--- title: "Storm Damage Roof Repair" description: "Storm damage roof repair in Ventura and LA counties: an inspection, a written estimate with photos you can share with your insurer, then the repair." url: "https://infinity-roofers.com/roofing-services/roof-repair/storm-damage-roofing/" updated: "2026-10-20" --- # Storm Damage Roof Repair Infinity Roofers provides storm damage roof repair for homes and commercial buildings across Ventura County and Los Angeles County. After wind, heavy rain or a falling branch, we inspect the roof, document the damage in a written estimate with project photos, and repair or replace the damaged sections. Storm damage is not always visible from the ground: a roof can look intact while wind has loosened shingles or opened gaps around vents. If a storm has just passed and something looks wrong, [contact us to arrange an inspection](https://infinity-roofers.com/contact/). We are one licensed roofing company with locations in Simi Valley, Canoga Park and Pasadena. ## What wind, rain and falling branches do to a roof ### Wind The National Weather Service defines Santa Ana winds as strong, hot, dust-bearing winds that descend to the Pacific coast around Los Angeles from inland desert regions. Wind of that kind lifts shingle edges, displaces tiles, bends flashing and pulls at ridge caps. A shingle that was lifted and fell back flat can look fine from the street while its seal is broken. ### Heavy rain Heavy rain finds every weakness that was already there: a cracked tile, a worn vent seal, a seam that had started to open. It also pours through openings the wind made earlier. On flat and low-slope roofs, water that cannot drain fast enough stands on the surface and works into seams. Here the rain arrives in one short season. NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for a station in Thousand Oaks give about 16 inches of rain a year, about 13 of them from December through March and well under half an inch from June through September. Damage from a dry-season wind or a fallen limb can sit unnoticed for months and show up as a leak in the first winter storm, so autumn is the time to have a suspect roof checked. ### Falling branches and debris A falling limb can crack tile, tear shingles, dent metal and knock vents loose. Smaller debris left on the roof traps leaves and water in valleys and against walls, where it keeps doing damage long after the storm. ## Signs of storm damage to check once the weather clears Look from the ground, from upstairs windows and in the attic with a flashlight. Do not climb onto a roof that has just been hit. - Missing shingles or tiles - Shingles that appear lifted or displaced - Cracked roofing materials - New water stains on ceilings or walls - Damp areas in the attic - Damaged flashing - Debris on the roof - Broken roof components such as vent caps - Granules accumulating in gutters - Water entering around roof penetrations Any one of these is reason to have the roof evaluated before the next rain. ## First steps after storm damage 1. **Stay safe.** Keep away from downed power lines and stay off the roof. 2. **Protect the inside.** Catch drips and move furniture, electronics and stored items away from wet areas. 3. **Photograph everything,** with dates: the roof from the ground, debris in the yard, stains and drips inside. 4. **Leave wedged branches in place** unless they are a safety risk; a limb stuck in the roof can be plugging the hole it made. 5. **Arrange an inspection** of the roof through our [contact page](https://infinity-roofers.com/contact/). 6. **Tell your insurance company** if you plan to file a claim, and ask what they need from you. ### About roof tarps A tarp is a temporary cover that keeps rain out until the roof is repaired. To work, it has to extend past the damaged area and be fastened well enough to stay on in wind, and putting one up means working on a damaged, slippery roof, which is a job for someone with the right safety gear. If a tarp goes on, keep the receipt and photos with the rest of your storm records. ## What you receive in writing, and how it helps with your insurer After the inspection you receive a written estimate with project photos showing what is damaged, where, and what we recommend repairing or replacing. You can share that estimate and the photos with your insurance company alongside your own pictures. If you decide to file a claim, you report the loss to your insurer and follow its process; your policy and the adjuster decide what is covered. ### How do I handle a roof insurance claim after a windstorm? Report the damage to your insurance company, photograph it with dates and get any opening covered so no more water gets in, then get a written estimate from a licensed roofing contractor. The California Department of Insurance advises written bids from licensed contractors, a license check with the [Contractors State License Board](https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckLicense.aspx) before you hire, and no permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage. Keep the receipts for temporary repairs. The Department's [claims guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/03-res/res-prop-claim.cfm) says insurers reimburse reasonable costs to protect the property, that those payments are part of the total loss settlement, and that a policy may not cover further damage if reasonable steps to secure it were not taken. Our license: CSLB #1134192. ### Questions to ask your insurer about an insurance roof replacement - Does my policy treat this as sudden storm damage or as wear and age? - Does it pay replacement cost or actual cash value for the roof? - What is my deductible for this kind of loss? - Does it include ordinance or law coverage for code upgrades, such as a Class A roof covering in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone? - Do you need to inspect before any permanent repair starts? ## Does storm damage mean you need a new roof? Not necessarily. If the damage is limited to one area and the rest of the roof is in good condition, a targeted repair is usually the right call. If the storm damaged several slopes, or hit a roof that already had recurring leaks and failed earlier repairs, replacing it can make more sense than patching it again. One rule to know before you decide: a house in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, or on state responsibility area land, is reroofed and repaired under the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code (through section R902.1.1 of the 2025 Residential Code). Under that code's section 507.1, a storm reroof of 50 percent or more of the roof within 12 months needs a Class A roof, and any covering used in a repair, however small, must be Class A as well. Our [roof replacement](https://infinity-roofers.com/roofing-services/roof-replacement/) page explains that rule and the cool roof rule; for smaller damage, see [roof repair in Simi Valley](https://infinity-roofers.com/roofing-services/roof-repair/). ## Our storm damage roofing process 1. **Inspect and document.** We evaluate the roof for visible storm-related damage and document the affected areas, so the condition of the roof is on record. 2. **Repair and restore.** Once the scope is agreed, we repair the damaged roofing components and close off areas that could let more water in. 3. **Review and protect.** After the work, we review the repaired areas with you and discuss any other roofing concerns. Storm damage on a business roof follows the same steps; see [commercial roof repair](https://infinity-roofers.com/roofing-services/commercial-roof-repair/) for flat and membrane roofs. ## Storm damage and insurance questions ### Does homeowners insurance cover roof damage from a storm? Usually yes, when your policy covers the cause. The California Department of Insurance lists windstorm or hail and falling objects among the perils a homeowners policy typically covers, and says insurers would generally pay for rain coming through a hole in the roof when strong wind or another covered peril made the hole. Wear and tear, neglect, and water damage from seepage or leaks are usually not covered. One California check: a basic FAIR Plan policy covers fire or lightning, internal explosion and smoke; windstorm or hail is optional Extended Coverage, added for an extra premium. Check your declarations page and confirm windstorm coverage with your agent or broker. ### Should I file an insurance claim for a few missing shingles? Compare the repair cost with your deductible first. The California Department of Insurance notes that an insurer is not obligated to pay for damage below the deductible, and advises reporting the damage when it exceeds the deductible. A few shingles on the lawn after a Santa Ana wind can be a small repair, or a sign that other shingles were lifted and their seals broken, which you cannot judge from the ground. An [inspection](https://infinity-roofers.com/contact/) and a written estimate settle it. If the repair comes in under your deductible, have the [roof repair](https://infinity-roofers.com/roofing-services/roof-repair/) done and keep the estimate, photos and invoice with your storm records. ### What do insurance adjusters look for on roofs? Expect the focus to be whether the damage comes from a covered peril, such as wind or a falling limb, or from age and wear, because that is the line the policy draws. The California Department of Insurance lists windstorm and falling objects among the perils a homeowners policy typically covers, and wear and tear among those usually excluded. When an adjuster is short of time, the Department’s [Residential Property Claims Guide](https://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/105-type/95-guides/03-res/res-prop-claim.cfm) says they may “scope the loss”: a brief inspection, completed on a second visit, that should list the degree of damage, the quality of materials and workmanship, and the measurements needed. A scope is not the finished estimate. Have your dated photos, the written estimate with project photos and repair receipts ready, and mention any structural damage you suspect but cannot see. If more damage turns up later, you can usually reopen the claim by telling your insurer right away. ## Storm hit your roof? Send the details and your photos through our [contact page](https://infinity-roofers.com/contact/). We serve Simi Valley and the Ventura County towns, the [western San Fernando Valley](https://infinity-roofers.com/service-areas/canoga-park/) and the [San Gabriel Valley](https://infinity-roofers.com/service-areas/pasadena/); see all [service areas](https://infinity-roofers.com/service-areas/).