Guide
What to Do After a Storm Hits Rockford
A general checklist for after any hail or wind event in the Rockford area — not tied to a specific storm.
1. Walk the property before you look at the roof
Ground-level clues tell you whether the storm was significant enough to matter. Check gutters and downspout splash blocks for accumulated shingle granules, look for dents in gutters, downspouts, and any exposed metal vents or AC units, and check window screens for hail marks. If several of these show damage, the roof very likely took a similar hit.
2. Don't assume it's fine because it looks fine from the ground
Hail bruising and wind-lifted shingles are both largely invisible from the driveway. A roof that looks untouched after a storm can still be carrying granule loss, cracked shingle mat, or a lifted seal that will leak weeks or months later, not immediately. See Storm Damage Roof Repair for what an inspection specifically checks.
3. Photograph what you can safely see
Ground-level photos of gutter granules, dented fixtures, or any visible roof damage are useful to have on hand, dated, before any cleanup happens. Don't get on the roof yourself to inspect it — that's exactly the kind of work worth leaving to someone with the right equipment and experience.
4. Deal with active leaks immediately
If water is already coming in, that takes priority over a full inspection. See Emergency Roof Leak Repair for what temporary stabilization involves while a proper repair gets scheduled.
5. Schedule a full-roof inspection
A ground walk and photos only tell you so much. A full-roof inspection — on the roof, not from a ladder at the eave — checks every course of shingles for bruising and granule loss, every flashing point, and every ridge and edge for wind lift. That's the only way to know the actual extent of what a storm did.
6. Get repairs done before the next freeze-thaw cycle sets in
Damage from one storm doesn't wait patiently for a convenient repair window. A cracked or lifted shingle left through even a few freeze-thaw cycles tends to fail further, turning a contained repair into a larger one. Sooner is better once damage is confirmed.
Storm just come through?
A full-roof photo walkthrough tells you what actually happened up there.
Call (815) 555-0148