Storm Damage on Your Roof? What Washington Homeowners Should Do Next

Safety comes first. Do not climb onto a wet, windy or damaged roof. Wet shingles are slippery, damaged decking can give way, and storms often bring down power lines near the house.

Walk around the outside of your home from the ground. Look for missing or lifted shingles, bent flashing, fallen limbs, and gutters pulled away from the fascia. Inside, check ceilings and the attic, if it is safe to enter, for water stains, dripping or wet insulation.

If water is coming in, move furniture and electronics away from it and put down buckets or towels. If water is near light fixtures or outlets, turn off power to that area and stay clear.

Good records make every later step easier. Before anything is cleaned up or repaired, take clear photos and short videos.

In our wet climate, a small opening can let in a lot of water over a few days, especially when storms come back-to-back. A temporary tarp keeps rain out until a permanent repair can be done.

A proper emergency tarp is heavy-duty material secured with battens so the wind cannot get underneath it — not a loose tarp held down with bricks. DHT Construction & Roofing can tarp the damaged area to keep rain out and come back for a permanent repair.

Keep receipts and photos of any temporary repairs. Many policies expect homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, but what is reimbursed depends on your specific policy.

Contact your insurer soon after the storm. Many policies have deadlines for reporting damage, and an early call gets an adjuster on the schedule sooner, which matters after a big storm when many homes are affected.

Have your policy number, the date of the storm and your photos ready. Ask what your deductible is, whether your policy covers wind damage, and what documentation they need from you.

Every policy is different. Whether a claim is covered, and how much is paid, depends on your policy's terms, your deductible and the insurer's decision. A roofer cannot promise coverage — only your insurance company can decide that.

In general terms, an adjuster is trying to answer two questions: what was damaged, and was it caused by the storm or by age and wear?

They typically look at missing, creased or lifted shingles, damage to flashing, vents and gutters, impacts from fallen limbs, and water damage inside the home. They also note the overall age and condition of the roof, because older wear is usually treated differently from sudden storm damage.

Having a roofer's documentation ready helps the conversation stay focused on facts.

A roofer who works on storm damage regularly can see things that are hard to spot from the ground. At DHT Construction & Roofing, we document the damage, meet with your adjuster on-site, write the scope, and rebuild your roof to current code. Most homeowners only pay their deductible, though that always depends on what the insurer approves.

Our free inspection includes photo documentation, so you have a clear record of what we found on the roof. If the damage turns out to be minor, we will tell you that too.

Not always. Many storms only lift or tear off a section of shingles, which can be repaired with matching materials. Widespread damage, or damage on a roof that was already near the end of its life, can make replacement the better choice.

If you are unsure, our guide on roof repair versus replacement walks through how Tacoma homeowners can decide, and our cost guide shows typical replacement price ranges.

The best time to find weak spots is before winter. A fall inspection can catch loose shingles, worn flashing, moss and clogged gutters before Pacific Northwest windstorms and atmospheric-river rain arrive.

Keeping gutters clear, trimming branches that hang over the roof, and fixing small problems early all reduce the chance of a big repair later.