Home Improvement

First, get on the roof if you can and look at the damage yourself. If any plywood is exposed then you’ll want to cover it with a tarp or a plastic sheet. Tuck the top edges into the remaining shingles above it to prevent water from flowing under the tarp. Secure it the best you can with bricks, stones, or something heavy.

The next step, and immediate step if you weren’t able to get on the roof, is to call a roofing contractor. They can put a tarp on if you need it. They will also provide you with estimates of cost to repair and how much needs to be replaced. Do not contact your insurance company until you know the scope of the repair.

If the costs to repair from multiple roofing contractors exceeds your deductible, then it may be worthwhile to contact insurance. If your home has multiple roofs, then they will only want to replace one, although sometimes they will agree on more to maintain a consistent sight line. The important thing is to make sure a roofing contractor is there when the insurance adjuster comes by to help argue for repairs on your behalf. This process of arguing with insurance to get a payout for repairs can take a month or more to complete so check on the tarp periodically.

Good luck!