What’s that in the front yard? Turns out it’s a shingle that flew off your roof during last night’s storm. But before you grab a ladder and stagger along your roof with a hammer, you should take a second to assess the total damage to your roof.
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Look for other shingles, nails, and materials that may have come dislodged.
It’s rare that a storm or heavy wind only knocks a single shingle off a roof. Take a stroll through your yard and look for nails or bits of metal from your gutters and ventilation system. If you make a pile of these things, you’ll know exactly how much damage you should be looking for on the roof itself.
2. Check inside your home for leaks or drafts.
If the shingle flew off during a rainstorm, you can look for dripping water or damp spots in the areas directly beneath the missing shingle. If there was no water involved, you can still have shingles missing. It’s best to call a professional to assess the damage.
3. Call a professional roofing company.
Just because you know where the damage is and you have the old shingles doesn’t mean you can fix it. It’s not as simple as nailing the shingle back where it’s supposed to be.
Greenawalt Roofing can provide a free estimate for a full roof replacement and can also assist with a hail/wind damage inspection if going through insurance.
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What Central Pennsylvania property owners should consider
What to Do After Losing a Shingle is best understood in the context of the whole property, not from one symptom alone. The age of the materials, previous repairs, water-management details, installation methods, and nearby exterior components can all affect what is visible. Central Pennsylvania’s mix of heavy rain, wind, summer heat, falling leaves, freeze-thaw cycles, and winter weather can also make the same concern look different from one home or building to another.
Start with observations that can be made safely. Avoid climbing onto the roof or disturbing damaged materials. Instead, note when the concern appeared, whether it changes during particular weather, and whether it is isolated or occurring in several areas. Photographs taken from a safe location and notes about prior work can help a professional understand the history without relying on memory alone.
Details worth documenting
- photos taken safely from the ground before temporary work begins
- missing, lifted, dented, cracked, or displaced exterior materials
- interior stains or active water entry that need prompt attention
- temporary measures already taken to limit further damage
- the date and approximate time of the weather event
These details do not replace an on-site evaluation, but they make the conversation more useful. They also help separate a maintenance item from a repair need or a larger project. A clear evaluation should explain the observed condition, the likely scope, the surrounding components that were checked, and any assumptions that could affect the recommendation.
Questions to ask before authorizing work
- Which conditions appear storm-related and which may be normal wear?
- Does the property need temporary protection before permanent work?
- What documentation should be kept with estimates and photographs?
- Are roofing, siding, gutters, and flashing all included in the evaluation?
- Which repairs are urgent and which can be planned?
- What assumptions and exclusions are written into the proposed scope?
Ask for the proposed work in writing and compare scopes rather than price alone. Materials, labor, disposal, cleanup, ventilation, flashing, permits, warranties, and possible concealed conditions should be easy to identify. If alternatives are available, the practical differences should be explained in plain language so the decision reflects the property’s needs and the owner’s priorities.
Greenawalt Roofing serves property owners across Central Pennsylvania. Learn about storm-damage support, review what happens during a Full Exterior Exam, browse the company’s service areas, or request a free estimate.
