What to Do if Your Roof Has Storm Damage

Many areas of the United States are prone to strong storms, but most of us don’t think too much about storms, as they usually pass without incident. However, storm damage incidents do happen and they are fairly common. According to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, roof damage from storms is responsible for an estimated 70-90 percent of total insured residential catastrophic losses. So, how do you deal with storm damage when it happens to you?

Types of Storm Damage to a Roof

With many different types of storms, come many different types of storm damage to a roof. After a bad storm, you might notice one or several of the types of storm damage listed below.

Wind Damage

High speed winds can loosen or tear off shingles or cause granules to come off. Gutters might also suffer if they are not properly secured or if strong winds blow other objects into them, causing dents. Roof damage can also occur by power lines, trees, or large branches being blown onto the roof.

Water Damage

Water damage is often secondary to wind damage. Rainwater can leak into your home when shingles become broken or ripped off by strong winds. If gutters become broken or clogged, standing water or puddles can form on your roof and weaken the roofing materials. Water can also get in through missing nail holes and damaged flashing. This moisture can cause mold growth and weakened structures due to rot.

Hail Damage

Hail will most often cause issues by removing the granulation of asphalt shingles, which can weaken them over time. Larger hail stones can cause dents in metal roofs or metal components, like flashing and gutters.

Ice or Snow Damage

Damage from ice and snow can come in the form of water damage after melting or from melting and refreezing, which leads to ice dams. These ice dams form when the ice and snow melt and the ice blocks form at the edge of the roof upon refreezing. This can cause pooling when the snow starts to melt again. In addition, refrozen water can get into cracks or areas under shingles and then refreeze and expand, leading to damage.

Lightning Damage

Although this is less common, lightning can strike a roof and cause extensive damage. A lightning strike can break off shingles, chimney bricks, gutters, or essentially any structure it hits. It can also cause a fire when striking certain materials.

Assessing the Signs of Storm Damage to a Roof

If you suspect that you have roof damage after a bad storm, the first thing you’ll need to do (after the storm has passed and it is safe) is to assess the damage. This is important for determining whether you’ll need to tarp your roof and to gather information to relay to your insurance company and roofing contractor. 

Before getting onto your roof, get a good look from the ground or from any windows that offer a view of part of the roof. If your roof is severely sagging or appears unsafe to walk on, call for an emergency roof repair. You can also check your roof from a ladder without climbing onto the roof itself. You should also check the attic. Check for the following signs of storm damage to your roof:

• Missing shingles
• Missing granulation on shingles
• Dents in flashing or gutters
• Caved in areas of the roof
• Areas of pooled water
• Mold or wet areas in the attic
• Dripping sounds
• Broken, cracked, or leaning chimney
• Damaged skylights, satellite dishes, or other structures

It is helpful to take photos of any areas of damage to show the insurance company. Once you have identified any leaks or damaged parts of your roof, you should measure these to determine the size of the tarp you’ll need to cover it. 

When you have a good idea of the extent of the damage, contact your homeowner’s insurance company to start a claim. It’s important to fix leaks as soon as you can, but in some cases, there might be a wait. This is when you need to consider a tarp for a temporary roof leak fix.

In some cases, you might find yourself with a roofing emergency. For example, the leak can be so severe that it is forcing you and your family to leave your home or you might have issues with electronics or wiring coming into contact with water. If this is the case, it is best to contact a professional right away for a temporary fix to avoid possible injuries.

How to Tarp a Roof After Storm Damage

If you have a leak, it is best to prevent more water from making its way inside. However, simply throwing a tarp over a roof won’t do a lot of good. It is easy for a tarp to get blown away in stormy weather if it is not secured properly. Below are the steps to secure a tarp to an asphalt roof effectively to make sure it stays in place and keeps water out of your home.

Materials Needed to Tarp a Roof

• First, you’ll need a tarp. These come in various sizes and can be purchased at your local hardware store. The tarp should extend out 3-4 feet beyond the damage and should be long enough to extend 4 feet over the peak of the roof to prevent water from getting in. 
• You’ll need enough 2 x 4 boards to go along the perimeter of the tarp and along the peak.
• Nails to nail the tarp into the 2 x 4 boards and nails or screws for nailing or screwing the boards to the roof. 
• If your roof has a visible hole, you can get a square or rectangular flat piece of board big enough to cover it.

*In very temporary cases or if there is not enough time to properly secure a tarp to the roof before another storm, sandbags can be used to hold it down. However, wind and rain can sometimes still get in between the sandbags.

Tarping Process

1. Once you are certain it is safe to be on your roof, clear away any debris left by the storm. 
2. If there is a hole, you can nail the flat piece of board over the hole. The board should be a little bigger than the hole.
3. Unfold and spread out the tarp (ideally with the help of another person) so that it covers the damaged area and about four feet of the tarp hangs over the opposite end of the roof peak.
4. Roll the 2 x 4 boards into the tarp along the peak by folding over the tarp onto the boards and nail the tarp into the board. The number of boards will depend on the size of the tarp. The boards should stick out of the end of the tarp by 1-2 feet. Then nail these boards into the roof. This anchors the tarp to the roof.
5. Nail another 2 x 4 board or boards over these boards, sandwiching the tarp between them. 
6. Continue to secure the tarp to the roof by nailing down the rest of the boards along the perimeter of the tarp. These boards can be placed directly on top, without rolling them into the tarp. Make sure not to step on the tarp, as they can be slippery and present a safety hazard.
7. Any remaining tarp can hang over the eave.

The tiles that are nailed through will need to be replaced when the roof is repaired, but this is much cheaper than trying to fix a severe water damaged attic and house. 

Navigating the Insurance Claim Process for a Storm Damaged Roof

Homeowners insurance typically covers damage from wind, rain, and hail, as well as damage from lightning strikes and power surges. The exact details will vary, but you can check with your provider to make sure your damage is covered. If your roof was already in poor shape or in need of replacement, the insurance company might decide that the damage was due to aging. 

Usually, there will be a deductible you’ll have to meet to receive a payout. If your storm damage is minimal, you might want to find out whether the repair will cost more or less than your deductible before filing a claim. If you think your storm damage roof repair will cost more than your deductible, you can complete the following steps:

• Once you’ve gathered as much information as you can about the extent of your storm damaged roof, contact your insurance company and provide them with the details. 
• They will schedule a time for an adjuster to come to your home and do an assessment. Afterward, they will write up a report and start the claim process.
• At this point, you’ll have to wait to hear back from your insurer about approval.
• If your claim is approved, you can go ahead with scheduling repairs with a roofing contractor. Some insurers might require you to pay the roofing company first and then get reimbursed after.

Finding the Right Roofing Contractor for Storm Damage Roof Repair

While properly tarping a roof can keep rain out for up to 2-3 months, it is definitely not a permanent solution. Finding a reliable certified roofer who can repair a storm damaged roof is important. Check which roofers are available in your area and compare reviews to ensure that they have a good track record and aren’t in the business of scamming customers. 

At Honest Abe, we deal with roof leaks and storm damage all the time and we have the materials, equipment, and expertise necessary to take care of any roof problem. We’ll get to work right away to determine how to repair your roof or even do a roof replacement if the damage is too severe for a repair. 

Contact us today for an honest inspection and quote for your storm damage roof repair.