Are you stressed after a bad wind storm damaged your roof? Are you unsure what you can do to prevent further damage and get the insurance coverage you need to cover repair costs?
We at RoofSmart have been through many wind storms and helped hundreds of customers repair their roofs after facing storm damage. We’ve done everything from replacing a few shingles to repairing structural damage after an entire tree went through a customer’s home.
In this article, we’ll guide you through six essential steps to take after a wind storm damages your roof, from documenting the destruction to hiring the right roofing contractor.
Following these steps will save you time, reduce stress, and help you get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.
Quick Answers
After a severe wind storm, your priority is to protect your home while documenting everything for insurance.
- Ensure Safety: Check for downed power lines or structural hazards before approaching the house.
- Document Everything: Take clear photos and notes of missing shingles or fallen debris before cleanup starts.
- Contact Insurance: File your claim immediately to get an adjuster scheduled.
- Prevent Further Damage: Use tarps or buckets to stop active leaks; insurance typically covers these emergency measures.
- Hire a Professional: Find a qualified roofing contractor
experienced with insurance claims.
- Approval & Repair: Coordinate with your adjuster and roofer to ensure the scope of work
covers all necessary repairs before starting.
6 Steps to Take After a Wind Storm Damages Your Roof:
1. Make sure it’s safe and inspect your home
After a storm, there could be downed power lines or structural damage to your property that would make it unsafe to be on your property.
Before doing anything else, make sure that it is safe to inspect your roof. If you suspect any danger, contact emergency services immediately.
2. Document the damage
In order to make your insurance claim go as smoothly as possible, it is important to document all of the damage. Take clear pictures of damage to your roof and any other parts of your home. Make detailed notes of the damage to go along with the pictures.
Wind storms can cause damage to your roof and the surrounding areas, especially if debris is flying around or trees get knocked over. Look for missing shingles, damage to areas around the roof, and water in the attic.
It is crucial that you do this BEFORE a roofing contractor comes out to help you clean up and protect your roof until repairs can be made. It’s possible that your roofing contractor will take photos, but it is best to have your own.
That way, when a claims adjuster comes out to your property they can see what it looked like before initial protective measures were taken.
Make sure that you keep digital or physical copies (or both) of the pictures and notes you took, even after you send them over to your insurance agency.
3. Reach out to your insurance agency
As soon as possible, make sure you reach out to your insurance agency to file a claim. Send them the pictures and notes that you took so that they also have a record of the damage. Most insurance companies offer protection against damage from windstorms.
Your insurance agency will take a look at your claim and will most likely send out an adjuster to assess the damage.
4. Take precautions to help prevent further damage to your roof
Your insurance company will require that you do your best to prevent further damage. This means putting tarps over broken windows or vulnerable areas of the roof and removing debris, or even putting a bucket to catch drips as best you can.
You might feel comfortable doing this yourself, or you might want to call a roofing company to help you out. The insurance company pays for this, so if you bring in a roofing contractor that will be covered. Tarping typically falls outside of what you’re contributing to with the deductible payment.
A roofing contractor can help you if you need to remove large debris from your roof. You might have branches or trees stuck through your roof or other parts of your home that would be difficult to get out on your own.
Your roofing contractor can also put a tarp over any holes or areas of the roof that are damaged. Your roof likely has holes or dents after being hit by large debris. It’s also likely that you’ve lost some shingles. Either way, a tarp will protect your home from leaks until the roofer can return to make the repairs.
5. Hire a roofing contractor to assess the damage
If you haven’t brought in a roofing contractor yet, this is the time to do it. After the property is secured, they can assess the extent of the damage. They will share with you what needs to be done and give some cost estimates.
In this situation, it is ideal to find a roofing contractor who has experience working with insurance companies. That way, they can set up their documentation and job proposal in a manner that is most compatible with the insurance company’s process.
If you’re worried about negotiating with your insurance company, a roofing contractor who is experienced in dealing with this might be able to help you navigate this process.
6. Get approval from insurance and have your roofing contractor start the repairs
After your insurance company has assessed your claim, the adjuster will tell you what they will cover. In this situation, you probably won’t get denied unless your insurance doesn’t cover storm damage.
Instead, it will be a matter of deciding how much money you’ll get to cover the repairs. You might have to go back and forth on this for a while until you’re both in agreement.
This is where having a roofer who is knowledgeable about insurance can be helpful because they can help with negotiations. Your roofer will be able to accurately assess what needs to be done to fix the roof, which an adjuster can easily miss because they aren’t roofing experts.
Once you and your insurance company are in agreement, your roofing contract can begin the repairs.
How do I find a roofer that is qualified to help me repair my roof?
Finding a qualified roofing company that you can trust to do a good job can be difficult. There are many ways to assess them.
We recommend starting by looking for a roofing contractor who offers services aside from roofing. Make sure that you also look at reviews to learn what people think about them and the different types of roof work the company has done.
If your home is damaged in other areas around the roof, they might still be able to help (instead of having to call in many other types of contractors). Some roofers do framing, siding, installation of windows, and other services that you may need after a storm.
To learn more about their experience working with insurance companies, call up the roofing contractor and ask them. Here are some questions to ask:
- Do you use Xactimate or a similar tool that caters to the needs of an insurance company? (Xactimate is an online tool that contractors use to make their proposals compatible with the insurance company’s forms.)
- Can you help me with the claim process? What do you envision your role being during the claim process?
Knowing what tools the roofing contractor uses to create their bids and how involved they plan on being in the insurance claim process is important. It will help you understand how much experience they have working with insurance companies and how much you can rely on them for help.
Your Next Steps to Get Insurance Coverage After Roof Damage
Dealing with roof damage after a wind storm can feel daunting, but taking the right steps, documenting the damage, reaching out to your insurance agency, and hiring an experienced roofing contractor, will make the process far more manageable.
Acting quickly ensures your roof is protected from further damage and your insurance claim moves forward smoothly.
Do you want guidance on how to file an insurance claim? Check out our article “Steps For Filing An Insurance Claim For Roof Damage In Renton, WA” for guidance on the claims process and what to expect from your insurance company.
