Do this now
- Stay off the roof. Storm-damaged roofs are slippery and can be structurally unsound.
- If a tree or limb has brought down wires, stay well away and call the electric utility.
- Indoors, contain leaks with buckets and plastic sheeting and move belongings.
- Photograph the damage from the ground and from inside, and call your insurer before authorizing permanent work.
- Ask a roofer for an emergency tarp to keep water out until repairs can be made.
- Be cautious of anyone who knocks on your door offering to handle the insurance claim.
What usually causes it
- High wind lifting and tearing off shingles
- Hail bruising shingles and knocking off protective granules
- Limbs or whole trees striking the roof
- Flashing peeled back at chimneys, walls and edges
What a professional will do
A roofer secures the roof with tarps, then inspects shingles, flashing, sheathing and the attic, and documents what they find with photos you can give your insurer. Repairs range from replacing a section of shingles to re-roofing a slope, and structural damage may need a permit and an engineer’s input.
How to prevent it
- Have trees near the house pruned and dead limbs removed
- Replace aging roofs before they fail in a storm
- After any major storm, look over the roof from the ground with binoculars
- Keep records and photos of your roof’s condition
Rules and paperwork in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires most contractors who perform home improvements to register with the Attorney General’s office and to give you a written contract for any job over $500. The registration number belongs on the estimate and the contract — ask for it.
- Building permits in Pennsylvania are issued under the Uniform Construction Code by each municipality or the inspection agency it appoints, so the local building or codes office decides what needs a permit and an inspection.
- Pennsylvania does not issue a statewide license for this trade. Some municipalities register or license it locally, which is one reason to confirm requirements with your own municipality.
Sources: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General — Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry — Uniform Construction Code; Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry. Rules change — confirm current requirements with the agency and with your municipality.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call the insurer or a roofer first?
Call the insurer to open a claim and a roofer to stop water coming in. Reasonable emergency measures such as tarping are normally part of a claim; keep the receipts.
How do I avoid storm-chasing contractors?
Ask for a Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor registration number, a local address and references, and get a written contract. Do not sign anything that assigns your insurance benefits to the contractor without understanding it.
Can a few missing shingles wait?
Not for long. Exposed underlayment is not meant to be the weather surface, and the next rain can reach the sheathing.
Go deeper
Our full roofing guide covers how the work is done, what affects the price, and what to ask before you hire, and there is more on roof repair.
Related problems
This guide is general information, not a substitute for a professional assessing your home. If you are unsure whether something is safe, treat it as if it is not.