Shingles blown off your roof? Here's what to do first

You walk outside after a windy night and there are shingles in the yard. Maybe you can see a bare patch on the roof from the driveway. It is an uneasy feeling, but you have time to handle this the right way. Here is what to do first, step by step.

Stay off the roof

This is the most important one. A roof with missing shingles is a roof that has already been beaten up, and climbing up there yourself is how people get hurt. Wet shingles are slick, and there may be damage you cannot see from below that makes footing worse.

Leave the up-close inspection to a roofer who does this every day and has the right footing and safety gear. From the ground, you can gather everything you need for now.

Photograph the damage from the ground

Grab your phone and take pictures. Get the shingles in the yard, the bare spots on the roof, and any pieces hanging loose. Take wide shots that show the whole roof and closer shots of the damaged areas.

Dated photos matter. They show the condition of your roof right after the storm, which is useful later when you are figuring out next steps. You do not need fancy equipment, just clear pictures from a safe spot on the ground.

Check inside for leaks

Head indoors and look at your ceilings and walls, especially in the rooms directly under the damaged area. Look for fresh water stains, drips, or bubbling paint. If you can safely get into the attic, look for daylight coming through, wet insulation, or water on the decking.

If water is actively coming in, move furniture, electronics, and anything valuable out of the way and put down a bucket or a tarp inside to catch drips. Protecting the inside of your home buys you time until a roofer can get out.

Know that wind hides damage

Here is something a lot of homeowners miss. Wind does not always blow shingles clean off. Often it lifts them and creases them, then sets them back down looking almost normal from the ground. A creased shingle has a broken seal and a weak spot that will leak or fail down the road.

Metro Atlanta storms bring straight-line wind that can do exactly this across a whole slope of the roof. So even if only a few shingles are obviously gone, there may be a wider area of lifted and creased shingles you cannot see. That is a big reason to have someone look closely rather than assuming the visible damage is all of it.

Call a local roofer for a free inspection

Once you are safe and you have your photos, get a roofer out to take a real look. A good local company will come do a free, no-obligation inspection, document what they find with dated photos, and tell you plainly what shape your roof is in.

If your roof is actively leaking, ask about temporary tarping. A tarp over the damaged area keeps water out while you sort out the repair. A local crew that does its own installs can usually get a tarp on quickly and then handle the real fix afterward.

That local part matters. After a big storm, out-of-town crews flood the area, do fast work, and move on to the next town. A roofer with a local address and phone number is the one who will still be around if you have a question next year.

Do not wait too long

Missing shingles leave the layers underneath exposed to the next rain, and Georgia gets plenty of rain. The longer a bare spot sits, the more likely water works its way into the decking and eventually the ceiling. Documenting the damage promptly and getting it looked at within a few days is the smart move.

You do not have to figure this out alone. Book a free roof inspection and we will come take an honest look, put a tarp on if you need one, and give you a clear picture of what happened up there.