When a tree falls on a roof, homeowners often rush to call a roofing service, believing that should be their priority.

Although this type of serious damage will certainly require the attention of a roof service eventually, other more pressing things should be done before worrying about making repairs.

These instructions can help homeowners stay safe while dealing with a downed tree when it initially happens, after which their roofing company can then come in to assess the damages and plan with them to get repairs made.

1. Evacuate The Home

Before doing anything else after sustaining roof damage due to a tree falling, roof services recommend that the home be evacuated of all people and pets.

This sort of accident can easily cause damage to the electrical service and gas lines or affect the support structure of the home, making fires, gas leaks, and even collapses possible.

The extent of the damage and the type of repairs required from a roofing company can be assessed once everyone residing inside the home is first removed for their safety.

2. Assess The Safety Risk

With the home vacated, homeowners can carefully assess the type of damage present and whether there are any immediate safety concerns.

Start by noticing whether power has been cut to the home and if there is any evidence of sparking electrical lines.

Be observant of odors that could indicate a gas leak or a fire and whether major support features of the home have been affected.

3. Contact Utility Companies If Necessary

If there is any indication of an electrical or gas problem, notify the power or gas company immediately so they can send someone to cut electrical service to the house or turn off the gas.

Before contacting a roofing service, call 911 to alert emergency services of the fallen tree and that utility companies have been called.

They may send the local fire team to investigate for fire risks and handle those as needed.

4. Document The Damage

Once everyone is safe and any potential added emergencies have been averted, start documenting the damage.

Photograph the roof and all parts of the house by the tree before anyone touches anything, as this evidence will be important when filing insurance claims.

Continue documenting damage as it is discovered throughout the assessment process.

Once it is okay to reenter the home to look for other property damage, homeowners insurance companies typically want to see this evidence before replacing personal property and covering home repairs.

5. Call The Insurance Company

While starting the documentation process, have someone call the homeowner's insurance company to report the accident and the estimated extent of the damage present.

Ask them for further instructions about calling a roof service and whether they will recommend one or if homeowners can choose their own contractors.

Most importantly, find out whether an adjuster must inspect the damage first before a roofing company can be called for a repair estimate and adhere to their instructions, as homeowners who fail to do that could be denied coverage.

6. Contact A Local Roofing Service

Finally, once the insurance company gives the okay, contact a local roofing service that can come to view the damage and provide a repair estimate.

Submit all estimates to the insurance company according to their requirements, as they will need to approve the repairs and collect any applicable deductibles before they will pay the roofer.

7. Arrange To Have The Tree Removed

Discuss with the roof service when the best time is to have a tree expert remove the tree and arrange that service accordingly.

Roofers may wish to be present when a large tree is removed from the house to view the damage or they may require the homeowner to get the tree removed before they show up to provide a repair estimate.

Find an Experienced Roof Contractor For Roof Damage

A tree falling on the roof of a house can cause serious structural damage to that home.

To get it repaired as quickly as possible, roofing companies recommend that homeowners deal with concerns in the right order for safety reasons and to prevent miscommunications.

Once the home has been declared safe and the insurance company clears the way for roofing services to start their work, homeowners can breathe a sigh of relief as their roof is reconstructed and their home is restored!