Storm Damage on Your Roof? Get It Checked Before Winter.

This was a rough storm year in our counties

The dates matter if you ever need to talk to your insurance company.

• June 14: A Sunday evening storm system brought heavy wind damage across Venango, Clarion and Jefferson counties, snapping trees and knocking out power. (exploreVenango)
• July 3: The National Weather Service warned of 60 mph gusts from a storm just southeast of Franklin, moving toward Oil City and Clarion County.
• September 1: Storm reports logged trees down near Titusville, Blooming Valley and Centerville in Crawford County, and near Pleasantville in Venango County.
• September 3: A severe thunderstorm warning covered Venango, Mercer, northern Butler, and parts of Clarion and Forest counties, with 60 mph gusts and small hail. The Weather Service warned of damage to roofs and siding in towns including Franklin, Oil City, Sugarcreek, Grove City, Hermitage, Greenville and Tionesta.

If you were anywhere near those storms, your roof took some punishment.

Why fall is the time to check, not spring

Wind at 60 mph can lift a shingle just enough to break its seal, then let it lay back down. From the ground it looks normal. On the roof, that shingle is now loose, and water can get under it.

Winter is what turns that into a real problem. Snow sits on the roof for weeks. Freeze and thaw cycles push water into every gap. Ice dams form at the edges and back water up under loose shingles. A repair that costs a few hundred dollars in October can become a ceiling, insulation and drywall job by March.

There is also a timing issue with insurance. Most homeowners policies expect damage to be reported promptly. Every policy is different, so check yours, but waiting until spring to find storm damage from last June can make that conversation harder.

What you can check from the ground

Please don't climb up there yourself. You can learn a lot from the driveway and the yard.

1. Missing or out of place shingles. Look for dark patches, lines that don't match, or shingle pieces in the grass.
2. Granules in the gutters or at the downspouts. Shingles shed that sandy grit when they are damaged or worn out.
3. Dented gutters, vents or downspouts. If hail dented the metal, it hit the shingles too.
4. Damaged siding. Cracks, holes or loose pieces often mean the roof took a hit in the same storm.
5. Flashing that looks lifted. Check around the chimney and any vent pipes.
6. Stains inside. Look at upstairs ceilings and, if you can do it safely, the attic after a heavy rain.
7. Limbs that touched the roof. Even a branch that bounced off can crack shingles.

If you spot one of those, or you just aren't sure, that's what an inspection is for.

What a free inspection looks like

I come out, check the roof, and take clear photos of anything I find. Then I walk you through it in plain language. No pressure and no same day contract.

Because I'm independent, I send you to the crew that actually fits your roof. I've partnered directly with The Exterior Company (TEC), a reputable storm restoration company, so storm damage on shingles, siding and gutters that may involve insurance goes to them. Metal roofs, barns, outbuildings and smaller cash repairs go to trusted local crews. The inspection is free to you either way.

One thing I'll always be straight about: I document the damage, but your insurance company decides what your policy covers. Learn more about storm damage repair and whether to repair or replace.

A word about storm chasers

After big storms, out of town crews knock on doors across our area. Some are fine. Some take a deposit and disappear before the first snow. A few simple protections:

• Ask for their Pennsylvania home improvement contractor registration number. It belongs on the contract.
• Don't sign anything the same day under pressure. Pennsylvania law generally gives you three business days to cancel a home improvement contract.
• Ask where they'll be next spring if something goes wrong.

I live here. If there's a problem with your roof next year, you know where to find me.

Check a contractor's registration: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General home improvement guidance.

More roofing guides

Need a new roof before winter? Start here · Why a hot attic costs you money