Storm Damage Response for Toronto Roofs

Immediately after the storm

Step 1: Safety check (first 30 minutes)

• Stay inside until winds die and any flying debris settles
• Check for active water entry — look at ceilings on the top floor, especially around chimneys, skylights, and vent stacks
• Identify any obvious immediate dangers — fallen branches on the roof, downed power lines, structural compromise
• If a tree has hit the home, call utilities before going outside

Step 2: Document from the ground (within 2 hours)

• Take date-stamped photos of all sides of the home from a safe vantage point
• Include wide shots showing the whole property and close shots of any visible damage
• Photograph any debris on the lawn (branches, shingle pieces, ice chunks)
• Note any visible damage to neighbours' properties — context that supports your claim
• Don't climb on the roof. Wet/damaged roofs are not safe

Step 3: Address active leaks (within 4 hours)

• For interior dripping — place buckets, pull furniture away, lift carpets/rugs
• For accumulated water — drill a small hole in a sagging ceiling drywall bulge to release the water before drywall fails completely
• Document each interior leak location with photos and timing
• Move valuables and electronics out of the affected zone

Step 4: Call for emergency tarp service (within 6 hours)

Don't try to tarp a roof yourself unless you have proper safety equipment and experience. The Roof Technician's emergency line dispatches across the GTA 24/7. Typical response is 4–6 hours during business windows, longer during widespread storm events where many homes need stabilization at once.

Documenting for insurance

Photo and video documentation

• Before any repair work (even tarping), photograph extensively
• Multiple angles of each damage point
• Include date-stamp metadata if your phone allows
• Video walkaround showing context — "this is the north side of the home, this is the dent in the soffit caused by the falling branch..."
• Photograph debris collected from the roof (granules, shingle pieces)

Written records

• Date and time of the storm
• Weather event description (hailstorm with marble-sized hail, 80 km/h winds, etc.)
• Time you first noticed damage
• Any visible interior damage and time
• Names of any contractors who responded (and certificate of insurance for each)

Calling insurance

What to do first

• Call your insurance company's claim line within 24 hours of discovering damage — most policies require prompt notification
• Provide the documentation you've gathered
• Get a claim number — write it down
• Ask for the adjuster's name and contact info
• Ask about emergency authorization for tarping — most policies cover tarping as a mitigation expense

What NOT to do

• Don't authorize permanent repairs before the adjuster has inspected
• Don't sign anything from a contractor that says "I assign my insurance claim to..." — bad-actor companies do this to control the claim
• Don't agree to a low-ball adjuster estimate. Get an independent quote from a contractor like The Roof Technician as a check
• Don't throw away damaged materials before the adjuster has seen them

The adjuster meeting

When the adjuster arrives:

• Walk through with them, pointing out everything you've documented
• Ask what's covered and what's not in writing
• Request a copy of their inspection report
• If their estimate seems low, ask for a contractor walkthrough — most policies allow this
• Don't accept the first number if it doesn't cover the actual repair scope. Negotiate

Common Toronto storm damage scenarios

Hailstorm

• Look for circular dents on shingles (especially visible on lighter colours)
• Check the eavestrough for dents from falling hail
• Look for granule loss in concentrated patches on the roof
• Most home insurance covers hail damage. Filing window typically 12 months

Wind damage

• Missing shingles (look for bald patches)
• Lifted or torn shingles still in place
• Damaged flashing at chimney, vents, skylights
• Branches or debris in the eavestroughs
• Insurance covers wind damage but typically requires a windspeed threshold (varies by policy)

Ice damage

• Ice dams at the eaves with associated water staining
• Cracked or buckled shingles from ice movement
• Damaged eavestrough sagging from ice weight
• Insurance coverage variable — many policies have winter exclusions or require maintenance documentation

Fallen tree or large branch

• Direct impact damage to roof surface and structure
• Possible deck damage requiring partial replacement
• Usually covered fully if the tree wasn't already dead/dying
• Most policies pay tree removal from the roof but not from the yard

The repair phase

Temporary tarp lifespan

A proper tarp installation by an emergency crew lasts 4–8 weeks. After that, sun degrades the tarp and wind starts to peel edges. Permanent repair needs to happen within that window — don't let the claim drag past 6 weeks without progress.

Permanent repair options

• Spot repair — if damage is localized. $400–1,500 typically. See roof repair services
• Section replacement — if one slope is heavily damaged. $3,000–8,000
• Full replacement — if damage exceeds insurance threshold (usually 25%+ of roof area). Insurance covers if filed properly

Picking the contractor

Avoid the storm-chaser contractors who appear in neighborhoods after major events. Pick a contractor with:

• Local Toronto address and physical office
• Years of operating history (not "we just opened to help with this storm")
• Insurance and WSIB certificates available immediately
• Experience with insurance billing in the GTA
• Willingness to wait for the insurance process

See The Roof Technician's insurance claims guide for the full process they walk customers through.

Service area