Emergency Roofing in Ellijay, GA: Tarp First, Decide Later

The first ten minutes

If a tree or large limb has come through the roof, get everyone out of that part of the house and stay out until someone has looked at the structure. Do not climb onto a damaged roof, and stay away from any downed power lines; call the electric utility for those. If water is near light fixtures or outlets, turn off the circuit at the breaker panel if you can reach it safely.

For an ordinary leak, move furniture and electronics away, put down buckets and towels, and if a ceiling is bulging with water, a small hole at the low point of the bulge lets the water drain into a bucket instead of bringing down a larger section. Do this only if you can do it safely from the floor.

Then start taking pictures. Photograph the ceiling, the floor, the attic if accessible, and the outside of the roof from the ground. Those photos will matter more than anything else you do today.

Why a tarp is the right first repair

Georgia's Office of Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner tells homeowners that homeowners policies might require them to make temporary repairs to protect property from further damage, that the policy should cover the cost of those temporary repairs, and to keep all receipts. The same guidance says not to make permanent repairs before the damage is inspected, because an insurer may deny a claim if permanent repairs are made first.

A tarp is the classic temporary repair. Done well, it covers the damaged area with generous overlap past the ridge so water cannot run under it, is held down with boards or battens rather than only nails through the tarp, and does not create new holes that will leak after it comes off. Done badly, it blows off in the next storm and adds holes.

On steep cabin roofs common around Ellijay, tarping is a job for someone with fall protection. Ask for photos of the tarp once it is on, and keep the invoice with your claim records.

Call the insurer early and keep a log

The Commissioner's claim tips say to file a claim as soon as possible, to provide complete and correct information, and to keep copies of all correspondence. They also recommend writing down every phone call and in-person contact: the date, the name and title of the person, and what was said.

If you can, find out what the repair will cost before you meet the adjuster, and give the adjuster records of improvements you have made to the property. Ask the adjuster for an itemized explanation of the settlement offer.

If the claim is denied, get the reason in writing along with the specific policy language. The Commissioner's Consumer Services Division accepts complaints if you think a claim is being mishandled.

Storm chasers and same-afternoon contracts

After a storm in the north Georgia mountains, contractors sometimes go door to door. Some are reputable. Before signing anything, check that the company holds a Georgia residential or general contractor license through the Secretary of State's GOALS search, and get a local address and phone number you can verify.

Do not sign a contract for a full replacement while you are still dealing with water in the house. A tarp invoice is fine; a full roof contract with no scope, a price of 'whatever insurance pays', or an assignment of your claim to the contractor deserves a pause. The choosing a roofer page lists what a fair contract should say.

If someone offers to waive or cover your deductible, treat that as a red flag. A contractor who is confident in the work will be just as willing to sign next week, after you have spoken with your insurer and read the paperwork in daylight.

When the permit comes in

Emergency tarping protects the house; the permanent repair or replacement is a construction project that normally needs a permit. In unincorporated Gilmer County, Planning & Zoning issues building permits before construction begins. Inside Ellijay city limits, City of Ellijay Code Enforcement handles permits. East Ellijay owners should check with their own city hall.

Gilmer County's Section 66-40 charges double the permit fee plus a $500.00 fine for building without a permit and $50.00 for each re-inspection. Ask the roofer who will pull the permit for the permanent work and when.

The Gilmer County permit page lists the fee lines in full.

Getting help

Use the Free Quote Request form and choose 'Roof leak or storm damage'. Include in your request whether a tree is still on the roof, whether water is actively coming in, and whether the house is reachable by a truck. An independent roofer who works in Gilmer County can call you back.

If a tree is resting on the house, you may need a tree service before or alongside the roofer. Many roofers know local tree crews and can coordinate, but the tree removal is a separate job and a separate bill.

Once the house is dry and covered, the roof repair page and the hail damage page help you plan the permanent fix.

Figures on this page come from: Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire: Insurance Claim Tips; Gilmer County, GA Code of Ordinances, Sec. 66-40, Building permit fees (Municode); Gilmer County, GA: Planning & Zoning (building permits, inspections, STR ordinance notice); City of Ellijay: Code Enforcement (building permits and inspections inside city limits); Georgia Secretary of State: GOALS license lookup. Checked 2026-10-30.