Licensed roofing professionals • Fort Wayne, IN • 15+ years experience
DIY Roof Inspection After a Storm: What You Can Safely Check
You don't need to climb on the roof after a storm. In fact, you shouldn't — damaged roofs are unstable, wet surfaces are slippery, and the damage assessment from roof level requires experience most homeowners don't have. What you can do is a thorough ground-level and interior assessment that tells you whether professional inspection is needed.
The Ground-Level Walk-Around (10 Minutes)
Grab your phone and walk the full perimeter of your house. Look up at the roof and document what you see.
Check for missing material. Missing shingles appear as dark rectangular patches — the exposed underlayment or decking is a different color than the surrounding shingles. Check all visible slopes.
Check for debris. Branches or foreign material on the roof surface may have caused damage on impact. Note the size and location.
Check the ridge line. The very top of the roof should be straight and uniform. If the cap shingles are shifted, lifted, or missing, wind got under them.
Check the edges. The eaves (bottom) and rakes (sides) are where wind damage starts. Look for shingles that are curled up, lifted, or torn.
Check soffit and fascia. Look at the underside of the roof overhangs. Panels that are hanging, cracked, or missing indicate wind damage to the eave structure.
The Collateral Damage Check (5 Minutes)
Gutters are your best indicator. Walk the full gutter line and look at the horizontal and front-facing surfaces. Round dents randomly spaced indicate hail impact. If gutters are dented, your roof was hit by the same stones.
Check window screens for tears or dents. Check siding for cracks or impact marks on the side of the house that faced the storm direction. Check your AC unit, mailbox, and car surfaces. Photograph everything.
Not Sure If Your Roof Is Damaged?
Don't guess. A qualified Fort Wayne roofer will inspect your roof for free and give you an honest written assessment. No sales pitch.
Schedule Free Inspection → Or call: (260) 255-4551The Attic Check (5 Minutes)
If you can safely access your attic, go up with a flashlight during or right after rain. Look for any daylight visible through the roof deck, water dripping or running along rafters or trusses, wet spots on insulation, and new water stains on the underside of the decking.
If you find any of these, you have functional damage. Don't wait — call for professional assessment and see our emergency leak guide.
The Interior Check (5 Minutes)
Walk through every room on the top floor. Look at ceilings for new water stains, discoloration, bubbling paint, or sagging drywall. Check around skylights, chimney chases, and anywhere the roof transitions to a wall. Open closets and check ceiling corners — leaks often appear first in places you don't look daily.
What Your Findings Mean
No visible damage anywhere: Your roof likely survived. Consider a professional inspection if your area saw confirmed large hail or extreme wind, but it's probably fine.
Collateral damage but no visible roof damage: Get a professional inspection. Dented gutters and damaged screens confirm your property was hit — the roof needs a hands-on assessment. Most reputable contractors offer this at no cost — read our guide to what free inspections catch (and what to watch out for) before you schedule one.
Visible roof damage: File an insurance claim and get professional assessments from two local contractors. Make sure you've thoroughly documented everything first — our roof damage documentation guide covers exactly what to capture and how to organize your evidence for the insurance process.
Active water intrusion: Emergency situation. Stop the water first, then deal with insurance and repairs.