What to Do if a Tree Falls on Your House

This is a situation that our local SlopePro team sees all of the time, especially after a severe storm moves through the central Virginia area then on through the Tidewater and Eastern Shore.

When a tree falls on your roof, it’s stressful. And the thing that really matters is that it is dangerous.  But, despite the chaos, it is important to act quickly. In this blog, we will discuss what to do if a tree falls on your house, including assessing the damage and filing an insurance claim.

We will also cover steps you can take to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

What to Do if a Tree Falls on Your House: The Short Answer

If a tree falls on your roof, safety comes first:

• Evacuate the home
• Avoid climbing on the roof or walking under the tree
• Check for downed power lines
• Call 911 immediately if there’s fire or smoke

Once everyone is safe, the next steps are documentation and insurance. Take photos of the fallen tree and the resulting damage, get an estimate from a roofing contractor, contact your insurance provider with that evidence and the quote from the roofing company, and submit your claim along with the contractor’s estimate. From there, you’ll typically need to hire a tree removal company to clear the debris and follow up with your insurer as the claim is processed.

A professional roofing contractor should also inspect the roof for missing or damaged shingles, leaks, structural damage, and remaining debris. 

1) Evacuate Your Home & Get to Safety

The first step you should take if a tree falls on your roof is to evacuate and get to safety. DO NOT try to go back into your home and retrieve belongings and don’t try to fix anything.

Once outside, assess the severity of the damage from a distance. Do not attempt to climb on the roof or walk under the tree until the area has been assessed by a professional. The fallen tree might have shifted the foundation or weakened beams that are holding up portions of your home.

From a distance, look to see if the fallen tree has damaged any power lines. Call 911 if you see any signs of downed lines or if you notice smoke or fire. The same goes if you smell gas. As a tree uproots, the roots can rip through buried gas lines. If you smell gas, treat it as an emergency.

2) Call a Roofing Pro

It is important to call a roofing company after a tree has fallen on your roof because they can assess the damage and provide an estimate of the repair costs. And most importantly, they can do this safely. A roofing contractor has the training and experience to identify any structural damage and determine what needs to be done to repair the roof. Remember, our team at SlopePro go through constant training and understand how to get up on top of a roof that has been damaged by a tree.

When assessing the damage, our roofing contractors will look for any missing or damaged shingles, leaks, or other signs of damage. We will also check for any structural damage and any debris or other materials that may have contributed to the damage. In addition, we will inspect the surrounding area to make sure there is no additional damage to the home.

Depending on the extent of the damage, we may need several hours to complete our assessment.

It’s important to call in a roofing pro before calling your insurance company. You need to have the documentation in place before making a claim, and our roofing contractors are happy to help with that part.

3) Document the Damage for Insurance

Does homeowners insurance cover a tree falling on your house? That’s a great question! In most cases, it does. However, you need to get the documentation correct, and that’s where bringing pro really does add value. 

If a tree has fallen on your roof, it is important to file an insurance claim. To do this, you will need a roofing pro to collect evidence and document the damage.

1. Take pictures of the roof and any other damage caused by the incident. Feel free to take photos from the ground. Our team will handle the photographs of up on the roof.
2. Document other evidence related to the incident, such as tree branches, debris, or other materials that may have contributed to the damage. This is dangerous, so our SlopePro team will handle it.
3. Contact your insurance provider and report the incident. Provide them with all the evidence our team has collected.
4. Submit the claim to your insurance company. Include all the evidence you have gathered and the estimate from our roofing contractor.
5. Contact a tree removal company to remove the fallen tree and debris.
6. Follow up with your insurance company and make sure the claim is being processed.

Filing an insurance claim if a tree has fallen on your roof can be a complicated and time-consuming process. However, it is important to take the necessary steps in order to protect your property and get the compensation you deserve.

4) Prevent Future Fallen Tree Damage

Once your roof has been repaired, take steps to reduce the risks of a tree falling on your roof happening again. Take a walk around your property and look for dead or overhanging branches. If the branches are low to the ground, you could try to handle the trimming on your own, but keep in mind that tree work is quite dangerous. Consider bringing in a tree removal pro, especially if an entire tree needs to be removed or if cables or braces are needed to stabilize existing trees.

Some other steps you can take include:

1. Plant trees at least 15 feet away from your home and any other structures.
2. Prune your trees regularly. Prune away dead or weak branches, as well as any branches that could come into contact with your home.
3. Check the roots of your trees regularly. Check for signs of instability around the base of the tree, such as leaning trunks, exposed roots, or cracks in the soil.
4. Install lightning protection. If a tree is tall enough to be struck by lightning, consider installing a lightning protection system. This can reduce the risk of the tree being struck and falling onto your home.
5. Anchor your trees. If a tree is particularly large or old, consider anchoring it to the ground with cables or straps. This can help to keep it upright and prevent it from falling.
6. Consult a professional arborist. A professional arborist can assess the health and condition of your trees and provide advice on their care and maintenance. This arborist has put together some great resources to help you learn about the health of your trees on your property.

Our Final Thoughts: What to Do if a Tree Falls on Your House

Dealing with a fallen tree is stressful, there’s no doubt about it. But you can lessen the headache by learning what to do and how to protect yourself and your property. This includes knowing which Central Virginia or the Tidewater region roofing contractor to call.

For over three generations, our SlopePro has dealt with every type of roof damage from storms including fallen trees. We know the pressure insurance companies put on homeowners to fix the issue quickly. That’s why our team emphasizes clear and consistent communication, as well as straightforward estimates. We want to equip homeowners with the necessary information to make significant decisions about their homes, quickly and confidently.

If you need roof repair or roof replacement services, contact us today.