What to Do After Storm Damage in Manitoba

After a storm, document everything with photos and video before you touch anything. Then check the roof, siding, windows, eavestroughs and fences from the ground, without climbing onto a wet or damaged roof. Cover any active leak if it is safe to do so, get a proper assessment before deciding on repairs, and do not sign anything on the spot with somebody who knocked on your door. The order matters, because the first hour decides how much evidence and how many options you have later.

Storm season in Manitoba has been intense in recent years, and most homeowners do not think about what to do after a storm until they are standing in the yard looking at damaged shingles or dented siding.

The good news is that the right first steps are straightforward even when the situation feels overwhelming. The bad news is that the most common mistakes all happen in the first day, before anybody has had time to think clearly.

This walks through what to actually do, in the order that protects you best, plus the things to avoid.

At a Glance

• Document everything with photos and video before cleanup starts

• Check the roof, siding, windows, eavestroughs and fence line from the ground

• Stay off a wet or damaged roof, and off a ladder in poor footing

• Cover active leaks with a tarp only if it is safe to reach

• Get a contractor assessment before making repair decisions

• Keep receipts for any temporary repairs or protective measures

• Do not sign a repair contract on the spot with a door to door caller

• Some damage does not show up for weeks, so keep watching

  
  

What Should I Do First After Storm or Hail Damage?

Document the damage with clear photos and video before anything is moved, cleaned up or repaired. That record matters regardless of what happens next, and it cannot be recreated once the yard is tidied.

Then do a visual check from the ground: roof, siding, windows, eavestroughs and fence line, without climbing anything that could be unstable or slippery.

Document Before You Touch Anything

Walk the entire property and photograph anything that looks off. Dented siding, missing or curled shingles, cracked windows, dented eavestroughs, damage to fences and outbuildings.

Take both wide shots that establish the whole area and close-ups of specific damage. Include something for scale where you can. Date-stamped video walking the perimeter is quick and captures things you will not think to photograph individually.

Do the same inside. Water staining on a ceiling, a damp spot at a window, anything that was not there yesterday.

Check From the Ground First

Roof damage is not always obvious from below, but there are signals you can read without a ladder. Granules collecting in the eavestrough or at the bottom of a downspout, visible dents or cracks in siding, shingles sitting out of line with the rest of the roof, and displaced or bent flashing are all visible from the ground with a bit of patience.

Resist the urge to climb up and inspect yourself closely, especially while the roof is wet or the ladder footing is uncertain. A professional inspection is safer and gives you a far more reliable picture. Our post on roof repair versus reshingling covers what that assessment is actually looking for.

Is It Safe to Wait to Fix Storm Damage?

Minor cosmetic damage can usually wait for scheduled repair. Anything letting water into the building cannot.

An active leak or an area open to the weather needs addressing quickly, even if that just means a temporary cover until a proper repair happens. Waiting too long on an active leak is one of the most common ways minor storm damage becomes a structural problem, because the water keeps working long after the storm has passed.

Timing matters more as the season gets later. Damage that would be an inconvenience in June becomes a much bigger problem if it goes into winter unrepaired, because the repair window closes and the water keeps arriving as snowmelt.

Temporary Protection

If you have an active leak or an opening, a tarp or temporary cover prevents further damage while you arrange a proper repair. This is a short-term measure, not a fix, and it is only worth doing if you can do it safely.

Keep receipts for any materials or temporary work. Move anything valuable out from under an active leak rather than putting a bucket under it and leaving it.

How Do I Know If Hail Damaged My Roof?

Hail damage on a roof often looks like small dark spots or dents where granules have been knocked loose, frequently clustered in a pattern rather than spread evenly across the surface.

It is not always visible from the ground, which is why a closer professional inspection is the reliable way to confirm it. Check the softer, more obvious surfaces first as indicators. Dents in aluminum eavestroughs, in vent caps, in a metal shed, or in vehicle panels all tell you the hail was large enough to be worth taking seriously on the roof.

The other thing worth knowing is that hail damage to shingles does not necessarily leak immediately. It removes the protective granule layer and shortens the life of the shingle, which shows up later. That is why an assessment after a significant hail event is worth doing even when nothing is leaking.

What Should I Avoid Doing?

• Do not climb onto a roof that is wet, damaged or unstable.

• Do not sign a repair contract on the spot with somebody going door to door in the neighbourhood after a storm. Taking time to get a proper assessment protects you either way, and our post on why hiring a one-stop shop construction company saves time and money covers what to look for in whoever you do hire.

• Do not clean up and dispose of damaged material before it has been documented.

• Do not assume cosmetic-looking damage is nothing, particularly with hail.

• Do not pay a large deposit up front to someone you have not checked out.

Real Scenarios

High winds took down part of your fence and moved a few shingles. Document both, deal with the roof first, and understand that fence post work needs to happen before the ground freezes if it is going to happen this year. Our post on choosing a fence that survives Manitoba frost heave covers why the post is the part that matters.

You have a ceiling stain after a storm but no visible roof damage. Water travels along framing before it appears, so the entry point is often nowhere near the stain. This needs somebody in the attic with a light rather than a guess from the ground.

Your neighbourhood was hit, and contractors are going door to door. Take the information and take your time. Get an assessment from somebody you sought out. A legitimate company will still be there in three days.

A tree came down on a structure. Treat it as unsafe until somebody has looked at it, particularly if it landed on a garage, carport or deck roof. Do not go under it to assess.

Nothing looks damaged, but the storm was severe. Keep an eye on the roof and ceilings over the following weeks, and note any new staining or drips. Some damage announces itself late.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I call a contractor or my insurance first?

Many homeowners find it useful to document everything and get a contractor assessment early, because that gives a clearer picture of the actual damage. For questions about your specific coverage and claims process, your insurance provider is the right resource.

How long after a storm can I still address damage?

There is no strict cutoff, but active leaks and openings benefit from fast attention, and anything needing exterior work is limited by the season.

Does all hail damage need a full roof replacement?

Not always. The extent varies considerably by storm and by the condition of the roof beforehand, which is exactly why an assessment matters before deciding between repair and replacement.

Can storm damage affect my fence and deck too?

Yes. High winds loosen posts, hardware and panels, so include the fence line, the deck railings and any outbuildings in your walkaround.

Is it normal for storm damage to show up later?

Yes. Keep an eye on your roof, ceilings and siding in the weeks after a storm, particularly after the next heavy rain.

What if I am not sure whether something needs repair?

Get a second set of eyes on it. That is almost always worth the time compared with leaving a question mark on your roof going into winter.

Need an Assessment After a Storm?

Flip Flop Construction handles roof, siding, fence and structural repairs under one crew, so you get one honest assessment of the whole property instead of juggling separate contractors for each part of the damage. We serve Winnipeg, Steinbach, Kleefeld and Grand Beach, along with Red Lake, Kenora, Dryden and surrounding communities.

Have a look at our roofing work, see everything we handle, and get in touch when you want somebody to look at it properly.

431-777-5219 flopconstruction@gmail.com flipflopconstructioninc.com One crew, every trade, no excuses.