Missing Shingles After a Storm? What to Check From the Ground

First rule: stay off the roof

Please do not climb onto your roof after a storm, and do not try to repair it yourself. Wet, damaged roofs are slippery, and loose shingles or weakened decking can give way. Falls from roofs and ladders can cause serious injuries. Shingle maker IKO advises homeowners to limit their own checks to what they can see from street level and to have a professional roofer do the full inspection.

Everything in this article can be done from the ground, from a window, or from inside your home.

What to look for from the ground

Walk around the house once the storm has passed and it is safe to be outside. Stay clear of any downed wires. A pair of binoculars helps.

• Missing shingles. Look for gaps, or spots where the color of the roof suddenly changes. A darker or different-colored patch can mean shingles are gone and the layer underneath is showing.
• Lifted or creased shingles. Wind can lift shingle edges and bend them back. A shingle that has been folded may look flat again later, but it can leave a crease line.
• Bent or loose flashing. Flashing is the metal around chimneys, vents, skylights and walls. Look for pieces that are bent, pulled away or hanging.
• Debris on the roof. Branches, limbs or other objects on the roof can damage shingles where they hit.
• Pieces on the ground. Shingle pieces, metal or nails in the yard or driveway are a clue that something came off the roof.

Check the gutters and downspouts

Look at what comes out of the downspouts and what is sitting in any gutters you can see from the ground. A lot of shingle granules, the small sand-like grains on top of shingles, can be a sign of wear or damage. Also note gutters that are bent, sagging or pulled away from the house. Do not climb a ladder to check them.

Signs inside the house

Some roof damage shows up indoors first. Check:

• Ceilings and upper walls for new stains, bubbling paint or drips
• The top floor around chimneys, skylights and exterior walls
• The attic, if you can reach it safely from inside, for damp insulation, wet wood or daylight showing through

A new stain after a storm is worth taking seriously, even if it is small. Water can travel before it shows up, so the damage on the roof may not be right above the stain.

Document everything with photos

Before you clean anything up, take photos. Good documentation helps a roofer understand what happened, and it can help if you decide to talk to your insurance company.

• Take wide shots of each side of the roof from the ground
• Zoom in on anything that looks missing, lifted or bent
• Photograph debris in the yard and granules from the downspouts
• Photograph any stains or drips inside, with something in the shot for scale
• Write down the date of the storm and when you first noticed each problem

All of these photos can be taken from the ground or from inside. That is all a roofer needs to get started.

About tarps: leave it to a pro

If part of the roof is open to the weather, a tarp can help keep more water out until a proper repair is made. But putting a tarp on a roof means climbing up and working on a damaged, often wet surface. That is a job for a roofing professional with the right equipment, not a homeowner.

Inside, you can safely limit damage by moving furniture and valuables away from leaks, putting down buckets and towels, and keeping people away from any ceiling that is sagging.

When it is urgent

Call a roofer right away if you see any of these:

• Water actively coming through a ceiling or light fixture
• A ceiling that is sagging or bulging
• A large section of shingles missing, or a hole in the roof
• A tree or large limb resting on the roof

If water is near electrical fixtures or a ceiling looks like it could come down, keep everyone out of that area. Safety comes before the roof.

For other storm and snow tips, see our storm and snow section. If you are not sure what you are looking at, the what's wrong with my roof guide can help you sort it out.