Blog · Ohio & Michigan
After a hail or wind storm — a 24-hour checklist for Ohio and Michigan homeowners
What to do in the first day after a storm hits your roof, from safety and photos to spotting storm-chaser red flags, before you call anyone.
By Jonathan Blake · · 3 min read
- Stay off the roof and away from downed lines.
- Photograph damage from the ground with dates before anything is repaired.
- Tarp or protect the inside, then get written inspections before you sign anything.
Spring and summer storms across Ohio and Michigan bring hail and high wind. Within a day or two, trucks and door-hangers show up in your neighborhood. The first 24 hours matter because what you do then protects your house and your options.
1. Safety first
- Stay off the roof. Wet, damaged shingles are slick, and you can’t see soft decking from on top of it.
- If water is coming through a ceiling near lights or outlets, keep people away. Shut off power to that area only if you can reach the breaker safely.
- A sagging ceiling can hold a lot of water. Keep people out of the room below it.
2. Document everything, from the ground
Take dated photos and a short video of:
- Shingles in the yard, dented gutters and downspouts, and dings on window wraps or siding.
- Hail on the ground next to a coin or ruler, if it’s still there.
- Every interior stain or drip, with the room in the frame.
Write down the date and time of the storm. If you plan to contact your insurer, their policy terms decide what’s covered. Good photos help whichever way you go.
3. Stop more water getting in
If water is coming in, a temporary tarp or patch can prevent far more damage than the storm caused. Ask for photos of the damage before it’s covered, and keep the invoice.
4. Be careful with door-knockers
Most people who knock after a storm aren’t local, and some aren’t honest. A few things to watch for:
- Pressure to sign today, or to sign “just an inspection form” that is really a contract.
- Asking for a large payment up front. Ohio’s Attorney General has warned homeowners to be careful with large advance payments and door-to-door sales. In Ohio, many door-to-door contracts come with a three-day right to cancel.
- No local address or license. Michigan licenses residential builders and maintenance-and-alteration contractors through LARA. Look them up. Ohio has no statewide roofing license, so ask your city what it requires.
5. Get a real inspection and compare
Have one or two established local roofers inspect the damage and put their findings in writing with photos. Our roof repair triage helps you sort what you’re seeing and what kind of help to ask for.
If it turns into a replacement, the roof replacement planner shows what a complete scope should include, so every quote covers the same work.
What storm damage usually looks like
- Wind: missing shingles, creased tabs that lifted and folded back, lifted ridge caps, and bent flashing.
- Hail: dark spots where granules were knocked off, soft bruises in the shingle mat, dented metal vents and gutters, and cracked siding or window screens.
- Falling limbs: punctures, broken rafters or a sagging deck. Treat any sag as a safety issue and stay out of the rooms underneath.
What to keep in your storm file
- Date and time of the storm, and any local storm reports.
- Photos and video from the ground, inside the attic and inside the house.
- Receipts for tarps, emergency repairs and hotel stays.
- Every contractor’s written findings, with their full company name and address.
- Notes from every call with your insurer: date, name and what was said.
Measure before the adjuster or contractor visits
Knowing the roof size keeps everyone honest. Run the roof size calculator so you know roughly how many squares your roof is, and use the roof replacement planner to see what a complete replacement scope includes. If a proposal is based on a very different number of squares, ask why.
Free download: keep the storm damage 24-hour checklist (PDF) on the fridge during storm season.
Run your numbers
Quick roof estimate
Provisional planning range (our setting, not a quote or market average). Real prices depend on condition, access and scope.
What this estimate does and doesn't cover
- It all depends on the roof. Condition, material, pitch, number of layers, access and local code can move the price well outside this range. Treat it as a first budget number, not a price.
- Roof area is a rough guess. We turn living area into roof area using your stories, a 10% allowance for overhangs and your pitch. Garages, porches, dormers, valleys and complex shapes are not counted. A measurement report or an on-site measurement will differ.
- The dollar band is our own provisional setting, informed by published guides. It is not a verified Ohio or Michigan market average, not a contractor quote and not an offer.
- Assumes a straightforward replacement: one layer torn off, standard underlayment, ice barrier at eaves, flashing and cleanup.
- Not included: rotted decking, extra layers, framing or structural repair, major ventilation changes, chimney work, skylights, gutters, permits, steep or difficult access, and insurance-related work.
- Repairs are not priced. Leaks, storm damage and small repairs need an inspection.
- Stay off the roof. Measure from the ground or plans, and get a written proposal from a licensed, insured contractor before you decide.
See how we set ranges and our disclosures.
Questions readers ask
Should I file an insurance claim after every storm?
Not necessarily. Get the damage documented and inspected first. Whether to file, and what is covered, depends on your policy and your deductible. Your insurer or agent can explain your coverage.
How do I spot hail damage from the ground?
Look for dents in gutters, downspouts, metal vents and window screens, and granules washed out of downspouts. Those often mean the shingles took hits too. Only a close inspection confirms roof damage.
A contractor offered to cover my deductible. Is that OK?
Be very careful. Offering to waive or absorb an insurance deductible can amount to insurance fraud, and it is a common storm-chaser tactic. Get the full scope and price in writing instead.
How soon do I need to fix storm damage?
Protect the inside right away. Many policies expect you to prevent further damage, and many have time limits for claims. Permanent repairs can follow the inspection.
Sources
- Consumer protection news release on door-to-door contractors, Ohio Attorney General
- Helpful information for homeowners, Michigan LARA