What to Do After Storm Damage to Your NJ Roof

New Jersey storms can be brutal — high winds, heavy hail, ice, and driving rain can all cause serious damage to your roof in a matter of minutes. If you've just been through a major storm and you're worried about your roof, here's exactly what to do.

Before you do anything else, make sure it's safe. Don't go on your roof during or immediately after a storm. Wet roofs are extremely slippery, and there may be downed power lines or unstable debris nearby.

If you see active water intrusion inside your home — water dripping from the ceiling or running down walls — place buckets to catch it and move valuables out of the way. But don't attempt to access the roof yourself.

Once the storm has passed and it's safe to go outside, walk around your home and look for obvious signs of roof damage from the ground:

• Missing shingles — bare patches on the roof
• Displaced or lifted shingles — shingles that are still there but no longer lying flat
• Damaged flashing — bent or torn metal around chimneys, vents, or skylights
• Dents on gutters or downspouts — a sign of hail damage
• Debris on the roof — fallen branches or other material

Take photos of everything you can see from the ground. This documentation will be important for your insurance claim.

Go into your attic and look for:

• Daylight coming through the roof boards
• Water stains or active dripping
• Wet insulation

If you find active leaking, try to contain it with buckets and towels, and call us immediately.

If you have visible damage or active leaking, call us right away at 973-584-7717. We offer 24-hour emergency roof repair service throughout Morris County and surrounding NJ counties.

We'll come out quickly to:

1. Assess the full extent of the damage
2. Apply emergency tarping or temporary repairs to stop further water intrusion
3. Document the damage thoroughly for your insurance claim
4. Provide a full written estimate for permanent repairs

Don't wait. Every hour a damaged roof is left unprotected, more water can enter your home — causing damage to insulation, drywall, framing, and personal belongings.

After securing your roof, contact your homeowner's insurance company to report the damage. Most policies cover storm damage, including wind and hail. Here's what to have ready:

• Date and time of the storm
• Photos of the damage (from your ground-level inspection)
• A description of what happened

Your insurance company will send an adjuster to assess the damage. Having a professional roofer's written estimate in hand before the adjuster arrives is extremely helpful — it ensures nothing gets missed.

Even if the damage looks minor from the ground, a professional inspection is essential after any significant storm. Hail damage in particular is often invisible from the ground but can significantly shorten your roof's lifespan if left unaddressed.

Brandon Roofing provides thorough post-storm inspections and detailed written reports that you can submit to your insurance company.

Hail is one of the most common causes of roof damage in New Jersey, and it's also one of the most misunderstood. Hail damage doesn't always look dramatic — it often appears as small dents or bruises on shingles that are only visible up close.

Signs of hail damage include:

• Dents in soft metals like gutters, downspouts, and flashing
• Bruised or dented shingles — soft spots that feel like a bruise when pressed
• Granule loss — bald spots where granules have been knocked off
• Cracked or split shingles

If your area was hit by hail, it's worth having your roof professionally inspected even if you don't see obvious damage.

After major storms, out-of-town contractors often flood the area offering quick, cheap repairs. Be cautious. These "storm chasers" may do substandard work, use inferior materials, or disappear before warranty issues arise.

Always work with a local, established roofing contractor who will be around to stand behind their work. Brandon Roofing has been serving Morris County for over 30 years — we're not going anywhere.

If your roof has been damaged by a storm, don't wait. Call Brandon Roofing at 973-584-7717 any time — day or night. We offer 24-hour emergency service throughout Morris County, Sussex, Bergen, Passaic, Warren, Hunterdon, Somerset, and Union Counties.

We're fully insured, locally owned, and have been protecting Morris County homes for over 30 years.