Branch and limb strikes
Surface damage from smaller limbs: scraped granules, cracked shingles, bent flashing and broken gutters. Often repairable without opening the roof, though the roofer should check the deck below the impact.
Urgent? Call to reach a local roofer
Fallen Tree Roof Damage in Concrete and the Conifer Country Around It
What to do when a tree or heavy limb lands on a roof, and how the damage is covered and repaired.
- Roof repair and replacement
- Wet-season moss, leaks and storm damage
- Connected to a local roofer
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 751-2102. Or send this and we call you back.
Tree Damage
Fallen Tree Roof Damage: what it covers
Quick answer
If a tree or limb lands on your roof, get everyone out from under the damage, stay clear of wires and call. Concrete Roofing answers 24/7 and connects Concrete callers with an independent local roofer for the cover and the repair. A tree service usually removes the tree first, and a visit is scheduled when a roofer is free.
Tall conifers crowd many lots between Rockport and Darrington, and the soil beneath them is wet for months. When an atmospheric-river storm adds wind to saturated ground, shallow roots let go and whole trees come down, while a limb the thickness of a thigh can drop from a tree that stays standing. A roof is simply what is underneath.
The damage varies enormously. A small branch scratches shingles. A heavy limb punches through the decking and the ceiling. A whole trunk can break rafters, split the ridge and leave the house open to rain. What is hard to see from the ground is how far the load has traveled through the framing.
This is a job in stages, and the roofer is not the first step. The tree has to be dealt with safely, usually by a tree service with the right equipment. The roof then needs covering, inspecting and repairing, and an insurance claim, if there is one, runs alongside. Knowing the order saves a lot of confusion.
- Service area
- Concrete & Skagit County
- Availability
- Call to reach a local roofer, emergencies first
- Phone
- (833) 751-2102
Warning signs
Signs you need fallen tree roof damage
Treat any wire in or near a fallen tree as live and call your electric utility or 911. Do not cut a tree that is resting on a building and do not enter a room with a sagging ceiling.
- A tree or large limb resting on the roof, the porch or a wall
- A visible hole, a sagging ridge or a dip in the roofline
- Cracked or split boards visible from the attic hatch
- Ceiling drywall that has cracked, dropped or begun to bulge
- Doors or windows that no longer close properly after the impact
- Broken gutters, torn fascia or a displaced chimney cap
- A creaking noise or movement in the framing when the wind blows
- Damage to a shed, garage or barn roof from the same tree
Our process
How our fallen tree roof damage visit works
Get out and stay clear
Leave the room under the damage and keep everyone away from the area. Treat any wire touching the tree as live and call your electric utility or 911 before anything else.
Photograph and call
Take photos from the ground before anything is moved. Phones are answered at any hour. Tell the line where the house is, what fell and whether water is coming in.
Bring in a tree service for the tree
A roofer does not normally cut and lift a tree. A tree service removes it with the right gear. Ask the roofer whether they should see the damage before the tree comes off.
Cover and inspect the roof
Once the load is off, the roofer checks the framing, decking and covering, then tarps or boards over the opening. See emergency roof tarping for details.
Repair and report
The roofer quotes the lasting repair in writing and, if framing is broken, may advise a structural check. Keep photos, notes and receipts for the insurer.
Cost
How much does fallen tree roof damage cost in Concrete?
Tree damage ranges from minor to a rebuild. No sourced price applies to Concrete, and the roofer cannot know the scope until the tree is off and the framing has been checked.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of structural damage | Found once the tree is off | Broken rafters or a cracked ridge lift the job from a repair into a rebuild |
| Tree removal | Separate trade | Done by a tree service and quoted by them; the roofer does not normally include it |
| Temporary cover | Quoted separately | A tarp or board-up is needed while waiting for the repair |
| Interior repairs | Separate trades | Ceilings, insulation and finishes are repaired after the roof is sound |
| Access and distance | Part of the quote | A tree fallen across a long driveway or a house far up the valley adds time and logistics |
The roofer confirms the price in writing after inspecting the damage.
Who removes the tree, the roofer or a tree service?
Usually a tree service. They have the saws, rigging and often a crane to take a tree off a roof without dropping more weight on it. A roofer covers and repairs the roof afterward. Ask each to coordinate so the cover goes on as soon as the load is off.
Cutting a tree that is resting on a house can shift the load suddenly. Untrained cutting is a leading cause of secondary damage and injuries. A tree service is also better equipped to deal with a tree that touches wires.
In a rural area, there may be only a few tree services within a reasonable distance, and they are busy after a storm. Call early, and tell the roofer which service is involved.
How do you know if the structure is safe?
You cannot tell from the ground. Cracked drywall, doors that stick, a sagging roofline or creaking in the wind are warning signs. If any appear, stay out of the affected area and ask the roofer or a structural professional to check before anyone returns.
Framing can be loaded or cracked in places you cannot see. The roofer will look from the attic and recommend a structural engineer or builder if the damage goes beyond roofing.
What does the insurer need to see?
Photos of the tree and the damage before anything is moved, the date and time of the event, receipts for temporary protection and a written description of the damage. Coverage depends on the policy and the insurer, not on this site or the roofer.
Report the loss promptly and ask your agent whether they want to see the damage before the tree comes off. The page on storm claim roof help explains the paperwork, and the guide on storm-damaged roofs sets out the order of steps.
How can you reduce the risk of a tree hitting the roof?
Have a qualified arborist look at tall trees near the house, especially those leaning, with dead tops or with roots lifted by past storms. Removing a risky tree or trimming limbs that overhang the roof is cheaper than the damage it can do, and it reduces the debris that feeds moss.
Ask the arborist about trees on neighboring lots too, since a tree you do not own can still fall on your roof. Do this before the wet season, when ground is firm. The guide on roof care before winter includes tree checks in its autumn list.
What does the roofer look for once the tree is off?
The depth of damage below the visible hole. A roofer checks decking for cracks and punctures, rafters and trusses for splits or sagging, the ridge line for dips, and the ceiling and insulation below. They also check the roof around the impact, since the force often spreads. A structural opinion may follow.
A tree that has rested on a roof overnight in rain can leave water inside the framing even when the hole looks small. The roofer works from the attic as well as the roof, and photographs everything so the insurer can see what was found.
If rafters are cracked, the repair becomes carpentry as much as roofing, and some owners bring in a builder to scope it with the roofer. Ask who is responsible for each part so nothing is missed between trades.
Options
Types and options for fallen tree roof damage
Puncture or collapse
A heavy limb or trunk breaks the decking and sometimes the rafters. This calls for a temporary cover and then a section rebuilt from the framing up. A structural opinion may be needed.
Whole-tree impact
A trunk across the roof is the most serious case. It needs a tree service, possibly a crane, then a full assessment. Expect a larger repair and a longer schedule.
Skagit County
Why fallen tree roof damage is different in Skagit Valley and North Cascades
The mix of rural lots and conifers makes this one of the most common serious roof events from Rockport to Darrington. Houses sit close to tall conifers, and many properties have the tallest trees right at the house. A storm that fells one tree can drop several across a road.
Fallen trees can block the way for the crew, too. A tree across Highway 20 or a smaller road can delay the roofer and the tree service alike. Ask for the best route and be honest about whether your driveway is clear.
Rural properties often have a shop or barn near the trees, so check those roofs the same day. Damage to a metal panel or a lean-to is easy to miss from the house.
One call and it gets handled.
Most fallen tree roof damage calls are scheduled the same day when a technician is free, and you approve the price before any work starts.
Where we work
Fallen Tree Roof Damage across Skagit County
- Tree Damage in Rockport
- Tree Damage in Hamilton
- Tree Damage in Marblemount
- Tree Damage in Lyman
- Tree Damage in Darrington
- Tree Damage in Mount Vernon
- Tree Damage in Sedro Woolley
- Tree Damage in Acme
- Tree Damage in Clearlake
- Tree Damage in Deming
- Tree Damage in Burlington
- Tree Damage in Arlington
- Tree Damage in Granite Falls
- Tree Damage in Conway
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Emergency Roof Tarping
A temporary cover over a storm-opened roof, held until the roofer can schedule the repair.
Storm and Wind Damage Repair
Repairs after atmospheric-river wind, falling limbs and long soaking rain on upper Skagit valley roofs.
Storm Claim Roof Help
How to document roof damage and work with a roofer when a storm claim is involved, without promises about outcomes.
Guides
Read before you book
Storm-Damaged Roof After an Atmospheric River: What to Do First
First make everyone safe and stay off the roof.
FAQ
Fallen Tree Roof Damage FAQs
Do I call the roofer or the tree service first?
If anyone is at risk or a wire is down, call 911 or the utility. Otherwise call both. The tree service usually goes first, but the roofer can advise what to protect and how to keep water out.
Can a roofer tarp the roof before the tree is removed?
Sometimes, if it is safe. More often the load has to come off first. The roofer decides on site, and may cover part of the roof while the tree service works.
Will insurance pay for the tree and the roof?
Coverage differs by policy, and the insurer decides. Many policies treat a tree falling on a house differently from a tree falling elsewhere on the lot. Ask your agent and keep records.
How long does a repair take?
It depends on the damage, materials and weather. A broken ridge can take days, and a rebuilt section more. The roofer sets the schedule and cannot be held to a time by this line.
Is the house safe to stay in?
Not necessarily. If the framing is damaged, stay out of affected rooms and ask for an assessment. Ask your insurer about temporary lodging if the house cannot be used.