Your First 48 Hours After Roof Damage in Shreveport

Finding damage after a storm is stressful. This checklist keeps the first two days orderly. It focuses on safety, records and clear quotes. It does not replace advice from your insurer or a licensed professional, and it does not promise any outcome on a claim.

Hours 0 to 4: safety first

Start with people and the house, not the roof.

• Stay off the roof. Wet shingles, loose granules and weakened decking are a fall risk.
• Look at the ceilings. If one sags, bulges or drips, keep people out of that room.
• Mind the electricity. If water is coming through a light fixture, shut off power to that area only if you can reach the panel safely.
• Watch for hazards outside. Keep clear of downed lines and hanging branches, and report them to the utility.

Hours 4 to 12: document everything

Good records make every later step easier. Take more photos than you think you need.

• Photograph the roof from the ground, first wide, then zoomed in on missing or cracked shingles.
• Photograph gutters, vents, and any dents in metal pieces. Hail often shows on those first.
• Photograph interior stains, wet insulation and damaged belongings, with a ruler or coin for scale if you can.
• Save weather alerts and note the date and time of the storm.
• Keep any fallen shingle pieces until your insurer has seen them.

Hours 12 to 24: limit more water

Water coming in is the part that grows. A tarp or plastic sheet can act as a stopgap while you sort out the real fix. Putting one up on a wet roof is dangerous, so many owners hire a provider to do it rather than climb up themselves.

Inside, move furniture, set out buckets and lift rugs. Keep receipts for any materials you buy, since insurers often ask for them. A tarp is not a repair. This site refers new roofs and full replacements, not patching.

Talk to a provider (318) 522-7001

Hours 24 to 36: tell your insurer

Read your policy before you phone anyone, especially the wind and hail deductible. Some Gulf Coast policies set that deductible differently from the standard one, so check yours.

Then report the claim and ask what the insurer needs from you. Provide your photos and dates. The insurer's adjuster decides what is covered, so avoid assuming a payout. If the insurer asks you to protect the home from more damage, follow that and keep the receipts.

Hours 36 to 48: gather written quotes

Now you can start comparing providers. Ask for itemized, written quotes for a full replacement. Compare them line by line.

• Is tear-off and disposal included?
• How are damaged decking boards priced? Storm jobs commonly list decking at $70 to $120 per sheet, only if boards are wet or rotted.
• Are flashing, drip edge and vents listed? Those new pieces are often replaced with the roof.
• Is an impact-resistant shingle option offered? Some insurers offer a policy credit for it, so ask yours.

Do not sign on the spot. A pushy door-to-door offer after a storm is a reason to slow down. Read any contract fully, especially wording that hands over control of your insurance claim.

What to avoid in the first two days

• Throwing out damaged material before it is photographed.
• Signing the first contract you are handed.
• Paying the full amount up front.
• Letting anyone on the roof who cannot show proof of license and insurance coverage.
• Starting a full tear-off before your insurer has had a chance to inspect.

If a full replacement is the next step

Many storm-damaged roofs turn out to need a full replacement, particularly when hail has bruised shingles across several slopes. If that is your situation, call to reach an independent local provider. This service is for new roofs and full replacements only, not small repairs.

Talk to a provider (318) 522-7001

More homeowner guides

• What Drives Roof Replacement Cost in Shreveport
• How Shreveport Weather and Homes Age a Roof
• Roof Replacement