Living in South Louisiana, it’s not a matter of if a storm’s going to test your roof—it’s when. Whether it’s hurricane season doing its annual victory lap or one of those surprise Saturday downpours that shows up uninvited, a good roof takes a beating over time. But what happens when that roof doesn’t walk away from the fight unscathed?
Storm damage isn’t always obvious. Sure, sometimes it’s dramatic—missing shingles, tree limbs doing gymnastics on the gutters, or a piece of flashing flapping like a Mardi Gras flag in the wind. But sometimes the damage is sneaky. A little lifted shingle here, a bent piece of flashing there, a leak that doesn’t show itself until you’re mopping the dining room floor two weeks later. The point is, ignoring it won’t make it go away. Trust me—I’ve checked.
So what exactly should be done when the sky clears and the roof didn’t quite make it out in one piece? Here’s the step-by-step guide to navigating post-storm roof trouble like someone who knows a drip from a disaster.
Step One: Assess from the Ground
After the storm passes, it’s tempting to grab a ladder and play roofer for the afternoon. Resist the urge. If the wind just tossed your trash cans into the neighbor’s yard, it’s probably best to leave the high-altitude work to people with safety harnesses and liability insurance. Instead, take a good look from the ground. Signs to watch for include shingles on the lawn, missing ridge caps, displaced flashing, or water spots on ceilings inside the house. If it looks off, it probably is.
Step Two: Document Everything
Grab the phone and snap photos. Take wide shots of the roof, close-ups of anything that looks suspicious, and interior shots if water made its way inside. Photos don’t just help with insurance claims—they help the roofing contractor understand what’s going on before climbing up there. It’s like sending an X-ray to the doctor ahead of time—except in this case, it’s the patient that lives on top of the house.
Step Three: Call in the Professionals
Even if the roof looks mostly okay, it’s still a good idea to get it inspected. Storm damage isn’t always visible from the street, and waiting for the first big leak to show up is a strategy known in the roofing world as “wishful thinking.” A proper inspection involves checking the shingles, underlayment, flashing, and ventilation to see what got shaken up during the storm. Sometimes the smallest issue left alone is the one that grows into a full-blown, water-dripping-on-the-TV problem.
Step Four: Contact Insurance
If there’s significant damage, call the insurance provider and start the claim process. This is where those earlier photos come in handy. Provide a timeline, descriptions, and any inspection reports the roofing contractor offers. The insurance adjuster will do their own evaluation, but having your ducks (and documents) in a row speeds things up.
And just a quick note from experience: don’t throw anything away until someone tells you to. That shingle that looks like a lost Frisbee in the backyard might be more useful than it appears.
Step Five: Get Temporary Protection in Place
If the roof has any openings or vulnerable spots, a professional crew can tarp the area to keep the rain where it belongs—outside. Tarping is not a forever fix, but it’ll buy time while working through the insurance and repair process. Think of it as putting a Band-Aid on the house until the stitches can be scheduled.
Step Six: Make the Repairs
Once insurance clears the job or the damage is confirmed, it’s time to get to work. A licensed contractor handles everything from replacing shingles to re-flashing chimneys and making sure everything meets local code. And in a place like Slidell—where storms tend to leave calling cards—a roof isn’t just getting fixed, it’s getting prepped for the next round.
During repairs, it’s a good time to talk about upgrades. Wind-resistant shingles, improved ridge vents, or better underlayment can make a big difference next time the clouds roll in. If work’s being done anyway, might as well look ahead.
Step Seven: Keep Records
Hold onto everything—estimates, invoices, receipts, emails, and inspection reports. It’s not the most exciting part of the process, but when future questions come up (and they often do), having everything in one place is a whole lot easier than trying to remember if that repair happened before or after the Christmas party where Uncle Dale brought the ladder inside.
Closing Thoughts
Storms are part of life along the Gulf. Roofs take the first hit, and when they get damaged, the whole house is at risk. The good news is that a damaged roof doesn’t mean disaster—not if it’s handled properly and promptly. A little vigilance, a few photos, and a call to the right people can make all the difference between a quick fix and an expensive lesson.
So the next time the wind howls and shingles fly, don’t panic. Just follow the steps, stay off the ladder, and remember that roofers, much like storms, show up whether invited or not.