Storm damage restoration

What storm damage restoration covers

Missouri weather brings severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, hail and the occasional tornado warning. Storm restoration covers the work that follows: making the building weathertight, removing debris, drying water that came in, cleaning and repairing the structure.

Typical storm damage

Wind can strip shingles, tear siding and break windows. Hail dents or cracks roofing and can open it to leaks. Fallen limbs and trees can crash through roofs and walls. Heavy rain can find any gap, including a damaged vent, flashing or skylight, and run down into the ceiling and walls. Power surges and outages sometimes cause secondary problems, such as a sump pump that stops running.

Safety right after a storm

• Treat every downed line as live and stay far away. Report it to the utility.
• Do not walk under hanging branches or damaged roof sections.
• If you smell gas, leave the building and call the gas company from outside.
• Avoid rooms where the ceiling is sagging or bulging with water.
• Photograph and film everything before cleanup and before temporary repairs.
• Keep receipts for supplies and temporary repairs.

For a general checklist, visit our emergency help page.

How we handle storm damage

We follow the standard restoration process. After you call, we ask what happened and what the building looks like now. On site, the first job is making the property secure from further weather. That can mean tarping a roof opening or boarding up broken windows and doors, which is covered in more detail under emergency board-up.

If rain got inside, we extract water, check moisture in ceilings, walls and floors and set drying equipment. Debris and damaged materials are cleared out. Then we plan the repairs, from patching drywall to rebuilding a section of the roof system or wall through reconstruction.

Documenting storm damage well

A storm can affect a whole neighborhood at once, and your claim goes more smoothly with good records. Photograph the damage from several angles, including close-ups and wider shots that show the location. Note the date and the type of storm. Photograph any damaged belongings and keep the items if you can. Write down the names of anyone you speak to at your insurance company.

If it is not safe to climb on the roof, do not. Photos from the ground, or from a window, are better than risking a fall. A roofer or an adjuster can inspect the roof itself.

Hidden problems after the storm passes

Wet insulation and ceilings may not look bad right away. A small leak at a flashing can run along a rafter and show up as a stain in a room far from the source. Watch for stains, bubbling paint, a musty smell or damp carpet in the days after heavy rain, and call us if you see any of them. Early drying is simpler than dealing with the effects later.

Working with several contractors

Storm claims often involve roofers, tree services and restoration crews. We stay in our lane, which is mitigation, drying, cleaning and interior rebuild, and keep documentation that your adjuster and your other contractors can use.

Ice, snow and winter storms

Not every storm in this area comes with thunder. Heavy snow can load a roof, ice dams can push meltwater under shingles, and a power outage during a deep freeze can put plumbing at risk. If you notice water stains below a roof edge after a thaw, or a pipe that froze while the power was out, treat it as storm damage and call us the same way.

Insurance

Wind and hail are common covered perils on homeowner policies, but deductibles and exclusions vary, and some storms trigger separate wind or hail deductibles. We cannot tell you your coverage. We do keep your claim documents organized and work with your insurance company. See the insurance page.

Where we work

Storm response covers St. Charles County and St. Louis County, including Wentzville, O’Fallon and St. Charles County communities. See the full list of areas.

If a storm has hit your home or business, call us. Our line is open 24/7 for emergencies.