Storm damage repair, from the tarp to the last ceiling patch

The first hours after the storm passes

Look before you climb. Stay away from downed power lines and do not walk through standing water that might be touching wiring; Ready.gov's flood guidance says to turn off electricity only when you can do it without standing in water. From the ground, photograph the roof, siding, windows and fences, then every room inside where water came in, before you move or throw anything away. Write down the date and time you first saw the damage and what the weather was doing; the Texas Department of Insurance suggests exactly that for storm claims.

Then stop more water getting in. The Texas Department of Insurance tells homeowners to make only temporary repairs, such as boarding a broken window or putting a tarp over a damaged roof, and to keep the receipts, because permanent repairs before the insurer sees the damage can put a claim at risk. Temporary protection is our first job on a storm call.

Tarping and board-up done properly

A tarp that blows off in the next gust does more harm than good. A sound temporary cover runs over the ridge where possible, so water sheds over it rather than under it, is held with battens fastened through the tarp rather than rocks or loose nails, and extends well past the damaged area on every side. Broken windows and holes in siding are covered with plywood cut to fit. We photograph the cover once it is on, so the adjuster sees both the damage and the steps taken to protect the house.

Water that got in: is it storm water or flood water?

Where water came from matters twice: for the cleanup and for the insurance. Rain coming through a damaged roof or a broken window is often covered by a homeowners policy; water rising from the ground outside generally is not, because most homeowners policies exclude flood, which needs separate flood insurance. The cleanup method follows the water too. The IICRC's S500 standard treats rising water from rivers and streams as the most contaminated category. In March 2026 the IICRC published a position statement making a related point: wind-driven rain and other weather-related water are not automatically placed in that worst category; the category depends on what restorers find on site. We record where water entered and what it touched, so both decisions rest on facts.

What storm damage repair includes

1. Cover and secure. Tarp the roof, board windows and openings, and clear debris that blocks access.
2. Measure the wet areas. Moisture readings in ceilings, walls, insulation and floors below each leak.
3. Remove soaked materials. Wet attic insulation, sagging ceiling drywall and saturated carpet pad come out.
4. Dry. Air movers and dehumidifiers run until readings match dry materials elsewhere in the house, as on any water damage restoration job.
5. Repair the envelope. Roof decking, siding, trim and windows are repaired or replaced, with permits where the city requires them.
6. Finish inside. Ceilings, walls, paint and flooring, as described on the reconstruction after damage page.

Hail and wind in Dallas–Fort Worth

North Texas storms bring hail, straight-line winds and sudden heavy rain, often in the same afternoon. Hail can bruise shingles in ways that are hard to see from the ground and leave dents in gutters, vents and siding. After a hailstorm, door-to-door roofers appear quickly; the Texas Department of Insurance advises against hiring door-to-door solicitors for storm repairs and recommends getting more than one written bid, checking references, and not paying in full before the work is done. A thorough storm job also looks inside: the leak that shows up as a stain in a bedroom ceiling may have been soaking attic insulation for days.

Winter storms in the Bay Area

Bay Area storms arrive as long bands of heavy rain with gusty wind, and they find the weak points of older homes: worn roof flashing around chimneys and skylights, clogged gutters and downspouts that send water against foundations, falling tree limbs, and crawl spaces that fill when drainage around the house is poor. Water in a crawl space may not show inside for days, then announces itself as a musty smell or a cupped floor. Checking under the house after a heavy storm, or having it checked, is worth doing before mold makes the decision for you.

Keeping the paperwork straight

Storm claims often involve more than one trade and more than one visit from the adjuster. Keep a simple file: your photos from the first day, the receipts for the tarp and any supplies, the adjuster's name and claim number, and every estimate. We add our own photo log, moisture readings and a line-item estimate in the industry's standard format. Our insurance claim documentation page lists what that file contains. Your insurer decides what the policy pays.

Sources: Texas Department of Insurance, Hail damage to your home or car? What to do next, Repairing My Roof after a Storm and Home insurance guide; Ready.gov, Floods; IICRC, S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration and Category of Water Damage and Weather-related Events (March 2026).