1. Check from the ground
Wait until the storm has passed. Then walk around the house and look for:
- Shingles that are missing, lifted, folded, or sitting in the yard.
- Dents on gutters, downspouts, vents, and the AC unit, a sign hail hit the house.
- Piles of shingle granules at the bottom of the downspouts.
- Bent or loose flashing around the chimney and roof edges.
- New water stains on ceilings or around upstairs windows.
Stay on the ground. Don’t climb a wet or damaged roof. Take photos from the yard and call us.
2. Take photos and write the date
Photograph anything that looks damaged: shingles in the yard, dented gutters and vents, the AC unit, ceiling stains, broken windows. Photos of hail on the ground help too. Write down the date and time of the storm, and keep everything in one place.
3. Don’t sign with door-knockers
After a big storm, people may come to your door offering a new roof. Don’t sign anything on the spot. Take your time, ask for a written estimate, check that the roofer is licensed and insured, and choose someone you can reach after the job is done.
4. Call your insurance company
If you think there’s damage, call your insurance company or agent and ask how they want you to report it. The claim is between you and your insurer.
5. Get the roof documented
We inspect storm and hail damage, document what we find with photos, and can meet your adjuster at the house. We don’t file or negotiate your claim, and nobody can promise what insurance will pay.
If the roof needs repair or replacement, we do the work. If it doesn’t, we tell you that too.
6. Stop small leaks from getting bigger
If water is coming in, put a bucket under it, move things out of the way, and take photos. Don’t go on the roof yourself. Call a roofer.