Once the sun comes out again, you can shine a light on any storm damage to your roof
Damage to your roof and siding is common after storms.
Hail can cause dents, cracks, and movement.
High winds can rip parts of your roofing material away.
It's not uncommon to see damaged or missing shingles that lead to water ingress.
A professional roof inspection is sensible after a severe storm.
In the aftermath of a hurricane, hail, or snowstorm, you’ll likely just be breathing a sigh of relief that it’s all over. However, even if there are no obvious signs of roofing problems, like a tree on your roof or water coming through your ceilings, it’s still important to do a wider assessment of potential roof storm damage.
The roof is the area most likely to require repairs following a storm. Calling a vetted local roof inspector for a professional evaluation after a severe or prolonged storm is always wise. Not all damage is easy to spot for the untrained eye, and the pros can access this elevated space safely.
Going up on the roof after a storm can be extremely dangerous because the roof’s structure may be compromised, with loose or broken shingles, weakened areas, and debris that can cause slips or falls. Wet, icy, or moss-covered surfaces can be particularly slippery, and there is also the risk of hidden damage that isn’t visible from the surface. Electrical hazards from downed power lines or damaged wiring are another serious concern.
To safely inspect roof damage, examine the roof from the ground. Use binoculars to check for missing, curled, or damaged shingles, visible cracks, and displaced flashing. Walk around the house to view the roof from multiple angles and check for any visible issues. Inspecting the attic for leaks, water stains, or damp insulation can provide clues about potential roof damage. If you own one, a drone can offer a bird’s-eye view of the roof without climbing.
Even minor damage can compromise your roof’s ability to protect your home, so identifying problems early is key. Here are some common signs of roof damage from a storm to watch out for.
High winds frequently result in entire shingles tearing from your roof, especially if they already had cracks or were peeling. Missing shingles are often visible from a ground inspection, and there may even be pieces of roofing material scattered around your property. If you're living in an area prone to windy weather, choosing the best shingles for high winds can offer increased protection.
Shingle damage isn’t something to ignore—it can lead to water making its way into your home. Roof hail storm damage often results in cracks, dents, or holes, whereas strong winds lead to tears, peeling, or lifting shingles. This type of damage can be difficult to spot from the ground, which is why taking on the cost of a roof inspection following a storm can be helpful.
Asphalt shingles have a layer of granules on their surface that help protect your roof—primarily from damaging UV rays. A small amount of shingle granule loss over time is normal, but stormy weather—especially hailstorms—often results in excessive scattering. You should replace your roof shingles with a lot of granular wear to prevent problems with weatherproofing.
“Most insurance companies say you have to file your claim within six to 24 months of the hail event—so by the time it leaks, it's often too late,” says Ami Feller, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Roofer Chicks in New Braunfels, TX. “Most roofing companies won't charge for a hail inspection. Definitely get it inspected.”
If you see a thin horizontal indented line on your shingles, this is a sign of granule loss. You may also spot a large pile of granules gathering in the gutters or downspouts.
It’s not just the shingles that take a battering during storms—look out for signs of damage on the other areas around your roof, too. Soffits, fascias, gutters, and flashing can suffer too, and they’re all designed to keep water away from your home's interior.
Wind damage on roof shingles can cause fittings to come loose, gutters and downspouts can clog with storm debris, and flashing can shift out of place, breaking the seal. After a hailstorm, look for signs of dents, cracks, or loosening of these integral roof sections. The larger the hailstones, the more severe the damage can be.
If a major storm causes an entire tree to collapse onto your roof, it isn’t something you’ll miss. However, tree limbs or other natural debris can get thrown onto your roof during high winds, and this may not be as obvious without a thorough visual inspection. Aside from the wreckage being a safety hazard, the impact can cause shingle damage or even major structural issues for your roof.
The debris could strike your roof and then blow elsewhere during the storm, so you might have to look for evidence of its impact rather than the object itself. Broken shingle patterns, holes, or dents are all red flags. Rather than getting on the roof yourself, you should hire a pro to look into these issues.
Major storms can lead to problems with the flashing seal around your chimney and allow water to get inside. When this happens, the chimney may no longer sit straight, appearing to lean at an angle. It isn’t likely to look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, so you need a keen eye to spot minor changes in its position from the ground. Many chimney leaks are not visible to the naked eye, however, so it may be best to call in a local chimney inspector to take a look.
If you have water pouring in through your ceiling after a storm, that’s a pretty obvious sign of damage. However, signs of moisture penetration are often more subtle, and even small pools of standing water or minor damage to shingles can lead to water damage.
After a storm, head up to the attic with a flashlight. You might notice discoloration or dampness on walls, ceilings, insulation, or lumber. If you ignore slow water ingress, this usually leads to problems with dangerous mold and mildew formation and can compromise the integrity of the roof supports. Note that you’ll likely always get small amounts of water blowing in through the roof ventilation—if you see that, don't be alarmed. You should look closely for water drops around fixtures, like the chimney, and in valleys.
If the roof has different levels of ventilation, it is also possible that the roof will suck in snow during a storm.
“If you live in the south especially, and it snows, I would check your attic for drifts,” says Feller. “A little snow won't hurt anything, but if there is a lot, it could collapse the drywall underneath it when it melts.”
A common roof problem relating to winter snowstorms is the formation of ice dams. These develop when the snow on the roof melts due to escaping heat from the attic space. The water then refreezes when it hits the colder roof edges, eaves, and gutters. The continuing thaw and freeze cycle results in the ice dam growing quickly and moving back up the roof.
If you don't deal with this ASAP, the ice can break under shingles, pull down gutters, and won't allow the gathering melting snow to fall off the roof. This process can lead to internal water damage, and it can be dangerous when the heavy blocks of ice eventually break off.
Keep an eye out for the early signs of ice dams forming, as they’re trickier to remove safely once a heavy buildup of ice has formed. It's a good early indicator if you see small icicles forming on your eaves and gutters.
No one wants to go outside after a storm just to find out their roof is damaged. However, if you stay calm and follow a few important steps, your home will be back in working order before too long.
As you look over the damage, take pictures and videos of everything you see. Then, add these to a spreadsheet to document everything in one place. This will come in handy when it’s time to file an insurance claim.
Get in contact with your homeowners insurance company and file a claim. The process can be stressful, so you may want to call or email your local agent to help you out. Remember how you documented the damage with images and a spreadsheet earlier? This is when you’ll want to bring that information out to show your agent.
After your insurance has assessed the damage, you'll have a better idea of the full extent of the damage and what your insurance will pay you for repairs. If the damage to your roof is bad enough to let water seep into your home, you may be able to make short-term repairs to keep yourself safe from excessive water damage and mold growth. However, it’s unsafe to get on your roof as a non-pro and is riskier right after a storm.
Reach out to an emergency roof repair service near you for an immediate fix if your roof suffers severe storm damage. However, you can call a local roofer to handle any extensive, long-term roof issues.
The average roof repair cost ranges between $390 and $1,900 depending on the extent and type of damage. Minor damage, such as fixing a leak, could cost around $200, but if you have a sagging roof, for example, the cost would be around $1,500. However, when considering how much a leaky roof costs to fix when the damage is more severe, the cost can start at $400. Following a storm, you may require emergency repairs, which means paying an extra $100 to $300 or more in emergency fees.
