Roofing 5 min readSeptember 2025

What to Do After Storm Damage to Your Roof

A bad storm can turn a sound roof into an emergency in an afternoon. What you do in the days after matters, both for protecting your home from further damage and for making any insurance claim go smoothly. Here is the order to do it in.

1. Stay safe first

Do not climb onto a storm-damaged roof, and stay clear of any downed power lines near the house. Most damage can be assessed from the ground with a phone camera or, at most, from a ladder at the eaves. The roof itself is a job for a professional after a storm.

2. Document everything

Before anything is moved or repaired, photograph the damage thoroughly: missing shingles, dented gutters, debris, and any interior water stains. Time-stamped photos are the foundation of a smooth insurance claim. The more you document now, the less you argue later.

3. Prevent further damage

If water is actively getting in, temporary measures like a tarp can limit interior damage while you wait for a permanent repair. Keep receipts for anything you buy to protect the home, since many policies reimburse reasonable emergency measures.

4. Call a roofer for an inspection

Have a professional inspect the roof and give you a clear, documented assessment of the damage. A good roofer will tell you honestly whether it is a repair or a replacement and provide the documentation you need for a claim. We do this inspection for free.

5. Handle insurance carefully

Contact your insurer promptly and share your documentation. Be wary of storm-chasing contractors who show up uninvited promising to handle everything; the reputable path is a local roofer with a real address and references. We help with the roofing side of the claim, but we will never pressure you into work you do not need.

If a storm has hit your roof, we will come out, document the damage clearly, and give you a straight answer on repair versus replacement, with no pressure. Call us for a free storm inspection.

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