The clearest signs of roof storm damage you can see from the ground are shingles or shingle pieces in the yard, tabs that look lifted or creased, missing ridge caps, dents in gutters and roof vents, piles of granules in the downspout splash blocks, and new water stains on ceilings inside. If you spot any of those within a day or two of a wind or hail event, your roof needs a closer look, and in most cases that look should come from a local roofer rather than a stranger knocking on your door. Here is what to check, what it likely means, and how fast you need to move.
What should I look for in the yard after a storm?
Start on the ground and walk the whole perimeter of the house. Shingles or torn pieces of shingle in the grass, on the driveway, or caught in the shrubs are the most obvious sign. Even one whole shingle on the lawn means there is a bare spot on the roof with exposed nails and underlayment. Look for the black or gray fragments too, because wind often tears shingles into strips rather than pulling them off clean.
Check the splash blocks under each downspout for a pile of colored granules that looks like coarse sand. Some granule loss is normal on an older roof, but a fresh heavy deposit right after a hailstorm means the hail knocked the protective surface off the shingles. That damage shortens a roof’s life even when it does not leak right away. Broken branches on the ground in North Huntingdon or Murrysville usually mean branches hit the roof on the way down, and the impact points are worth finding.
What can I see on the roof from the ground?
Stand back far enough to see each roof plane, and use binoculars if you have them. Lifted or curled tabs show as small shadows or uneven lines across the field of shingles. Creased shingles have been folded back by wind and then dropped, and they will keep flapping in every storm that follows until they tear. Look along the ridge for missing or shifted ridge caps, which are the first thing to go in a strong gust because they take wind from both sides.
Look at the metal. Roof vents, pipe boots, and the flat sections of gutters are soft aluminum, and hail dents them in a pattern of round dimples. If your gutters and vents are dented, assume the shingles around them took the same hits. Check the siding and window screens on the side of the house that faced the wind for the same reason.
Do not climb up. A roof that just took storm damage has loose shingles and wet spots, and it is not worth a fall. We inspect roofs every day and we will do it for free.
What should I check inside the house?
Go to the attic with a flashlight within a day of the storm if you can. Look for daylight through the decking, damp insulation, dark streaks on the underside of the plywood, and water beads on nails. Then check the ceilings on the top floor for new brown rings or bubbling paint, especially around chimneys, bathroom vents, and skylights, which is where flashing fails first.
Water often takes a few days to travel from the roof to a visible stain, so check again after the next rain even if the first look is clean.
Storm damage signs, likely causes, and how urgent they are
| Sign | Likely cause | Urgency |
|---|---|---|
| Whole shingles in the yard | Wind uplift, failed seal strip | High, exposed decking, call within 48 hours |
| Creased or lifted tabs | Wind, often on older brittle shingles | High, will tear in the next storm |
| Missing ridge caps | Wind across the peak | High, direct path for water into the attic |
| Dented gutters, vents, siding | Hail | Medium, document now, inspect shingles within a week |
| Granule piles at downspouts | Hail impact or advanced age | Medium, indicates shortened roof life |
| Tree limb on roof | Impact | High, possible broken decking, tarp and inspect now |
| New ceiling stain | Active leak from any of the above | High, water is already inside |
| Daylight in the attic | Missing shingles or punctured decking | High, tarp today |
| Loose or fallen gutter section | Wind, ice, or debris weight | Medium, fascia exposed to runoff |
Which storm damage needs a professional?
Anything that involves getting on the roof, anything that involves water already in the house, and anything you plan to file an insurance claim for. A professional inspection does three things a ground level look cannot. It finds the hail bruises that are invisible from below, where the mat under the shingle is fractured even though the surface looks fine. It counts and documents every wind creased shingle, which an adjuster needs to see. And it checks the flashing, boots, and seals that are the actual source of most leaks.
Our storm inspections include photos of every damaged area, a marked up roof diagram, and a written report you can hand to your insurance company. You can see the full list of what we check on our storm damage checklist.
How fast do I need to act after a storm?
There are two clocks. The first is the weather. Missing shingles or a lifted ridge cap will leak in the next rain, and in a Western PA fall the next rain is never far off. Within 48 hours you want the damage at least tarped and documented, and that is where most emergency calls to our storm damage team come from.
The second clock is your insurance policy. Pennsylvania homeowners policies typically require you to report damage promptly and to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, which is why a tarp and a photo record matter so much. Many policies have a one year window to file a claim, but some are shorter, and the longer you wait the harder it is to tie the damage to a specific storm date. Photograph everything now, save the date and time of the storm, and read your policy or check with the Pennsylvania Insurance Department if you are not sure what it requires. Our guide to filing a roof insurance claim in Pennsylvania walks through the whole process.
Why should I call a local roofer instead of a storm chaser?
After every big wind or hail event in Westmoreland or Allegheny County, trucks with out of state plates show up in the neighborhoods that took the worst of it. Some do decent work. Many do not, and nearly all are gone by the time a problem shows up. The pattern is familiar: a knock on the door, a promise to handle the insurance, pressure to sign on the spot, and a crew you have never seen before on your roof a week later.
A local company has a different relationship with your roof. We have been in Irwin since 1995, we are PA licensed, contractor number PA050898, and we hold Owens Corning Platinum Preferred status, which means the manufacturer stands behind our workmanship warranty. We will be here in five years when a nail pops or a boot cracks. In our Westmoreland County jobs, about one in four storm repair calls involves fixing work a storm chasing crew did in the prior two years. Before you sign anything, read our guide on how to choose a Pittsburgh roofer and confirm the company has a real local address and a Pennsylvania license number you can look up.
What if the damage is from hail specifically?
Hail is the hardest damage to see from the ground and the most likely to be disputed by an adjuster. Bruised shingles look fine until you press on them and feel the soft spot where the mat broke. Our guide on hail damage to roofs covers what adjusters look for and why a hail damaged roof that does not leak today will still fail early.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my roof has wind damage?
Look for shingles or pieces in the yard, tabs that appear lifted, creased, or curled, and missing ridge caps along the peak. Wind damage usually shows up on the side of the house that faced the storm and at the corners and edges of the roof first. If you see any of it, have a roofer inspect the whole roof, because loose shingles you cannot see from below are almost always there too.
Should I call my insurance company before a roofer?
Call a roofer first for a free inspection so you know whether the damage is worth a claim. A small repair below your deductible is not worth filing, and a claim on your record can affect your premium. If the inspection shows real storm damage, then file, and hand the adjuster the roofer’s photo report.
How long after a storm can I file a roof claim in Pennsylvania?
Most Pennsylvania homeowners policies give you up to a year, but some are shorter, and every policy requires prompt notice and reasonable steps to prevent further damage. The safest approach is to document the damage within 48 hours, tarp anything open, and report it within a few days. Waiting months makes it harder to prove which storm caused what.
Can a storm damage a roof without leaving obvious signs?
Yes, especially hail. Hail bruises shingles and knocks off granules without tearing anything, and wind can break the seal strips under shingles so they lift in the next storm even though they look flat today. That is why we recommend a professional inspection after any storm with hail or gusts over about 50 miles per hour, even if the roof looks fine from the driveway.
If a storm just came through your part of greater Pittsburgh and you are not sure what you are looking at, call Bella Construction at (724) 515 5163 for a free storm inspection with a photo report. Our fall schedule fills quickly after every big weather event, so the sooner we look, the sooner you know. You can also request an inspection online through our storm damage page.