Roof Damage Repair Guide: How To Fix Your Roof After a Storm

Over the years, I’ve seen all types of common (and uncommon) roof damage, from light hail damage and missing shingles to devastating damage from falling trees and limbs. In this article, I’ll cover some of the major aspects of storm damage, how to assess it, what kind of costs to expect, and what the process of going from a damaged roof to good-as-new looks like.

Read our article roof replacements with solar panels to learn if solar panels are a cost effective addition to your future roof.

If you need a roofing professional now (because of storm damage or any other reason), contact my recommended roofing experts to schedule a meeting: 

How To Assess Your Roof’s Damage After a Storm

Survey for storm damage as soon as it’s safe. I wouldn’t suggest accessing your roof itself. Roofs are dangerous even for professionals in fair weather. Instead, a visual examination from the ground and in the attic or interior is sufficient to find signs of damage.

The most pertinent issue at the outset is roof leaks. If you find significant water leakage, contact a professional immediately. Sustained water leakage can cause severe damage, like collapsing drywall, electrical hazards, and allow water to spread through your home’s unseen and difficult-to-access parts.

How To Find a Water Leak

Water damage remediation can be an extensive and lengthy process, and most homeowners would do well to avoid it if possible. Dampness, discoloration, sagging, and swelling are the most common signs that water has entered somewhere it’s not supposed to.

The most common place where water leakage manifests is in the attic, so you should start there. Grab a flashlight, head into your attic, and begin a visual inspection. Check along the far sides where the roof slopes down into the wall and along the rafters for any water dripping or running down them.

— Doug Sluga, Today’s Homeowner Roofing Specialist

If you find water, it can take a little work to track where it’s coming from. Because roofs are pitched, when water starts seeping in, it has a habit of running down the sloped sheeting and boards and dripping down in a completely different place than it came in. If you can’t find the source, don’t worry. Some leaks can be deceptively hard to find. Call a professional roofer and schedule an inspection. 

Once you’re sure there isn’t any immediate threat to your house, begin documenting the damage you find in preparation for turning a claim in to your insurance company (which will want as much evidence as possible.) Document it anyway, even if you’re unsure whether the storm caused it. Insurance is a service you pay for, so don’t feel bashful about putting the detective work in its lap.

Identifying Roof Damage

There are the apparent things: holes in your roof caused by limbs falling and damaging it, structural damage that causes the roof to look misshapen, torn or missing roof shingles, dings and dents to fascia or metal roofing. 

There are subtler signs to look out for too. Does it look like the granules (cinders) on your asphalt shingles have been knocked off in spots? That’s a sign of storm damage. It needs to be fixed and can be claimed on your insurance.

Are there dents on your metal roofing? That’s storm damage, as well. Drooping or detached gutters, swells caused by ice or snow, missing or torn away soffit, and dented or damaged fascia can all be forms of storm damage and should be addressed before they cause further damage.  

Hail damage on roofs can be one of the hardest forms of storm damage to identify. In the video below, there’s some general guidelines on how roofing inspectors identify and assess the extent of hail damage:

Learn about the cost of emergency roof repair in our in-depth article.

How Much Does It Cost To Repair Your Roof After Storm Damage?

Unfortunately, roof damage repair can vary substantially on costs and time frames. While repairing a few shingles can be done for a few hundred dollars and a couple of hours of work, major damage can carry a regrettably large bill. 

It’s not just the cost of the roof you have to worry about, either. Your roof protects the framing, drywall, electrical, and flooring in various ways. I’ve seen roofs severely damaged by falling trees, which caused those home components to suffer extensive damage. The bill for repairs like that easily goes into the tens of thousands of dollars. While spending that kind of money and time is a depressing thought, there’s a silver lining: Entire trees falling onto houses is rare.

The storm damage that most homeowners can expect is more in the realm of damaged shingles, gutters, or even a small hole. In short, things that are readily repairable and won’t require the major structural work or roof replacement that sends the repair bill through the roof. 

I created a short table to give you a general idea of what a repair might look like:

Some of you may be wondering, does this change according to what roofing material I have on my roof? And the answer is yes, but not hugely, so don’t worry.

Asphalt shingles and wood shakes can be popped off individually and replaced. Metal roofing can be unfastened and replaced. For slate, most things outside major impact damage should hardly disturb it.

As for storm damage beyond surface-level damage, the bill will be approximate across roofing material types. There will be differences in cost because some materials cost more than others, but in the grand scope of things, costs should be roughly proportional Vs. the total cost of the roof.

The Process of Making an Insurance Claim

Most who experience storm damage to their roof will file a claim with an insurance company. If you’re like me, you find insurance intimidating, full of hoops to jump through, and all-around maddening. Fear not. As a professional roofer, I’ve learned a thing or two, so let me walk you through the process. 

If you look at your policy, it should outline what “perils” are covered by your homeowners insurance. A peril is just a type of damage. Your insurance may cover the peril of storm damage but not the peril of a commercial airliner crashing into your roof. Homeowners insurance should cover all storm-related damage (including hail storms, high winds, tornadoes, and hurricanes), but it might be worth double-checking.

Once you’ve looked over your policy, the next step is to document the damage. Pictures are the best form of documentation, so take as many as possible. Next, call your insurance provider and make a roof damage claim. It’ll send out an insurance adjuster to look at the damage and determine how much you receive in compensation. You’ll then contact a reputable roofing company ( See how to find reputable roofing companies) to inspect the damage and give you an estimated cost of repairs. Then that’s it. Provided you’re happy with the estimation, work can begin, and you’re on your way back to a happy roof. 

Read also: review of 3-tab and architectural shingles

How To Prevent Future Roof Damage from Storms

While there is no surefire protection from nature’s fury, you can take some basic precautions. A well-maintained roof will give you the maximum protection possible. It’s not usual to have roofs inspected on a set schedule (as it’s rarely required), but inspections, as needed, are important. 

If you suspect something is wrong with your roof, schedule an inspection. An inspection near the end-of-life for your roofing material (i.e., shingles, shakes, tile) is a good idea. A professional can give you an expert opinion on how long you have left on the roof and when you should consider replacing it with a new roof. They can also verify the good state of the roof’s underlying structure.

Trees Are the Biggest Threat to Roofs

While trees provide wonderful shade (and sometimes moss and lichen), they do pose a threat. I’m not suggesting you cut all your trees down, but it’s a risk-reward situation that every homeowner has to make. At the very least, trees near a house should be maintained regularly by a professional. Healthy, well-maintained trees (while still a risk) are less of a risk than sickly, dead, or overgrown trees.

How To Choose a Reliable Roofing Contractor

The Internet is a great resource to start the process of finding a reputable roofing company. Websites like Yelp, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and Google Reviews will help point you in the right direction if you’re looking for customer testimonials. The most important thing is to ensure that any potential company you hire is insured and licensed according to your state’s laws and regulations. As well, reputable companies always provide a warranty on their work. Avoid any that don’t.  

In my professional opinion, there are two tell-tale marks of a reputable company: it has a portfolio and provides a warranty on its work. I would look at any professional who is unwilling to provide evidence of their work and assurances on the quality of their work with skepticism. 

It’s also the case in areas that have been hit by a recent severe storm for companies to send sales associates out into the affected area to “cold approach” homeowners. General door-to-door solicitation isn’t a common practice anymore, and most of us associate it with less-than-scrupulous sellers, but I wouldn’t immediately write off companies that do this.

I’ve worked with very professional and reputable companies that would solicit in storm-affected areas. In the best cases, it makes repairing storm damage quicker and more seamless for the homeowner. I would take extra precautions to thoroughly vet such companies, though. Opportunity attracts the honest and dishonest alike. 

To be prepared for hurricanes, we recommend reading our article on the most suitable hurricane shutters, which offers a guide on safeguarding your home against hurricanes.

My Recommended Roofing Providers

Erie Home

Erie Home is a roofing company specializing in shingle-style metal roofs. Unlike sheet metal roofing, its roofs have the look of a traditional shingled roof but with the durability of metal.

If you need a new roof because of storm damage, I recommend Erie Home for its numerous quality and convenience options. Services like in-house financing and warranties on its work (as well as its shingles) also makes it an appealing choice if you’re in the market for a new roof. For more on this company you can read up on our Erie Home Review.

DaBella

With locations popping up around the country, DaBella is a fast-growing company with a legion of happy customers to prove it. Since 2011, it’s exploded into a nationwide roofing service and installation provider.

I like its customer-oriented approach, where its team provides over-the-phone consultations and a user-friendly website where you can easily get a quote, browse special offers, and read more about the company and its services. If you need a roof replacement because of storm damage or just because it’s time for a new roof, I recommend DaBella. Its sales associates are a pleasure to speak to and very helpful. 

One Day

One Day is a company that prides itself on being quick (as quick as one day) and consummate professionals. It provides a range of services, including free estimates and online quotes. With locations all across the South and Eastern part of the U.S., finding one near you should be a breeze.

I recommend it for its quality shingles, and this is why I even awarded it with the superlative of  “Best Quality Shingles.” Shingle quality is one of the most important factors for the longevity of a roof, so working with a provider that stocks top-of-the-line products is a huge positive in my book. If a storm has left you out in the cold, I recommend giving the company a call. 

So, What’s the Best Way To Repair Your Roof?

Do a visual inspection of the interior and exterior of your house. Look for water leakage, fallen tree branches, missing shingles or roofing material, damaged roofing material, or anything that looks odd, amiss, or not how you remember also check out for signs of roof wear and tear.

Document anything you find (preferably with pictures) and begin filing an insurance claim with your insurer. Your insurer will dispatch an adjuster to assess your reimbursement, and at this point, you’ll contact a roofing professional to estimate the damage and give you a repair quote.

Once your insurance proves the claim, you’ll be on your way to a repaired roof free of damage that you can once again have confidence in. If you don’t know where to start, fill out this form to get in touch with a roofing specialist: