Storm Damage Roof Checklist: What to Check After a Storm

First: Make Safety the Priority

A damaging storm can leave hazards that are not obvious at first glance — fallen power lines, broken branches, loose roofing material, and weakened structures. Before you check anything, wait until the storm has fully passed and conditions are safe. Do not go outside during high winds, lightning, or heavy rain, and do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof.

If you see a downed power line, keep well away and contact your utility company or emergency services. If a tree has fallen on the house, if part of the roof has collapsed, or if a ceiling is sagging or bulging with water, treat it as urgent and prioritise safety over inspection. If water is coming in actively, move valuables away from the drip, place a container underneath, and call (334) 772-1151 to discuss your roofing needs. For urgent situations, see emergency roof repair.

This checklist covers what a homeowner can check from the ground, from inside the attic, and from inside the home. It is not a substitute for a professional roof inspection, which involves a close look at the roof surface itself.

Step 1: Walk Around the Outside (From the Ground)

Walk slowly around the house and look at the roof from every side. Use binoculars for a closer view. Look for changes since before the storm, not just obvious damage.

• [ ] Shingles or roofing material in the yard: Pieces of shingle, tile, or metal on the ground, in the driveway, or in the garden are a clear sign material has come off the roof.
• [ ] Missing or lifted shingles: Look for bare patches, shingles that appear lifted at the edges, or areas where the roof looks a different colour.
• [ ] Cracked, torn, or creased shingles: Wind can bend shingles back and crease them, even if they have not come off completely. Creased shingles are weaker and may fail in the next storm.
• [ ] Dents or impact marks: Look for dents on metal roofing, vents, or flashing, and for marks where branches or debris may have struck the roof.
• [ ] Debris on the roof: Branches, leaves, and other debris resting on the roof can trap water and hide damage underneath. Note where debris has landed, but do not climb up to remove it yourself if the roof is wet or steep.
• [ ] Fallen trees or large branches: Check whether any tree or large branch is touching or resting on the roof, even if it looks light. A branch pressing on the roof can damage shingles and flashing.
• [ ] Roofline: Does the roofline still look straight, or does any part dip, sag, or look uneven? A changed roofline after a storm needs prompt professional attention.

If you find shingles in the yard, keep one or two as a sample if it is safe to do so — it can help a roofing professional identify the material and colour. Our guide to the signs of wind damage explains what wind typically does to a roof, and our guide to hail damage signs covers what to look for after hail.

Step 2: Check Gutters, Downspouts, and Flashing

Gutters and flashing often show storm damage before a leak appears inside.

• [ ] Gutters: Are any gutters bent, sagging, pulled away from the house, or detached? Are they full of leaves, branches, or shingle granules?
• [ ] Downspouts: Are downspouts dented, disconnected, or blocked? Is water still draining away from the house?
• [ ] Granules: A large amount of coarse, sand-like granules in gutters or at the bottom of downspouts after a storm can mean shingles have been scuffed or worn by wind and debris.
• [ ] Flashing: Look for flashing that is bent, lifted, or missing around chimneys, vents, skylights, and where the roof meets a wall. Flashing is covered in more detail in our guide to why roof flashing leaks.
• [ ] Vents and skylights: Are vent pipes upright and undamaged? Are skylights cracked, or is there staining on the wall below them?
• [ ] Chimney: Is the chimney brickwork or flashing visibly damaged, or has the chimney shifted?

Step 3: Check the Attic

The attic often reveals a leak before it shows on a ceiling. Go in on a bright day with a torch, and turn the torch off for a moment to check for daylight.

• [ ] Daylight through the roof boards: Pinpoints of light can indicate holes or gaps where material has been lifted or lost.
• [ ] Wet or stained insulation: Damp, compressed, or stained insulation suggests water has come in.
• [ ] Staining on rafters or decking: Look for darkening, damp patches, or water marks on the wood.
• [ ] Drips or dampness: Check after rain, when a leak is most likely to be active. Note where any dampness is — water can travel along a rafter before it drips, so the entry point may not be directly above.
• [ ] Musty smell or mould: A new musty smell after a storm can be an early sign of moisture getting in.

Do not step on wet or sagging decking, and walk only on joists or a proper attic floor. If the attic is unsafe, leave it and arrange a professional inspection.

Step 4: Check Inside the Home

Walk through the top floor and look at ceilings and upper walls.

• [ ] New stains: Any brown or yellow stains on ceilings or walls that were not there before the storm?
• [ ] Bubbling or peeling paint: Paint or plaster that is bubbling, cracking, or peeling can mean water is behind it.
• [ ] Damp patches: Any area that feels cold or damp to the touch?
• [ ] Drips: Any active dripping, even a slow one? Note the time and the weather — it helps to know whether the drip happens only during rain.
• [ ] Sagging ceilings: A ceiling that bulges or sags may be holding water. Keep clear of it and arrange help promptly.

Take photos of every stain or damp patch, and note when you first noticed it. A small stain that grows after the next rain is still worth recording.

What to Do Next

If water is actively coming in or there is a safety concern: prioritise safety, limit further water entry only if you can do so safely, and call to discuss the situation. See emergency roof repair for urgent cases.

If you found damage but no active leak: arrange a professional roof inspection so the damage can be assessed from the roof surface. A professional can tell you whether the problem is localised or wider, and whether a roof repair or a roof replacement is the more appropriate next step — our comparison of roof repair vs. replacement explains the factors involved.

If you found nothing: that is good news, but keep the photos and notes anyway. Some storm damage, such as lifted shingles or small flashing gaps, is hard to see from the ground. If you are unsure, a professional inspection can confirm whether the roof is sound.

When you call, have ready: your town or ZIP code, whether the property is residential, what you noticed and where, whether water is actively coming in, and the age of the roof if you know it. Call (334) 772-1151 to discuss your roofing needs and check service availability.

Frequently Asked Questions