How to Check for Roof Leaks After an Atlanta Storm

Giving the ceilings in your home, garage or carport a quick check after storms in Atlanta is often a good idea. The earlier you spot leaks, the more future damage you can prevent.

Generally, if you’re seeing yellow or brown spots from water damage on ceilings it’s time for a professional roof inspection.

Not every water stain on a ceiling is indicative of a roof leak, but usually where there’s smoke there’s fire. When heavy rain is combined with strong winds it’s possible for water to get blown into roof vents despite vent designs that are supposed to prevent water intrusion. Even if your water damage is attributable to vent failure, it’s still likely in your best interest to have a roofer take a look.

If you do spot ceiling damage you first might want to go into your attic and inspect that area of your roof from below. Check the rafters and insulation around where you saw the ceiling damage, looking for warping, rotting or obvious water damage. You may also want to feel surfaces to see if they’re damp. A musty smell or obvious moisture are likely indications there’s been leaking from your roof.

If you’re seeing obvious signs of leaking in your attic you should call a roofing contractor as soon as possible.

Visually Inspect Your Roof from the Ground

If your home has just been through a big storm, you should survey your roof and gutters from the ground – or as much of your roof as you can see clearly. Some signs of potential leaks or roofing problems include things like:



• Peeling paint on or around your roofline
• Curling at the edge of shingles
• Cracked shingles
• Missing shingles
• Particularly shiny shingles (might indicate granule loss)
• Protruding nails, fasteners or screws
• Peeling or damaged flashing around chimneys or ventilation

If you see or suspect you see any of those types of damage you should strongly consider calling an Atlanta roofer as soon as possible.

Roof damage rarely happens all at once. Repeated or particularly severe hail and windstorms can cause cumulative damage over time. A single leak might just be the tip of the iceberg.

Why Quick Action Is Important for Insurance Purposes

There are two good insurance-related reasons to take action as soon as possible after you’ve spotted roof leaks.

Getting your roof inspected by an experienced and reputable Atlanta roofing contractor will add validity to your roof replacement or roof repair claim. In some cases, you may even be able to get your roof replacement mostly paid for by your insurance company.

Failing to take action might result in having to pay more out of pocket in the future. Your homeowners insurance contract has a lot of small print. Some of that small print says that you, as the homeowner, have a responsibility to be vigilant and prevent damage from occurring or worsening when possible.

That means if you spot a roof leak you need to take action right away. Failing to prevent further damage might result in a claim denial or a reduced claim payment. The insurance company won’t want to pay for damage that you could have prevented.

Will Insurance Pay for My Roof Replacement in Atlanta?

Whether insurance will pay for a full roof replacement, partial roof replacement or roof repairs depends on the severity of the damage and the age of your roof. It’s always a good idea to speak with a roofing contractor before filing a roof damage claim with your insurance company so you can go into negotiations with your own third-party assessment.

Insurance companies don’t want you to have a damaged roof because leaky roofs lead to more expensive claims in the future. At the same time, roof replacements are expensive, and they don’t particularly want to pay for a new roof if they can avoid it.

Also keep in mind that insurance claims adjusters and inspectors aren’t experienced roofers, so they might miss damage or misjudge the severity of your roof’s condition after a major storm.

An experienced roofer knows what to look for and can help you make the case on your insurance claim that a roof replacement is justifiable.

Get Your Roof Leaks Dealt With

The Atlanta roofing experts at Total Roof Solutions have decades of combined experience in the roofing industry. We excel at spotting roof damage and providing workable options for our customers.

We won’t try to pressure you into a roof replacement if it’s not in your best interest or you’re only looking for repairs. Our team will be transparent about your damage and clearly explain your options for getting your roof leak fixed.

Call us at 678-752-8668 for leak repairs, roof replacement or post-storm roof inspections in Atlanta.