What to Do After a Hail or Wind Storm Damages Your Roof in Northwest Arkansas

Spring thunderstorms, summer hailstorms, and powerful wind events are a fact of life in Northwest Arkansas. While these storms often pass quickly, they can leave behind roof damage that isn’t always obvious from the ground. Missing shingles are easy to spot, but hail bruises, lifted shingles, and damaged flashing can quietly allow water to enter your home long after the skies have cleared.

If your home has been through a severe storm, it’s natural to feel anxious about what comes next. The good news is that you don’t have to figure everything out on your own. Perry Roofing is here to show you the way!  By taking a few simple steps, you can protect your property, make the insurance process easier, and get your home back to normal as quickly as possible.

Safety First Isn’t Just a Mantra

You often hear the phrase, “safety is the highest priority.” That’s not lip-service. It’s how you should operate after a storm rocks your residence. Before checking your home, make sure the storm has completely passed and emergency officials have declared conditions safe if necessary.

As you walk around your property, stay alert for hazards like downed power lines, broken tree limbs, loose debris, and slippery surfaces. Rather than climbing onto your roof, perform a careful inspection from the ground. Many roof injuries happen when homeowners attempt to inspect damage themselves.

Once you’ve got your bearings, be on the lookout for all the hallmark signs of roof storm damage, such as:

• Missing or displaced shingles
• Bent or detached gutters
• Fallen branches resting on the roof
• Damaged flashing around chimneys or vents
• Dented siding or damaged windows

Even if everything appears normal, your roof could still have hidden damage that requires a professional inspection.

Document, Document, Document!

Of course, the time comes for dealing with an insurance claim. Insurance companies enjoy paperwork, and the more of it you have, the stronger your claim will be. Begin documenting everything before making repairs.

Take clear photographs of your roof, gutters, siding, windows, fencing, decks, and any debris that may have caused damage. Capture both close-up and wide-angle shots from several viewpoints. If water has entered your home, photograph interior ceiling stains, damaged drywall, or wet belongings as well.

It is also helpful to write down the date of the storm and any details you remember, such as hail size, strong wind gusts, or fallen trees. This information may prove useful when filing the claim.

Prevent Any Further Damage

Next up, you’ll want to check if you can provide your home any level of temporary relief. If your roof is leaking, place buckets beneath active leaks and move furniture or valuables away from affected areas. If there is significant roof damage, emergency roof tarping may be necessary to prevent additional water intrusion until permanent repairs can be completed.

Temporary protection can help minimize further damage and may even be expected by your insurance company. Anything you can do to better your situation is time or money well spent.

Call An Expert

Not all storm damage can be seen from the ground. Hail can bruise shingles without knocking them loose, while strong winds may lift shingles just enough to break their seal. Flashing around roof penetrations can also become compromised, allowing moisture to slowly enter your attic.

That’s where a professional roof inspector can really help in your quest to repair your home. An expert can be the necessary set of extra eyes to help bolster your insurance claim and give you a clearer picture of the work that will be needed. 

At Perry Roofing, we carefully inspect roofing materials, flashing, skylights, vents, gutters, and other vulnerable areas. We document our findings with photographs, explain what we discover in clear terms, and provide honest recommendations along with a free estimate if repairs are needed.

When expertise is necessary, our team is ready to give you the time and the peace of mind that comes with knowing what to look for after a severe storm. 

Ready Your Insurance Claim

Once you’ve got all your documentation squared away and the clarity of an expert, it’s time to contact your homeowners insurance provider as soon as possible to begin the claims process.

Avoid estimating repair costs or assuming what your policy covers before your roof has been professionally inspected. A thorough inspection provides the documentation needed to support your claim and helps ensure important damage isn’t overlooked.

Perry Roofing has extensive experience assisting homeowners with insurance claims. We guide customers through each step of the process, helping make what can feel like a complicated situation much more manageable.

After a claim is filed, you’ll likely have a visit from an insurance adjuster. Nothing is more powerful during this visit than having a roofing expert on hand. Our experts will gladly meet with your adjuster to review the damage together, answer questions, and ensure everything is properly documented. Consider us your advocate. 

Restore Your Home with Confidence

Once all the paperwork is filed and the insurance check is in-hand, you can get to work with Perry Roofing to initiate the final repairs. Our team is licensed and insured, holds respected certifications including TAMKO Elite and CertainTeed ShingleMaster, and has earned multiple 5-star reviews from homeowners across the region, so you’re getting our best. 

If you need more, then know we also restore damaged gutters, soffit and fascia, siding, windows, fencing, decks, exterior paint, and even repair drywall affected by roof leaks.

Act Now Before the Damage Gets Worse!

Nothing is more vital to the long-term protection of your home than immediate action. With Perry Roofing in your corner, we can ensure quick action on repairing your home. Our goal is to help you protect your home, restore your peace of mind, and move forward with confidence after the storm has passed.

If you need help now, contact us immediately to receive the highest quality care, compassion, and repair work possible. We’ve got your back!