When wind off Lake Michigan strips shingles off a Sheridan Road home at 2 a.m., you do not want to wait three days for a callback. We staff a dedicated emergency line and rotate two-person tarp crews through the North Shore so we can be on a roof within four hours of most calls — frequently within ninety minutes inside the Evanston city limits.
What we do on an emergency call
We stabilize the leak first: heavy-mil reinforced tarp, sandbagged and screwed into the deck through cushioned battens so we do not create new holes, with the seams overlapped against the prevailing wind. Then we document everything with date-stamped photos and a written narrative your insurance adjuster will accept. The permanent repair is scheduled as a separate, planned visit.
When to call us right now
Active interior dripping, daylight visible through the attic roof deck, a tree limb on or through the roof, shingles littering the yard after a storm, missing flashing or step-flashing after high winds, or any situation where you smell wet drywall or insulation. Do not wait for it to dry on its own — gypsum board that has been soaked will mold within 48 hours.
What you can do before we arrive
Move valuables and electronics away from the leak. Place a 5-gallon bucket under any active drip and slit the ceiling bulge with a small screwdriver to let it drain in a controlled way (a soaked ceiling that collapses on its own makes a much bigger mess). Do not climb on a wet or storm-damaged roof yourself. Take photos of everything — they help with the insurance claim later.
What you get with us
- 24/7 dispatch line: (331) 267-5113
- Insurance-grade documentation included
- No emergency surcharge inside Evanston
- Permanent repair scheduled separately at fair-weather pricing
Questions Evanston homeowners ask about repair.
How fast can you actually get here?+
Inside Evanston, our average emergency response time is 78 minutes. Across the broader North Shore service area we target four hours or less, 24/7.
Will my insurance cover the tarp?+
In almost every case, yes. Emergency mitigation is a standard covered expense under HO-3 policies in Illinois, and we provide the documentation the adjuster needs.
Do you do permanent repairs at the same time?+
Almost never. The right permanent repair requires a dry deck, daylight, and time to source the correct flashing or shingle. We come back within days to do it properly.