Who to Call if a Tree Falls on Your House
You’ll need to make multiple calls and hire multiple pros if a tree falls on your house
If a tree falls on your home, the first priority is getting everyone outside where they’re safe. Assuming that a storm knocked the tree over and it’s still ongoing, move to a neighbor’s home to ride out the bad weather until it’s passed. Then, it’s time to start making some calls, including 911, your homeowners insurance, and a tree removal company—and potentially other contractors as well.
What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your House
When a tree falls on your house, you’ll need to make multiple phone calls:
Local authorities: Call the police (and your utility company) if the fallen tree has also taken down any power lines. Not only will this disrupt service for you and your neighbors, but this also poses a fire risk, so it’s crucial to get the authorities involved.
Your homeowners insurance: You’ll need to file a claim with your homeowners insurance to make sure you get reimbursed for all repair expenses (minus your deductible). You’ll also want to take this time to thoroughly document everything with photos. If your house is badly damaged and unsafe to re-enter, however, don’t worry about taking photos inside.
A tree debris removal company: Find a tree debris removal company near you that is able to come as soon as possible to remove the tree and all the surrounding debris.
Unfortunately, a tree debris removal company is just the start when it comes to taking care of tree damage to your house. After the debris is gone, you’ll likely need to hire a host of other contractors, depending on the type and extent of the damage. For instance, you may need to hire:
A local roofing company if the tree damaged any part of your roof
A window repair contractor near you if tree branches shatter any windows
A local siding company if the tree damaged any part of your siding
A plumber near you if the tree busted any pipes, gas lines, or fixtures
Benefits of Hiring a Tree Debris Removal Company When a Tree Falls on Your House
There are several advantages to hiring a tree debris removal company after a tree has fall on your home, including:
Homeowners Insurance Payout
If your home suffers from storm damage, you should be covered by a good homeowners insurance policy. You’ll have to pay your deductible, but beyond that, services such as tree debris removal and roof repair should be covered.
Proper Tools and Experience
Removing a fallen tree is tough work. While you can try to cut down the tree and remove it yourself, you’ll need the proper tools—and a way to haul away the debris. Or, you could simply hire a team of professionals with the know-how, the right equipment, and the ideal vehicle for hauling away the debris.
Safety Recommendations
Depending on how large the tree was and where it fell, removing it could be dangerous. It may require being on the roof, using dangerous chainsaws, or exposing yourself to a gas leak.
Next Step Recommendations
Professional tree debris removal specialists have seen it all. No matter what specialized help you need—from roof repair to water damage remediation to new siding—these experts likely have other contractors they can recommend.
Can I DIY a Tree Removal?
Removing a tree that has fallen on your home can be dangerous. If the damage is minor, you may be able to remove it without professional help, but if it has caused significant damage—or you simply don’t have access to the proper tools and safety gear—we highly recommend working with a pro. As long as you have homeowners insurance, the cost of tree debris removal should be covered anyway.
Can I Hire a Roofer for Tree Removal?
Depending on the extent of the damage from the tree that fell on your home, you may need to hire a roofer to make repairs. However, that roofing company is not ideally suited to remove the tree. In fact, you’ll need to hire a tree debris removal company to get rid of the tree before the roofer can properly assess the damage and give you a quote to repair it.