Roof Leak After a Storm: What to Do First (and What to Skip)

Step 1: Stay safe

Stay off the roof. A wet or damaged roof is slippery and may not hold your weight, and climbing up is how many homeowners get hurt trying to fix a leak. Keep everyone out from under a sagging or bulging ceiling, because it can give way, and call a pro if you are worried about it. If water is coming through a light fixture, ceiling fan or near an outlet, stay away from it. Turn off that circuit at the breaker only if you can reach the panel without standing in water; otherwise call your utility or an electrician. If anyone is in danger, call 911.

Step 2: Contain the water inside

Move furniture, electronics, rugs and anything else you can carry out from under the drip. Put buckets or trash cans under the leak, lay towels around them, and roll up or lift rugs. The Texas Department of Insurance tells homeowners with a water leak to remove pools of water, start drying the area right away to prevent more damage and mold, and move wet items to a dry room or an area with fresh air. If you can reach the attic safely through the hatch, look for where water is entering, but do not walk on the insulation or between joists without a plan; you can fall through the ceiling.

Step 3: Photograph everything before you fix anything

Take photos and video of the ceiling stains, wet walls, floors, damaged belongings and the roof as seen from the ground. The Texas Department of Insurance says not to throw anything away until your insurance adjuster tells you to, and the North Carolina Department of Insurance says to photograph the damage before and after any emergency repairs. Outline the edge of a ceiling stain in pencil and write the date and time beside it so you can show whether it spreads. Write down the date of the storm and when you first noticed the leak. Our guide to documenting hail damage covers the roof side in more detail.

Step 4: Get temporary protection on the roof

Many policies require you to protect the property from further damage after a loss. The North Carolina Department of Insurance says its homeowners policies require reasonable emergency repairs and that you should keep receipts and photograph the work. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner warns that insurance usually won't cover water damage if you delay repairs after a storm damages your roof. In practice that means a properly secured tarp or board-up from a roofer or restoration company, not permanent repairs. See our article on emergency roof tarping for what a good job looks like.

Step 5: Call your insurer

Call your insurance company or agent as soon as possible, get a claim number if you open a claim, and keep a list of everyone you talk to (Texas Department of Insurance). Ask whether your policy has a separate wind or hail deductible, what the insurer expects for temporary repairs, and how to submit your photos. The Texas Department of Insurance also suggests asking about an advance payment if you need money quickly and about living expenses if you cannot stay in the home. If the damage is smaller than your deductible, you may decide not to file; that is your call, and your agent can explain how your policy treats it.

Step 6: Don't make permanent repairs yet

The Texas Department of Insurance says not to make permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the damage, and the North Carolina Department of Insurance says not to make extensive repairs before the adjuster arrives. Replacing shingles, decking or ceiling drywall too early can remove the evidence of what happened. Keep removed materials if you can, or photograph them first. Be there when the adjuster visits so you can point out every area.

Storm damage or an old leak?

Insurers look closely at the cause. The Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner explains that policies are meant for sudden events, and that insurers generally treat damage that develops gradually, over more than a couple of days, as a maintenance problem rather than a sudden accident. A roof that was damaged in a specific storm and then leaked is a different situation from a worn roof that has been seeping for months. Photos with dates, the storm date, and a roofer's written description of what they found can help show which one you have. Only your insurer decides.

Dry it out so mold doesn't follow

The U.S. EPA says it is important to dry water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Wet insulation and drywall are the usual hidden problem after a roof leak, because water collects in the attic and walls where you can't see it. A water damage pro with moisture meters can find the wet spots. If the ceiling or insulation stays wet, read our timeline of mold after water damage.

Watch for contractor red flags

Storms bring door-knockers. The Texas Department of Insurance advises getting more than one bid, checking references, not paying in full up front, never signing a contract with blank spaces, and avoiding anyone who offers to waive your deductible, which it says is illegal under Texas law. Many other states have similar rules. Verify licensing and insurance where required before you sign.

How we can help

ClaimToRepair makes the insurance side easier and gets the repairs done. One licensed local pro can do a free inspection, document the damage with photos and an estimate you can share with your adjuster, and quote the repairs. We don't file, negotiate or adjust claims, and only your insurer decides what is covered. If water is coming in right now, use Get immediate help: the same-day option has a $50 dispatch fee that is refunded if no one arrives the same day and isn't applied to the cost of the job, or you can schedule a visit instead.

Sources

• Texas Department of Insurance: Help after a storm
• Texas Department of Insurance: When are water damage and mold covered by insurance?
• North Carolina Department of Insurance: Loss Prevention and Aftermath
• Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Leaks, water damage, and mold
• U.S. EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home