What Storm Damage Repair Involves
Storm damage repair closes a roof that hail, wind, or a falling limb has opened, then rebuilds the layers underneath so the deck can dry out.
Ours starts with an emergency tarp and ends with a permanent repair that holds through the next wet season.
Wind does most of the damage we see. It peels the rake and eave, breaks the adhesive seal between tabs, and drives rain sideways under the field course.
Roof deck rot is the part nobody sees coming. We press on the decking before we quote, since a soft substrate under a valley changes the whole scope.
- Replacement shingles are matched to the existing field course so the patch reads as part of the original roof.
- Ice-and-water shield is the self-adhered waterproofing layer that goes along the eave and valley.
- Synthetic underlayment replaces torn roofing felt and tar paper and holds up better under a second storm.
- Replacement decking, plywood or OSB sheathing, goes in wherever the original board has rotted.
- Step flashing and chimney flashing are rebuilt by hand, since those joints leak more than any other part.
- Drip edge is re-nailed at the rake and eave so runoff sheds clear of the fascia and soffit.
- Gutter and downspout runs get cleared of debris and re-hung once the roof is watertight.
Roof Types and Roofline Features We See After Storms
What we carry up the ladder depends on what is already overhead, since a three-tab shingle and a clay tile fail differently.
- Asphalt shingle, architectural shingle, and three-tab shingle roofs lose the seal between tabs before the mat tears.
- Wood shake and cedar shake crack and split, so we weave in replacement shakes and treat the exposed wood.
- Slate, clay tile, and concrete tile shed water well but break on impact, so we swap tile and check the underlayment.
- Metal panel, standing-seam panel, and corrugated panel roofs need screws, battens, counterbattens, and sealant washers checked.
- Membrane, TPO, EPDM, and PVC membrane systems on flat garages get seam work instead of shingle work.
- Built-up roof and modified bitumen surfaces blister and split, and we patch them with a torch, mastic, or a coating.
Roofline features fail early too, so we hand-check the ones that catch the most weather.
- Hip, gable, mansard, and gambrel shapes, where wind pressure concentrates at the corners.
- Dormer cheeks, skylight curbs, and canopy or awning tie-ins that interrupt the field course.
- Chimney counter-flashing, apron flashing, boot flashing, pipe flashing, and vent boots that crack with age.
- Ridge cap, ridge vent, and soffit vent runs, plus attic fan curbs and the insulation behind them.
- Scupper drains, coping, and parapet walls on any low-slope or commercial section.
- Snow guard anchors and the overhang at the verge, where ice pulls at the drip edge.
Signs You Need Storm Damage Repair
Storm damage rarely announces itself with a puddle in the hallway. Most signals show up on the roofline or in the attic days after the wind stops.
Check the gutter for granules a day after the blow. Grit in the downspout means the shingle mat is eroding, and water wicks down the rafter from there.
- A missing shingle section at the ridge or hip points to wind uplift that pulled nails through the mat.
- Round hail strike marks bruise the shingle without tearing it, so the leak may not show for months.
- Water stains on attic sheathing, or a vapor barrier that pulled loose, usually mean the leak started weeks ago.
- A sagging ridge line or a dip in the roofline can mean a rotted rafter, joist, ridge beam, or purlin.
- Daylight through the roof deck means shingle and underlayment are both gone, so tarp it today.
- An ice dam shows as a ceiling stain directly below the exterior wall, not in the middle of the room.
Our Storm Damage Repair Process
Our process starts with a rapid damage inspection, usually the same day you call and always before we talk numbers. A roofer who has walked these roofs reads hail damage quickly.
- Rapid damage inspection: we photograph each slope, test flashing by hand, and mark every hit on a roof diagram.
- Emergency tarping: batten boards and ring-shank nails hold the tarp down so rain stays out overnight.
- Documentation: we write a line-item scope with measurements and storm dates in Xactimate format.
- Adjuster coordination: we meet your adjuster on the rooftop and answer for each line of the scope.
- Tear-off: a pry bar and roofing shovel strip the damaged courses and any rotten decking down to sound substrate.
- Rebuild: ice-and-water shield, underlayment, starter course, and staggered courses go back, fastened with a nail gun and air compressor.
- Cleanup: the dumpster is hauled off, we run a magnetic nail sweep, and a final roof inspection closes the file.
Cost Considerations in San Ramon
A small storm repair, a few shingles and one pipe boot with fresh sealant, typically runs $600 to $1,400 and finishes in one visit.
Larger work, like a full tear-off of one slope with new decking and flashing, lands between $3,500 and $9,000.
- Roof pitch drives labor, since a steep gable needs scaffold and safety harness time a low slope does not.
- Decking condition matters most, and plywood or OSB sheathing is priced by the sheet once the roof is open.
- Material choice moves the number: three-tab costs less than architectural shingle, and both cost less than standing-seam panel.
- Permit and building code requirements in Contra Costa County add a fixed fee we list on its own line.
- You get a written roof estimate before work starts, and we lay out a roofing square on the roof while we explain each line.
Warranty & Insurance
Storm claims are the one time insurance works in your favor, and the paperwork decides the outcome. As your roofing contractor, we stay on the file from the first call to the last check.
- We document the storm date, the damage pattern, and a line-item scope your carrier can price without guesswork.
- We walk the adjuster through the flashings, decking, and ventilation while we are both on the rooftop.
- When the first offer misses decking or code items, we file a supplemental claim with photos attached.
- We track the proof of loss form and the claim deadline so nothing lapses on a technicality.
Coverage follows the materials. We install replacement shingles from GAF and Owens Corning, our crews caulk and set roof cement at every penetration, and our written workmanship warranty covers the labor.
Why Choose San Ramon Roof Repair for Storm Damage Repair in San Ramon?
We are a licensed and insured local crew, and we work the same streets we live on. You get a written scope, a firm price, and a phone that a person answers during storm season.
Our weather pushes on roofs from two directions: hot, dry summers that bake the shingle mat, and heavy winter rain that finds every weak flashing. Foggy mornings near San Ramon Creek keep the deck damp longer than most people expect.
We repair 1970s Spanish-style stucco homes, 2000s two-story tract houses, and custom estate roofs on large lots, and the work looks different on each one.
Storm Damage Repair Questions We Hear Most Often
How fast can you tarp a roof after a storm?
Storm damage repair tarping is usually same-day when weather allows, and every truck carries tarps, batten boards, and ring-shank nails. A large opening gets secured that night and measured at first light.
Will my insurance cover hail damage?
Storm damage from hail is usually covered when the storm is a named event. We photograph strike marks, measure each slope, and hand your adjuster a line-item scope for review.
Do you replace the underlayment or just the shingles?
Underlayment gets replaced anywhere we open the roof, because roofing felt and tar paper tear at the seams. Ice-and-water shield returns at the eave and valley, with synthetic underlayment over the field.
What if my storm claim was denied?
We read the denial letter, re-photograph the damage, and file a supplemental claim when the original scope missed decking, flashing, or code items. A denial is often a paperwork problem.
Signs You Need Storm Damage Repair
Water Coming In Right Now
An active leak during a winter storm means the opening needs covering tonight, not next week. We tarp first, then trace whether wind lifted the field course or hail punched a vent boot loose.
Bare Patches After Wind
A gust line strips whole sections of shingle and leaves the underlayment exposed to hot, dry summer sun. Decking takes on water fast once the felt is gone, so the repair window is measured in days.
Tree or Limb Impact
A limb through the roof deck opens the sheathing and can crack a rafter or ridge beam underneath. We check the framing by hand before quoting, because the visible hole is rarely the whole story.
Hail Strike Marks
Hail bruises the shingle mat and dents vents and gutter runs without tearing anything. You may not spot it from the driveway, and the first interior stain shows up weeks later.
Fresh Ceiling Stains
A new ring on a ceiling usually follows a heavy winter rainstorm, not the day of the damage. That lag is why we photograph attic sheathing and check moisture content before we quote.
Ridge Cap or Flashing Pulled Loose
Lifted ridge cap and separated chimney flashing leak straight into the deck on the next storm. Foggy mornings keep that wood damp, which is how rot starts in a single season.
What's Included
- ✓ 24-hour response, with tarps, batten boards, and ring-shank nails already on the truck.
- ✓ Emergency tarping of any open slope, valley, or skylight curb before the next rain band.
- ✓ A photo damage report that maps every slope, flashing, and hail strike mark for your adjuster.
- ✓ A line-item scope written for insurance, with storm dates and measurements attached.
- ✓ Board-up of a broken skylight, dormer, or vent boot where glass or plastic is exposed.
- ✓ Follow-up permanent repair with replacement shingles, ice-and-water shield, and new decking where the substrate is soft.
- ✓ Dumpster hauled off, magnetic nail sweep done, and a final roof inspection before we close the file.
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