Windstorm Roof Damage: What to Check and When to Call a Roofer

The first big windstorm of the season usually hits Puget Sound in October or November. The power flickers, the firs bend, and the next morning the yard is covered in branches.

Most roofs come through fine. Some do not, and the ones that do not rarely announce it. A lifted shingle or a cracked piece of flashing will not drip on day one. It drips in January, after two months of rain have found the gap. That is why a quick, careful check after a storm is worth more than any repair later. If you find something, our storm damage roof repair crews document it, protect it, and fix it.

Here is what to look for, what you can safely check yourself, and when it is time to call.

Stay off the roof

Start with the rule that matters most. Do not climb onto a roof after a windstorm. Shingles are wet, debris hides soft spots, and limbs can still be hanging. Everything below can be checked from the ground, a window, or the attic.

What to check from the ground

Walk the house with a pair of binoculars or your phone camera zoomed in. Look for:

Missing shingles. A clean rectangle that is a different color from the rest of the roof is a missing tab. Shingles in the yard are the giveaway.

Lifted or creased shingles. Wind gets under a shingle edge and folds it back. Even if it lays back down, the seal strip is broken and the crease is a weak line. Look along the rakes and ridges first, where wind hits hardest.

Bent or loose flashing. The metal around chimneys, skylights, and walls should sit flat and tight. Anything bent, lifted, or hanging is a direct path for water.

Limb strikes. A branch that hit the roof can crack shingles, punch through the surface, or crack the decking underneath, even if the branch rolled off.

Gutters. Gutters pulled away from the fascia, bent sections, or downspouts knocked loose. Storm debris also clogs gutters fast, and a clogged gutter sends water against the fascia and foundation.

Granules in the downspouts. A heavy wash of sandy granules at the bottom of a downspout after a storm can mean shingles took a beating.

What to check from inside

The attic. If you can get into it safely, go up with a flashlight during the day. Look for daylight through the roof boards, wet spots on the underside of the decking, or damp insulation. Check again after the next rain.

Ceilings and upper walls. New stains, especially near chimneys, skylights, and exterior walls. A small brown ring is usually a bigger problem above it.

The damage you will not see from the driveway

Wind damage is often invisible from below. A shingle can lose its seal without moving at all, and a broken seal is the start of a blow-off in the next storm. Cracked pipe boots, nail heads backed out by flexing decking, and small punctures from debris all look fine from 30 feet away.

That is where a real inspection earns its keep. Our free 21-point roof inspection covers the attic, the roofing system, shingle health, and every penetration, with photos of everything we find.

When to call a roofer right away

Call the same day if you see any of these:

– Water coming through a ceiling or into the attic – A section of exposed underlayment or bare decking – A tree or large limb resting on the roof – Flashing hanging loose at the chimney or a wall

If there is active water coming in, the first job is temporary protection. We tarp or seal the damaged area so the house stays dry while permanent repairs are scheduled.

For everything else on the checklist (a few missing shingles, a lifted edge, a bent gutter), book an inspection in the next week or two. Do not wait for spring. Small storm damage in October becomes a leak by midwinter.

Insurance: how storm claims usually work

Homeowner’s insurance covers sudden storm damage from wind and falling limbs in many cases. What it usually does not cover is damage from a roof that was already failing, or damage that got worse because nobody reported it. Two things help your claim the most:

1. Act quickly. Report damage promptly. Waiting can lead to a denied or reduced claim. 2. Document everything. Photos from the ground, photos of interior stains, and a written inspection with roof-level photos.

Our storm inspections end with exactly that kind of documentation, so your adjuster sees the full picture. Your agent can tell you your deductible and what your policy covers.

Repair or replace after a storm?

Most wind damage is repairable. Lifted and missing shingles, cracked flashing, damaged pipe boots, and gutter damage are all fixable when caught early, and we match new shingles to the rest of the roof. If the roof is already near the end of its life, or the damage is widespread, replacement can be the better use of the money. Our post on whether a leaking roof needs repair or replacement walks through how we make that call. We will tell you which situation you are in, honestly, with photos.

After the next storm

Take ten minutes, walk the house, check the attic, and write down what you see. If anything looks off, get a professional set of eyes on it before the rain does the rest.

Your home deserves a roof done right. Book a free storm damage inspection or call (425) 292-8327.