How to Spot Roof Damage After a Storm (Before It’s Too Late) — Berks County Guide

After wind, hail, heavy rain, or ice, do a ground-only walk-around, check attic & ceilings, and photograph everything. Look for missing/creased shingles, dented soft metals (hail), loose flashings, clogged or bent gutters, cracked skylights, soffit/fascia damage, and attic moisture. If water is entering the home, call for tarping and an inspection at 610-587-2709. We perform full tear-offs only (no overlays) so hidden damage is actually fixed and warranties hold.

Storm checklist (0–2 hours)

Safety first

• Stay off the roof. Avoid downed lines; if you see sparking or smell gas, call 911/utility.

• Protect interiors: move items, cover with plastic, place buckets, flip the breaker if water nears a fixture.

Quick exterior scan (from the ground)

• Shingles: missing tabs, creases along the bottom edge (classic wind lift), widespread curling.

• Soft metals: dents on gutters, downspouts, ridge/box vents, flashing, and mailbox/AC shroud = hail indicator.

• Flashings/edges: chimney & sidewall flashing lifted, missing counter-flashing, exposed nail heads, loose drip edge.

• Skylights & pipes: cracked lenses, shattered domes, torn boots.

• Soffit/fascia: panels blown out; look for staining at eaves after rain.

• Debris impacts: branch punctures, torn shingles, punctured underlayment.

Attic & ceilings

• Use a flashlight: dark stains, shiny wet sheathing, drips at nails after temperature swings, damp insulation, musty smells.

• Inside rooms: new brown rings or paint bubbling.

What different storms do (and what it looks like)

Wind

• Signs: missing tabs, lines of creased shingles, lifted ridge caps, debris patterns on leeward slopes.

• Risk: exposed fasteners, broken seal strips → future blow-offs.

• Action: widespread creasing = plan replacement on the affected slopes at minimum.

Hail

• Signs: circular dents on soft metals; on shingles, granule craters with soft “bruise” when pressed.

• Risk: accelerated UV breakdown; leaks may lag months.

• Action: document soft-metal dents (easier to see) and close-ups of shingle bruising.

Heavy rain & flash flooding

• Signs: leaks at valleys, chimneys, step flashings, and around skylights; overflowing gutters.

• Risk: hidden deck rot along eaves/valleys.

• Action: prioritize flashing systems over caulk “patches.”

Snow & ice (ice dams)

• Signs: icicles/ice bands at eaves; interior stains after thaw; frost on attic nails.

• Risk: water backs up under shingles.

• Action: long term fix = ventilation + insulation + proper ice-barrier, not overlays.

Photo checklist for your records (and insurance)

• Wide shot of each slope; medium shots of the worst areas; macro close-ups of bruises/creases.

• All soft-metal dents (gutters/downspouts, vents, flashing, chimney caps).

• Interior/attic moisture, stained insulation, and any contents damage.

• Date/time + the storm name/date if known. Save receipts for emergency mitigation.

We’re not public adjusters; you are the claimant. We document conditions, provide a line-item scope, and meet your adjuster if requested.

Do’s & Don’ts (before we arrive)

Do

• Keep debris off the roof; clear the ground where safe.

• Turn off affected circuits if water nears electrical.

• Call for tarping if water is entering the home.

Don’t

• Don’t climb on wet or wind-damaged roofs.

• Don’t smear caulk over shingles or flashings (traps water, voids warranties).

• Don’t hire door-to-door “storm chasers” who push overlays. We won’t install them.

Repair vs. replacement after a storm

Choose repair when damage is isolated (single slope, intact deck, healthy surrounding shingles).Choose replacement (full tear-off) when:

• Creasing or hail bruising is widespread.

• Deck is soft/sagging, or multiple flashings failed.

• You want clean warranty eligibility and documented, long-term fixes.

Local budget sense-check (asphalt, Berks County): Most tear-off & replace projects land ~$850–$1,250 per square (100 sq ft), pitch/complexity dependent. Deck repairs and metal work add based on findings.

Our stance: No overlays—ever

Overlays hide impact and moisture damage, compromise ventilation, add weight/waviness, and can limit manufacturer coverage. We only build on a clean, dry deck so you get proof, not promises.

When to call us immediately

• Active interior leak or ceiling bulge

• Visible puncture, tree strike, or missing ridge

• Cracked skylight or torn pipe boot with rain in the forecast

24/7 emergency tarping & inspection: 610-587-2709

Service areas

Reading, Wyomissing, Sinking Spring, Fleetwood, Muhlenberg, Exeter, Allentown, and across Berks County + nearby counties (Lehigh, Montgomery, Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Schuylkill).