If you’re reading this, it probably sounds like this
- “I can see a bare patch from the driveway, but I can’t tell how bad it is.”
- “A guy knocked on the door offering to get me a new roof through my insurance.”
- “Is this covered, or am I paying for this myself?”
- “There’s more rain coming and I don’t want it getting inside.”
You don’t need to decide on a roof tonight. You do need the house protected before the next rain, and a clear picture of what you’re dealing with before anyone talks you into a contract.
In the first 24 hours
- 1Stay off the roof. Wet, wind-damaged shingles are slippery and damaged edges can break away under you.
- 2Photograph the damage from the ground, the debris in the yard and any new stains inside, and note the date.
- 3Catch any drips and move belongings away from wet spots.
- 4Call your insurer if you plan to file a claim, and write down the claim number.
- 5Call us at (860) 710-5862 and tell us what you’re seeing. We’ll tell you plainly whether it sounds like a repair or a roof.
5 things to check after a windstorm
You can see most of these from the ground or the attic. Don’t climb up to look.
Missing shingles or bare patches
The underlayment underneath is now the only thing keeping water out, and it isn’t built to be the outer layer. It breaks down in sunlight and tears in the next wind.
The tell: Dark or differently colored patches on the roof, or pieces of shingle on the ground.
Creased or lifted shingles
A shingle that flapped in the wind can crease along the top and lose its seal even if it stayed on. Lifted shingles are where the next storm gets in.
The tell: A visible line across a shingle, or edges that don’t lie flat.
Bent flashing or a loose ridge cap
Wind works on the edges and the peak first. Bent flashing around a chimney or a loose ridge cap can leak as badly as a missing shingle.
The tell: Metal that looks bent or lifted, or ridge pieces out of line.
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Fresh granules in the gutters
A burst of granules after a storm can mean shingles were scuffed or struck by branches and debris.
The tell: A sudden pile at the downspouts that wasn’t there before.
A new stain inside
Water often shows up a day or two later, in the attic or on a top-floor ceiling, once wet insulation lets it through.
The tell: A fresh mark on a ceiling, or damp insulation in the attic.
Repair, or a new roof?
Usually a repair
- A few shingles missing in one spot
- A younger roof that is otherwise in good shape
- No water inside
Usually time for a new roof
- Damage spread across several slopes
- An older roof whose shingles crack when they’re lifted for a repair
- Repairs that won’t match the faded shingles around them
If yours sounds like a repair, we’ll tell you so.