After a hail or wind storm, everything happens at once: shingles in the yard, a dented gutter, the doorbell, the phone and an ad promising a whole new roof. Roofers handle storm damage every season, and they follow the same four steps. Here they are, in order, so you can handle it calmly and hire the right roofer with confidence.
1. Photos first, then call your insurance
Before anyone climbs up, take photos and short videos from the ground and inside the house. Get close, and put a pen or your hand next to dents for size.
- The roof: missing, lifted or creased shingles, and shingle pieces in the yard
- Siding: cracks, dents or holes
- Windows: torn screens, cracked glass, dented frames
- Gutters, downspouts and roof vents
- The AC unit, the fence, the mailbox and the deck
- Inside: ceiling stains, drips and wet insulation in the attic
If water is getting in, cover the spot with a tarp or ask a roofer for an emergency tarp, move what you can away from the drip and keep the receipts. Then call your insurance company yourself, write down the claim number and ask when the adjuster will visit. Your roofer can be there for the visit if you like.
Hail damage or wind damage: what each looks like
| Look at | Hail | Wind |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles | Dark bruises, cracks, granules washed into the gutters | Missing shingles, creased or lifted edges |
| Metal | Dents on gutters, vents and AC fins | Bent flashing, loose ridge caps |
| Siding and windows | Dents, cracks, holes, torn screens | Loose or missing panels, glass broken by debris |
| Around the house | Shredded leaves, dents on cars and mailboxes | Fallen branches, shingle pieces in the yard |
2. The knock, the call, the ad: compare written bids
After a storm, roofers knock on doors, call and advertise, because that is when people need them. Many of them are good local pros, and good roofers are glad to leave a written bid and let you compare. A few habits keep it easy for everyone:
- Get two or three written bids for the same work
- Take your time with anything you sign; nothing needs to be signed on the porch
- Look for a local address, reviews from your area, proof of insurance and a license where your state requires one
- Ask who will talk with your insurance adjuster and whether they will meet the adjuster at the house
3. The secret: ask what the price includes
A low price for a whole roof covers the basics. What makes a roof last is in the details, so ask every roofer to list these in writing:
| Ask about | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Tear-off | The old layers come off so the wood deck can be checked |
| Underlayment | The water barrier under the shingles |
| Flashing | Seals walls, chimneys and valleys; ask whether it is new or reused |
| Drip edge | The metal edge that sends water into the gutters |
| Vents | Attic airflow helps the shingles last |
| Rotten wood (decking) | The price per sheet, and photos of every sheet replaced |
| Cleanup | Haul-away and a magnet sweep for nails |
| Warranty | The shingle maker's warranty and the roofer's workmanship warranty, in writing |
Then compare the bids line by line. The lowest total is only lower if it includes the same things.
4. During the job and after
During: move the cars, cover things stored in the attic (dust and nail tips come through), keep pets and kids inside, and ask for photos of the wood deck once the old shingles are off.
After:
- A magnet sweep of the lawn, the beds and the driveway
- A walk-through: flashing, vents, gutters and cleanup
- The warranty in writing, registered with the shingle maker if it needs to be
- The final inspection, where your city requires a permit
- Then the last payment, and a lien release showing the crew and suppliers are paid
Siding, windows and gutters after a storm
The same storm that hits the roof often hits the siding, the windows and the gutters too. Photograph them together and list them in one claim. Some roofers handle siding and gutters as well; you can also post each job so siding, window and gutter pros send their own bids.
Get storm damage roof bids on BidHandyman
Post your roof once with your photos, and local roofers send you bids. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid. Compare what each bid includes side by side, message the pros and hire the one you trust, with no obligation. Request roofing bids, or read repair or replace your roof and storm damage repair.