How do you repair a damaged roof?
Make it safe and dry
Downed limbs can hide punctured decking or power lines, so stay off the roof until it has been checked. A tarp should run over the ridge and be secured with wood battens screwed through the tarp, not just weighted with bricks. A well-installed tarp holds for weeks.
Document before repairs
Photograph the roof, gutters, siding, windows and any interior stains, with dates. Keep damaged pieces such as torn shingles or a dented vent. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and tarping receipts are usually part of the claim. See the duty to mitigate.
Repairs by type of damage
- A few missing or creased shingles: replace and hand-seal them, and check nearby tabs for broken seals.
- Tree impact: remove debris, cut out cracked decking and damaged rafters, then rebuild underlayment and shingles. Broken framing needs a carpenter's eye.
- Hail: hits that crack the mat or knock granules off are usually spread across slopes, so they are handled as slope or full replacements rather than spot repairs.
- Ridge cap and vents: replace broken caps and dented or cracked vents.
Repair or replace?
If damage is spread across several slopes or your shingles are discontinued, repairs can leave a patchwork that does not match. Robust Roofing's storm damage restoration page explains how that decision gets made. Compare wind damage in Georgia and Georgia hail season for what to look for.