. Did you have to deal with mold cleanup too, or did you catch it before it got that far?
Did you have to deal with mold cleanup too, or did you catch it before it got that far?
That’s the million-dollar question, right? I always wonder how many people actually manage to dodge the mold bullet after a storm. Around here (humid summers, lots of rain), it feels like if you blink, you’re already dealing with that musty smell in the attic. Did you end up having to rip out drywall, or was it just surface stuff?
I’m curious about the insurance angle too. You mentioned they might nitpick on timing—did they actually push back, or was it just a hassle with paperwork? I’ve heard stories where folks get stuck in a loop because the adjuster says “you waited too long,” but then the roofer can’t come out for weeks anyway. Kind of a catch-22.
On the cost side, I’ve seen repairs all over the map. My neighbor patched his asphalt shingles himself for under $200, but another friend with a flat roof had to shell out almost $5k because water got into the insulation. Did you look into any green options while you were at it? Sometimes insurance will cover a basic repair, but if you want to upgrade (like to metal or a cool roof), it’s all out of pocket. I keep wondering if it’s worth biting the bullet and going for something more durable, or if that’s just wishful thinking when you’re already stressed from storm damage.
And how about contractors—did you have trouble finding someone reliable? After the last big storm here, every roofer in town was booked solid for months. I know a few folks who tried DIY fixes just to keep things dry until they could get a pro out. Not sure I’d trust myself up there, but desperate times...
Anyway, hope you didn’t have to deal with too much mold. That stuff is no joke.
I get what you’re saying about “if you blink, you’re already dealing with that musty smell”—but honestly, I feel like sometimes the mold panic is a little overblown? Not saying it’s not a real problem (it totally is if it gets out of hand), but after our last storm, we had a leak in the ceiling and I was convinced we’d have to gut half the house. Turned out a couple fans and a dehumidifier for a week did the trick. Maybe it’s just luck, or maybe we caught it early enough, but I didn’t see any signs of mold after.
About insurance, I’ve actually had the opposite experience from what you described here:
My adjuster was way more responsive than the contractors—almost annoyingly so. He called every other day asking for updates, but I couldn’t get anyone to come out for almost three weeks! In the end, insurance covered most of the repairs, but they wouldn’t spring for any upgrades. I wanted to try metal too, but wow—the price jump is kind of wild compared to basic shingles.“the adjuster says ‘you waited too long,’ but then the roofer can’t come out for weeks anyway.”
I’m still on the fence about DIY fixes. Part of me thinks “how hard can it be?” but then I remember how bad I am with ladders...
I hear you on the mold thing—sometimes people do go overboard, but I’ve seen it sneak up fast if you miss a wet spot in the attic or behind drywall. As for DIY, ladders are my nemesis too. I’ll patch a bit of drywall or paint, but anything involving heights, I just budget for a pro. The cost stings, but hospital bills would sting more. And yeah, metal roofs look great but the price made me laugh out loud. Shingles it is, for now…
