Roof Storm Damage: How to Check From Below

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

"I wouldn’t even think to check for this after a storm, should I be?"

A commenter in a roofing thread asked it that plainly, and the answer is yes: check, but from below, in the room under the roof, in the attic and around the house. A roofer can spot damage that is not obvious to homeowners¹, so the goal is to find what you can, write it down, and then pick who looks closer.

Quick answer:

Look at the ceiling, the attic and the area around the house, and stay off the roof¹.
Photograph or videotape the damage² before you fix or throw out anything.
Ask your agent if the deductible for wind and hail damage is different³ from the one for other damage.
Contact your insurance company or a roofer you choose, not one who shows up uninvited⁴.

On this page

How do you know you have storm damage?
Checking from the room, the attic and the ground
What can look like storm damage but isn't?
If you already spoke with your insurance, tried something, or were told something
What do I do today if the roofer can't come?
Who to call, and what to send

Today's job is to look and write things down. Who looks closer can wait until you have your photos.

How do you know you have storm damage?

How serious it is depends on what you find. These are the signs to look for:

A wet spot or stain on a ceiling or wall. Missing shingles or holes in the roofing may be causing wet spots⁵.
A drip trail or a spot of light in the attic. From the attic, a drip trail or a spot of light coming through can point to a hole⁵.
Dents or spatter marks on metal around the house. Look at A/C units, gutters, metal flashing and downspouts⁶: damage there helps show a hail event happened.
Missing or lifted shingles. Binoculars give a closer view from the ground⁵.

How does a storm do this? Wind can lift unsealed shingles, and water can seep underneath⁷.

Checking from the room, the attic and the ground

Do the checks in this order, and photograph each thing as you find it. Inspect only from ground level¹, not from the roof.

The room below: look at ceilings and walls for stains or wet spots. Leaks are rarely located directly above the water spot on the ceiling⁵, so the stain does not tell you where the water gets in.
The attic: look for the drip trail or spot of light described in sign 2⁵, and photograph it.
The ground: walk around the house and look for dents on the A/C unit, gutters, flashing and downspouts. Don't hop up on the roof to check the surface; use binoculars instead.

Spotted some signs and wondering what happens if someone comes to look? Is a free inspection after a storm safe to accept.

What can look like storm damage but isn't?

Some signs look alarming but do not settle the question alone.

Lost granules by themselves. Some lost granules alone do not mean hail damage⁶.
A shingle that is simply not stuck down. If it is not creased, folded, torn or missing, it is not evidence of wind-caused damage⁸. A creased, torn or missing one is worth a photo.
The stain as the leak. As above, the wet spot can sit away from the spot where water comes in.

If you already spoke with your insurance, tried something, or were told something

If your claim was denied. In Texas, for example, the insurance company must tell you in writing why it denied a claim⁹. Wherever you live, ask your state's insurance department whether a similar rule applies. Also in Texas, if you disagree with the adjuster's final estimate, tell the company why and send supporting documentation, such as a contractor's estimate¹⁰.

One commenter described a denial over a missing storm record: "Denied my claim on roof damage saying they had no record of a storm...said storm was so bad it made the news"

If you were told the damage can only be seen from the roof. One commenter put it this way: "Storm damage often can only be seen from on the roof." That is about what a trained eye finds, and that is the reason to have a roofer you choose look closer.

Did someone knock on your door offering free roof work? How to tell a real roofer after a storm.

What do I do today if the roofer can't come?

Photograph or videotape the damage, then take reasonable steps to protect your property from further damage², such as moving belongings away from a wet spot. In Texas, for example, a tarp on the roof is a temporary repair that protects the house and belongings¹¹. Wherever you live, if the roof needs a tarp, have a roofer you choose put it on.

Dry wet materials and areas within 24-48 hours¹², because in most cases mold will not grow if they are dried that fast.
If you file a claim, avoid throwing out damaged items until the adjuster has visited², and save receipts for what you spend².
If you file a claim, make no permanent repairs yet. In North Carolina, for example, do not have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected your property and you have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs¹³. Wherever you live, ask your insurer whether the same holds.

Whether your policy covers wind damage is for your insurer to say. Read your policy to see exactly what your responsibilities are² before you call. A wind or hail deductible can be a percentage of your dwelling coverage, shown on your policy declarations page¹⁴.

Example: in North Carolina, with $200,000 of coverage, a 1% deductible means you pay $2,000 out of pocket for every wind or hail claim¹⁴. Your numbers will differ.

Thinking about an insurance claim and unsure what comes first? The roof insurance claim process, in order.

Who to call, and what to send

A written estimate from a roofer you chose yourself helps you decide: if repairs cost about the same as your deductible or less, filing may not be worth it¹⁵. The other worry is roofing companies that go through neighborhoods claiming to repair storm damage. In North Carolina, for example, beware of contractors going door-to-door after a disaster, and check with your insurance agent or company before signing a contract or paying for repairs¹⁶. In Connecticut, for example, insist on a written estimate before repairs begin, and do not sign any contract before the adjuster has examined the damage¹⁷. Wherever you live, ask your state's insurance department or your insurer if a similar rule applies.

Ask the roofer to put the repair price and any hidden damage in writing. You can send this:

Please send me a written estimate for what you find, with a photo of each damaged spot. Please also write down the price for any hidden damage found once the work starts. I will not approve extra work until I see that price in writing.

If a roofer pushes you to sign today or won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: you can say no and keep looking. Choose a licensed, bonded and insured roofer with a local address, and never give in to high-pressure sales tactics⁶.