Hurricane prep + roof check checklist

1. Before storm season: check from the ground

Walk around your home with a pair of binoculars or your phone camera zoomed in. You do not need to climb up to see most problems.

• Shingles or tiles: look for any that are lifted, cracked, slipped, curled or missing.
• Ridge and hip caps: look for gaps or pieces that have shifted.
• Flashing: check the metal around chimneys, vents, skylights and wall edges for gaps, rust or pieces pulling away.
• Soffit and fascia: look for peeling paint, soft or rotted wood, or loose panels where the roof meets the wall.
• Gutters and downspouts: make sure they are attached, clear of leaves and draining away from the house.
• Trees: note any limbs hanging over the roof or close to it. Ask a tree service to trim them before a storm, not during one.
• Loose items: look for anything on or near the roof that could blow around, like old antennas or debris.

2. Before storm season: check the attic

• Turn off the lights and look for daylight coming through the roof deck. Any pinpoints of light can mean an opening.
• Look for water stains, dark spots or damp insulation on the underside of the roof deck and rafters.
• Smell for mustiness. A damp smell can point to a slow leak.
• Check that vents and openings are not blocked.

3. Document your roof with dated photos

Photos of your roof before a storm can help if you ever need to file a claim. Check with your insurance carrier about what they ask for.

• Take clear photos of every side of the roof from the ground, plus close-ups of anything that looks worn.
• Photograph the attic ceiling and the ceilings inside your home.
• Keep the photos with the date on them, and back them up to the cloud or email them to yourself.
• Save your paperwork in one place: roof age, past repair records and your insurance policy details.

4. After a storm: stay safe first

• Wait until the storm has fully passed and it is safe to go outside.
• Stay away from downed power lines and anything they touch. Call your utility company to report them.
• Do not climb onto the roof. Wet, damaged roofs are slippery and can be unsafe to walk on.
• Walk the ground around your home and watch for loose or hanging debris above you.

5. After a storm: look from the ground

• Scan the roof for missing, lifted or broken shingles and tiles.
• Check flashing, ridge caps, soffit, fascia, gutters and downspouts for new damage.
• Look in your yard for roofing pieces, which can show where damage happened.
• Check for fallen limbs or branches on the roof.
• Inside, look for new ceiling stains, drips, bubbling paint or damp spots, and check the attic again for water or daylight.

6. After a storm: document and protect

• Take new dated photos of all damage, from the ground and from inside. Take wide shots and close-ups.
• Contact your insurance carrier to ask how to start a claim and what they need from you.
• If water is coming in, move belongings away and use buckets or tarps indoors to catch it.
• Keep receipts for any temporary protection you pay for, and ask your carrier what they cover.
• Be careful with anyone who knocks on your door after a storm offering to fix your roof. Take your time and check who they are first.

7. When to call a pro

• You see missing, cracked or lifted shingles or tiles.
• You find water stains, drips or daylight in the attic.
• Flashing looks loose, bent or pulled away.
• A tree limb has landed on the roof.
• The roof is older and you are not sure what shape it is in.
• You are not sure what you are looking at. A roofer can check it safely so you do not have to go up there.