Active leak · Storm damage · Failed membrane · Water in the building
Emergency Roof Leak Repair in NYC
Water is coming through your roof. Call now. We stop the water, find the source, then repair or replace the roof. One team from the first tarp to the permanent fix.
Email: info@altiuscm.com
Ceiling sagging, or water near electrical equipment? Clear the area. If anyone is at risk, call 911 first.
Leak intake
Address, where the water is coming in, and a number we can reach you on. Photos help; we will ask for them when we reply.
Call first
Call the line. Tell us the address and where the water is coming in. We tell you straight what has to happen first.
Water stopped first
Tarping, temporary membrane and flashing to stop active water intrusion through a roof, parapet or facade opening.
Same team, permanent fix
The crew that stops the water also does the repair or the full tear-off and replacement. No second contractor to find.
Where roofs leak
Most active leaks trace back to a short list of failure points. Finding the real one is the job.
Parapet and roof-to-wall transitions
Counterflashing at the perimeter and parapet walls is the transition where many leaks begin. See parapet repair and 111 Hudson Street.
Flashings, coping and sheet metal
Water infiltration through parapets, coping and flashing details is a standard emergency call. New sheet metal fabrications are part of the scope on our roofing jobs.
Failed membrane sections
A localized failure gets a targeted membrane repair. A failed or collapsed section can mean tear-off and replacement, mid-project if needed.
Roof drains
Drains refurbished with new cast iron strainers and clamping rings, as on the 28,000 sq ft roof at 1251 Avenue of the Americas.
Skylights
Existing round skylights waterproofed with PMMA, a liquid-applied system that handles curved and detailed surfaces. See PMMA waterproofing.
Worn-out roof systems
Widespread ponding or a membrane past its warranty life means the roof, not the leak, is the problem. See commercial roof replacement.
What happens when you call
Water out of the building first, then the real repair.
- Stop the water. Tarping, temporary membrane and flashing over the entry point so the building stops taking on water.
- Find the source. We inspect the roof before recommending a repair or a replacement. A localized leak with a sound membrane gets a targeted repair; widespread ponding or deck problems point to replacement.
- Permits handled. Emergency work does not bypass DOB permitting. We file the permit as part of the mobilization, not after the fact.
- Repair or replace. Membrane patch and flashing repair, or full tear-off and replacement. The permanent fix is scoped in writing before it starts.
Before the crew arrives
Keep people and electrical equipment away from wet ceilings. Take time-stamped photos and video of the leak and the damage. Send your insurer, your board and your managing agent a short written notice with the photos; your policy decides what is covered, so open the claim early. Do not send staff onto a wet or storm-hit roof.
Something structural, such as falling masonry, a failing parapet or an Unsafe finding? Go to emergency structural repair and containment.
Emergency and roof work on record
From our own project records: self-reported, not third-party audited, but specific. More roofing at /roofing. Full portfolio at /projects.
150 West 56th Street
Emergency roof replacement at the penthouse, added to the contract mid-job once the condition was found, under a sidewalk shed with a Tenant Protection Plan. Completed.
111 Hudson Street
New sloped roof, PMMA waterproofing at skylights and counterflashing at parapet walls, with concrete repair and brick replacement. In progress.
401 East 65th Street
Tear-off of a failing roof system and replacement with a liquid-applied membrane over vacuum insulation, finished with porcelain pavers.
1251 Avenue of the Americas
28,000 sq ft reinforced fluid-applied roof with new flashings and sheet metal and refurbished drains.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can you get to an active roof leak?
It depends on scope and access requirements. For an active leak we prioritize scoping and permitting rather than running a standard bid-and-award cycle. Call, and tell us it is active (emergency repair services).
What do you do first on a leaking roof?
Stop the water. That means tarping, temporary membrane and flashing over the point where water is entering. Then we inspect the roof to find the source before recommending a repair or a replacement.
Is the first fix permanent?
No. Tarping and temporary membrane stop active water intrusion. The permanent repair, a membrane and flashing repair or a full replacement, follows once the source is found and scoped.
Do I need a permit for emergency roof work in NYC?
Emergency work does not bypass DOB permitting, but it does not have to wait for it. Under NYC Administrative Code §28-105.4.1, work that would otherwise need a permit may start without one “to the extent necessary to relieve an emergency condition,” and the permit application is due within 2 business days after the work starts (§28-105.4.1). We handle the filing as part of the mobilization.
Repair or replacement: how do you decide?
Localized leaks with an otherwise sound membrane and structure usually call for a targeted repair. A membrane past its warranty life, widespread ponding or structural deck issues found during inspection point toward full replacement. We inspect before recommending either (roof repair and replacement).
Can an emergency roof replacement be added to a job that is already running?
Yes. At 150 West 56th Street an emergency roof replacement at the penthouse was added to an exterior restoration contract once the condition was found, and the project was completed.
If the leak means a full replacement, does it trigger a green or solar roof?
Only if the work replaces the entire roof deck or roof assembly. Since November 15, 2019, an existing NYC building that replaces its whole roof deck or assembly needs a sustainable roofing zone covered by solar, a green roof or a combination (NYC DOB: Local Laws 92/94). A repair to part of the roof, or patching and recoating, does not trigger it. Our Local Laws 92 and 94 guide walks through the trigger and the exclusions, and we review it with you before we scope.
Who do I notify about a roof leak?
Your insurer, your board and your managing agent, in writing, with time-stamped photos. Your policy decides what is covered, so get the claim opened early. If the condition is structural, or DOB has issued an order, see emergency structural repair.
Water coming in? Call now.
Tell us the address and where the water is entering. We stop it first.
Related: Commercial roof replacement · Emergency structural repair · Emergency facade & roof repair · Roofing projects · Roof repair & replacement · Contact
This is general information, not legal advice.