Signs of storm and roof leak water damage
Inside the house, look for new ceiling stains, dripping at light fixtures or vents, wet walls below windows, and damp insulation in the attic. Outside, look for missing shingles, lifted flashing, dented vents, and limbs on the roof.
- Brown or yellow rings on a ceiling, often with a darker edge
- Paint bubbling or peeling on a ceiling or upper wall
- Water dripping from a recessed light, ceiling fan, or bathroom vent
- Streaks down an interior wall, or wet carpet beneath a window
- Attic insulation that is matted, dark, or wet to the touch
- Daylight visible through the roof deck from the attic
- Shingle pieces or granules in the yard and gutters after wind
- Water in the basement or crawl space following the storm
The spot on the ceiling is rarely directly below the hole in the roof. Water runs along rafters, decking, and the top of the drywall before it finds a seam or a fixture to come through.
How storms let water into a house
Wind damage to roofing. Shingles lift, crease, or blow off, exposing the underlayment and nail holes.
Fallen trees and limbs. Impact punctures the roof deck or tears off a section of roofing.
Flashing failures. The metal around chimneys, plumbing vents, skylights, and where a roof meets a wall is where most leaks start, storm or no storm.
Wind-driven rain. Rain blown sideways gets under siding, around windows and doors, and through gable and ridge vents.
Overwhelmed gutters. Gutters full of leaves overflow behind the fascia or dump water at the foundation.
Ground flooding. Runoff and rising creeks send water into crawl spaces, basements, and slab-level rooms. That water is treated as contaminated. See basement and crawl space water removal.
What storm water damage restoration involves
Stop further entry
Where it can be done safely, openings are covered temporarily and interior leaks are caught and diverted. Temporary measures are meant to hold until a roofer makes the permanent repair.
Inspect from the attic down
We check the roof deck, rafters, and insulation, then trace moisture through ceilings, walls, and floors below with meters.
Remove wet insulation and ceiling material
Soaked attic insulation holds water against the ceiling like a wet towel. It's removed, along with ceiling drywall that has sagged or lost strength.
Extract and protect contents
Water on floors is extracted, and furniture and belongings are moved out of the wet area.
Dry the structure
Air movers and dehumidifiers dry the framing, decking, wall cavities, and floors. See structural drying.
Document for the claim
Photos of the exterior damage, the entry point, and the interior, along with moisture readings, are recorded with dates.
How Winston-Salem storm patterns affect homes
Winston-Salem gets about 43 inches of precipitation a year, and August is typically the wettest month, driven by afternoon thunderstorms that drop a lot of water quickly. From late summer into fall, the remnants of tropical systems cross the Piedmont. Tropical Storm Michael in October 2018 is a local example: flooding in the city forced evacuations from apartment buildings.
The city also has a mature hardwood canopy, especially in the older neighborhoods, so wind events bring limbs down on roofs. Put together, that means 2 distinct kinds of storm claims here. One is a roof opened by wind or a limb, with water coming in from above.
The other is intense rain overwhelming gutters and grading, with water coming in from below. Many houses get both in the same storm, and insurers treat them very differently, so it pays to document each one separately.
What affects the cost of storm damage drying
Cost depends on how much of the attic, ceilings, and walls got wet, how long the leak ran, and whether the water came through the roof (clean rainwater) or across the ground (contaminated).
- Area affected. One bedroom ceiling versus water tracking through 2 floors.
- Attic insulation. Removing wet blown-in or batt insulation, and the access to do it, adds labor.
- Ceiling type. Plaster ceilings in older homes are heavier, slower to dry, and harder to remove than drywall.
- Temporary protection. The size and height of the area to be covered.
- Duration. A slow roof leak that went unnoticed for months often involves rot or mold.
- Ground water. Floodwater in lower levels means removal of porous materials and disinfection.
- Demand. After a widespread storm, every roofer and restoration company in the area is busy. Calling early matters more than usual.
Roof repair or replacement is a separate cost from interior drying.
When storm damage requires emergency service
Call right away if water is actively coming in and can't be contained with buckets, if a ceiling is sagging, if a tree has opened the roof, if water is entering light fixtures or the electrical panel, or if floodwater is rising in a lower level. If a tree is on the house, get everyone out of the rooms beneath it. If lines are down, call the power company and stay clear.
A small stain from a past storm that is no longer growing isn't an emergency. It should still be checked for moisture soon, and the roof looked at before the next heavy rain.
After the storm: Roof repair, permits, and what to watch
Once the interior is dry, the lasting fix is the roof, window, or drainage repair. For structural repairs, such as replacing damaged rafters or roof decking over a large area, ask the City of Winston-Salem Inspections Division, or your county or town office outside city limits, whether a permit applies before work starts. In a locally designated historic district such as West End, exterior changes may also need review.
After repairs, check the attic and the repaired ceiling during the next couple of rains. Watch for new stains, a musty smell in the attic, or damp insulation.
Storm losses are a regular part of our work as a local water damage restoration company in Winston-Salem, alongside the plumbing leaks that keep us busy the rest of the year.
Related services after storm damage
- Basement and crawl space water removal
- Structural drying and dehumidification
- Mold remediation for leaks discovered late
Storm and roof leak water damage questions
The stain on my ceiling dried. Do I still need to do anything?
Yes, have it checked. A dry-looking stain can sit below wet insulation and damp roof decking. The leak will also return with the next rain from the same direction until the roof is repaired. A moisture meter and a look in the attic will tell you where things stand.
Does homeowners insurance cover roof leak damage?
Generally, interior water damage is covered when it results from a covered event such as wind or a fallen tree opening the roof. Leaks from an old, worn roof or deferred maintenance are commonly excluded. Flooding from rising water on the ground is covered only by flood insurance. Your insurer makes the determination.
Should I tarp the roof myself?
We don't recommend climbing onto a wet or damaged roof. From inside the attic, you can sometimes place a bucket or plastic under the entry point. Temporary roof covering is better left to a crew with fall protection.
How long does it take to dry a ceiling after a roof leak?
A small leak caught quickly can dry in a few days once wet insulation is removed and air is moving. A ceiling that has soaked through, with saturated insulation above it, usually needs the wet drywall removed and 3 to 5 days of drying.
Rain came in around a window. Is that the same kind of job as a roof leak?
The drying is similar: remove wet trim and insulation as needed and dry the wall cavity. The source is different. Window leaks come from failed flashing, caulk, or siding details, and they need to be corrected by a window or siding contractor or the leak will recur.