How can I tell if my roof has been damaged by a storm? 

Right after a significant storm, walk around your home and if there aren’t any asphalt granules on the ground and in the flowerbed, you may have lucked out. But you don’t want to stop there. Some of the biggest tell-tale indications of roof storm damage possibilities can include the following for residential properties: 

• Broken, cracked, or missing shingles
• Loose shingles on the ground around or near your home
• Water leaking from the ceiling inside your home
• Damaged or dented gutters
• Debris, tree branches, etc. on the roof
• Exposed nails on the shingles
• Exposed underlayment

For a commercial roof, indications of roof storm damage include:

• Roofing materials loosened or are partially or completely off
• Detached insulation
• Fasteners exposed
• Perimeter metal flashing bent, loose, or missing
• Ceiling leaks inside the building

What kind of damage can occur to my roof due to a storm?

There are four things that can cause roof storm damage to a home or business: 

• Debris

Debris can land on a roof during a severe storm. This includes tree branches and tree limbs, other objects that were airborne. These are things that can dent the roof surface, making an impact that leaves the roof in danger of moisture getting under the shingles and causing leaks. 

• Hail

Hailstorms do not usually last very long. They come fast and hard, but they can leave behind severe roof storm damage. That damage includes dents or pockmarks, and knocking asphalt shingle granules off, all of which leaves a  roof vulnerable to further damage, including a leaking ceiling. 

• Standing Water

This is an issue more on commercial roofing, but a residential structure with a flat roof can experience standing water if it doesn’t have proper drainage.  Clogged gutters can cause rainwater to back up under the shingles, allowing moisture to seep under the roof decking and underlayment, leading to a leaking roof. 

• Wind

Winds that reach 74 mph are considered hurricane winds, but winds between 39 mph and 54 mph can cause roof storm damage. They rip off any loose shingles and metal flashing, leaving everything under the shingles exposed to the elements. 

What should I do if my roof has been damaged by a storm? 

If your home has roof storm damage and there is a leak, after removing anything that can be damaged under the leak and you’re able, climb up on the roof and fasten a plastic tarp over the leak using 2×4 boards and screws. Then call a roofing contractor for emergency repair service. 

If you’re not able to climb up on the roof, remove everything that can be damaged and call a roofer. Advise them that you’re not able to get to the leak and that water is coming in through the ceiling. 

Once the roofing contractor has inspected the roof storm damage, they will provide you with a quote for repair or replacement. Next, call your insurance company and file a roof storm damage claim. They will assign an adjuster to your claim who will contact you to schedule an appointment. If possible, ask your roofing contractor to be there at the same time. Remember, the contractor is on your side, the insurance adjuster is on their insurance company’s side.

Is roof storm damage covered by insurance?

Yes, your basic homeowner’s insurance policy will have coverage stated that includes roof storm damage.  However, it is at the discretion of the insurance adjuster assigned to the claim to deny the claim if they see any issues of concern. This includes the roof that should have been repaired or replaced before, considering this as the homeowner’s neglect.

What types of repairs may be required to fix roof storm damage? 

If your roof storm damage claim is denied for complete replacement, repairs may be possible. The roofing contractor can replace missing shingles and reattach any loose shingles. They can replace bent or missing flashing or resecure loose flashing as well.