Storm Damage Repair From Semper Fi

After a big storm rolls through most people walk outside and look up at the roof and if nothing looks too bad they go on with their day. But a lot of storm damage doesn’t show from the ground and it’s not until months later when a stain shows up on the ceiling that anybody realizes the roof got hit. That’s why we tell people to have it looked at even when everything seems fine.

Semper Fi Roofing & Exteriors started out over 20 years ago with two Marines and a truck and we’ve been out on a lot of roofs after a lot of storms since then. Our repairs have a lifetime workmanship warranty and the inspection and estimate are free, plus we have weekend availability for people who can’t get away during the week. Get in touch online and we’ll get somebody out to you.

Hail Damage

Hail is the one that fools people the most because from the driveway the roof usually looks the same as it did before. Up close though you’ll find dark spots where the granules got knocked off and soft spots in the shingles where they got bruised, and on a bad storm you’ll see cracks too. The roof might not leak right away but those shingles are going to wear out a lot faster than they should have.

One thing you can check yourself is the gutters and downspouts plus any metal vents on the roof. If those have dents in them from the hail there’s a good chance your shingles took some hits too.

Wind Damage

Wind goes after the edges of the roof and the ridge at the top first since that’s where it can get under the shingles. Sometimes it rips them off and they end up in the yard but other times it just lifts them up and folds them back, and once they come back down they look fine from below even though the seal is broken and the shingle has a crease across it. Those are the ones that blow off in the next storm.

If it’s a few shingles here and there we can take care of it with a roof repair. When one whole side of the roof got hit we’ll usually look at redoing that section with shingle replacement instead.

Trees and Branches

When a limb comes down on the roof it’s usually pretty obvious and a lot of times it’s an emergency, especially if it punched through and water is getting in. Stay out of that part of the house if the ceiling looks like it’s sagging and give us a call.

What to Do Right After a Storm

There are a few things you can do before we even get there that make the whole process go a lot smoother:

• Take pictures of anything you can see from the ground
• Pick up any shingles that landed in the yard
• Check your ceilings and attic for water
• Call your insurance company to start a claim

Please don’t climb up on the roof yourself. Wet shingles are slippery and storm damaged ones can be loose, and it’s not worth getting hurt over.

Working With Your Insurance

Hail and wind damage is usually something homeowners insurance covers but every policy is a little different so you’ll want to call them first and find out what yours includes. Once you’ve got a claim going we’ll come out and go over the whole roof and take photos and notes of everything we find, then put it all together so your adjuster has what they need to look at.

If the damage is bad enough that the whole roof needs to come off your insurance might cover a full roof replacement and we’ll walk you through what that looks like.

Watch Out for Storm Chasers

Every time a big storm hits there are crews from out of town that show up and start knocking on doors. Some of them say they can get you a free roof or ask you to sign something right there on the porch before you’ve even talked to your insurance company. A lot of them are long gone by the time a problem shows up with the work. Take your time and get someone local to look at it before you sign anything with anybody.

Storm Damage FAQs

How long do I have to file a claim after a storm?

It’s different for every insurance company so you’ll want to check your policy, but it’s best to get it started as soon as you can while the damage is fresh.

Will filing a claim raise my insurance rates?

That’s a question for your insurance agent since it depends on your policy and your company, but it’s worth asking them before you decide.

Do I need to be home for the inspection?

Not always since we can do most of it from the roof, but we like to go over what we found with you once we’re done so being there helps if you can make it.

Schedule a Storm Damage Inspection

If a storm just came through and you’re not sure if your roof got hit we’ll come out and take a look and let you know what we find. Contact us online or schedule an appointment to get started.