Storm Damage on Your Roof? Here's What to Do First
New Jersey Roofs Take a Beating
Roofs in New Jersey face a lot. Summer thunderstorms roll through with straight-line winds, the tail end of hurricanes tracks up the coast, winter nor'easters dump heavy snow, and the freeze-thaw cycle quietly pries at shingles and flashing all season long. When a storm passes, the damage isn't always obvious from the ground — a few lifted shingles or a bent piece of flashing can let water in long before a stain shows up on your ceiling.
What you do in the first day or two makes a real difference, both for protecting your home and for getting an insurance claim approved. This guide walks you through it, step by step. And if you'd rather just have someone climb up and take a look, our storm damage roof repair team covers homeowners across Central and Northern New Jersey.
Get a Free Estimate
What to Do After a Storm Hits Your Roof
Work through these steps in order. The first few are about safety and protecting your home; the rest set you up for a smooth repair and a clean insurance claim.
Stay Safe First
Keep off the roof and away from downed power lines or sagging ceilings. A storm-damaged roof is unstable — leave the climbing to a professional.
Document Everything
Take clear photos and video from the ground of any visible damage, debris, and interior water spots. Note the date and time of the storm.
Stop the Water
If water is getting in, move belongings and set out buckets. Don't attempt a rooftop tarp yourself — call us and we'll secure it safely.
Call a Local Roofer
Get a qualified NJ roofer out to assess the damage before you call your insurer. An honest inspection tells you what you're actually dealing with.
Get a Full Inspection
A professional inspection catches the hidden damage — lifted shingles, cracked flashing, soft decking — that a quick glance from the ground misses.
File Your Claim
With photos and a written inspection in hand, you're ready to file. We can walk you through the claim and meet your adjuster on site.
Know What You're Looking At: Types of Storm Damage
Wind-Lifted and Missing Shingles
Straight-line winds and hard gusts can lift, crease, or tear shingles right off the deck. Even shingles that still look fine may have broken their seal, leaving them loose for the next storm to peel back.
Once the surface is compromised, water finds its way underneath fast. If you spot bare patches or shingles in the yard, get them looked at — our roof repair crew handles wind damage across New Jersey.
Bruises and Granule Loss from Hail
Hail knocks the protective granules off asphalt shingles and can leave soft, bruised spots that break the shingle down from within, shortening the life of your whole roof.
This damage is easy to miss from the ground but shows up clearly on a close inspection — and it's one of the most common storm claims insurers approve.
Branches, Limbs, and Blown Debris
A falling limb can puncture the roof deck or crack several shingles at once, while smaller debris scraping across the surface wears down the protective layer over time.
Clear what you can safely reach from the ground, and leave anything on the roof itself to a professional who can get up there without causing more damage.
Ice Dams and Snow Load
New Jersey winters bring their own trouble. Heavy snow adds weight to the structure, and ice dams form at the eaves when snowmelt refreezes, forcing water back up under the shingles.
If you fight this every winter, ask about ice dam removal and better roof ventilation to keep it from coming back.
Leaks and Interior Water Damage
The damage you see inside — ceiling stains, peeling paint, damp insulation — is usually the last sign to appear, which means water has been getting in for a while already.
A fast roof leak repair limits the damage to your ceilings, walls, and attic before it turns into a much bigger bill.
Flashing, Vents, and Sealant
Storms work loose the metal flashing around chimneys, skylights, and valleys — the exact spots most likely to leak when they fail.
Cracked sealant and popped vent boots are common after high winds and easy to overlook, so they're worth checking every single time a storm rolls through.
Storm Damage Questions, Answered
As soon as it's safe. The sooner you catch damage, the less water gets in and the stronger your insurance claim. We offer free inspections for New Jersey homeowners and can usually get out within a day or two of a storm.
Call a trusted roofer first. An independent inspection tells you whether the damage is even worth a claim before you file — minor damage that falls under your deductible usually isn't. Once you know what you're dealing with, filing is straightforward.
Most policies cover sudden storm damage from wind, hail, and fallen trees, though the specifics vary by policy. Damage from long-term wear or deferred maintenance usually isn't covered — which is another reason a professional inspection and clear documentation matter.
Yes. Emergency tarping is one of the first things we do to stop water from getting in while we plan the full repair. Please don't try to tarp a damaged roof yourself — it's dangerous and rarely holds through the next storm.
Not always. Plenty of storm damage is a targeted repair — a section of shingles, some flashing, a vent boot. We'll always tell you honestly whether a repair will hold or whether a full replacement is the smarter long-term call.
It depends entirely on the extent of the damage, which is why we inspect first and give you a clear, written estimate before any work starts. If it's an insurance claim, we work directly with your adjuster on scope and pricing.
Related Roofing Services
Storm Damage Roof Repair
Fast, thorough repair of wind, hail, and debris damage — with emergency tarping to stop leaks right away.
Learn MoreEmergency Roof Repair
A leak that can't wait? We respond quickly to secure your roof and protect your home from further water damage.
Learn MoreInsurance Claim Roofing
We document the damage, meet your adjuster, and handle the roofing side of your claim from start to finish.
Learn MoreStorm Repair You Can Stand Behind
BBB A+ Rated
An A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, earned through honest work and standing behind every job.
Google Guaranteed
Screened and backed by Google's guarantee, so you can hire with confidence after a stressful storm.
Timberline & Owens Corning Certified
Certified installers of two of the most trusted roofing product lines in the country.
Warranties That Mean It
Full replacements carry a 50-year manufacturer warranty, and every repair is backed by at least a one-year warranty.
Family-Owned and Local
A family-owned company based in Fairview, NJ — not a storm-chasing outfit that disappears after the check clears.
Clean Jobsites, Honest Pricing
We protect your property, clean up completely, and quote fair prices with no surprises.
Get Your Storm-Damaged Roof Looked At
A quick, free inspection now can save you thousands in water damage later. Craftsman Roofing serves homeowners across Central and Northern New Jersey — and there's never any pressure.
Reach Out
Call us or request an estimate online. Tell us what happened and where.
Free Inspection
We come out, assess the damage, and explain exactly what we find.
Repair Done Right
We secure your roof, handle any insurance paperwork, and make the repair to last.