Hail and storm damage roof repair in Reading, PA: claims, costs and deadlines

Roofers Hotline handles storm damage roof repair in Reading, and the local record shows why a post-storm check is worth the call. NOAA's Storm Events database lists 43 hail events of one inch or larger in the county since 2015, plus 8 damaging thunderstorm wind events and 9 tornadoes. The largest hail in that record measured 2 inches.

Hail season here runs mostly from May through September, with May the busiest month. Two-inch hail was last reported within 25 km on May 28, 2019, so stones large enough to crack shingles are part of this area's history and not just a rare event. If a storm has passed over your street, call Roofers Hotline and ask for an inspection of your roof and the written estimate that follows it.

The first two days after a storm are for keeping water out and getting your roof looked at. Stay off the roof yourself. From the ground, look for shingle pieces in the yard, dented gutters and downspouts, and fresh dark spots on the ceiling inside. Check the attic with a flashlight for damp insulation or daylight coming through the decking.

Reading's housing makes this check more pressing. By Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, 89% of homes in the city were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1939 or earlier. Older roof decks and flashing tend to show storm damage quickly. Roofers Hotline offers emergency tarping and leak repair, 24/7. Call as soon as you see water or missing shingles, and describe what you found so the inspection starts with the right problem.

Good records make the written estimate easier to read and easier to compare. Take photos from the ground of every slope you can see, and close-ups of dented vents, gutters and any loose or missing shingles. Photograph interior stains with something in the frame that shows scale, and note the date and time of the storm.

Keep what comes off your roof, such as shingle fragments or flashing pieces, in a bag. When the inspection is done, the written estimate should list each area of damage and the repair planned for it, so you can match it against your photos line by line. The 43 county hail events since 2015 are a reminder that damage can build up over several seasons. Call Roofers Hotline, share your photos, and ask for the written estimate before any work starts.

Insurance rules are set by your policy, so read it before you decide anything. Look for your deductible, how the policy treats wind and hail, and any deadline for reporting storm damage. Deductibles are never waived or rebated, so the amount you owe is the amount in your policy.

A written estimate that describes the damage clearly gives you something concrete to bring to that conversation with your insurer. Reading homeowners also have a way to check who they hire: Pennsylvania requires home improvement contractors, including roofers, to register with the Attorney General's Home Improvement Contractor registry. Look up any license at the Pennsylvania Attorney General HIC registry. Building permits go through the metro's UCC building code office at (610) 655-6235. Call Roofers Hotline to book your inspection and get the estimate in hand first.

After a big storm, door-to-door offers show up fast. Slow down before you sign anything. Be cautious of anyone who asks for full payment up front, will not give a written estimate, pressures you to decide on the spot, or cannot show a Pennsylvania registration you can check yourself.

With 20 federal disaster declarations that include the county from 1965 to date, and hail that peaks every May, storm seasons here come around again and again. That is a good reason to pick a roofing company before the next storm instead of during the rush after it. Call Roofers Hotline for hail and storm damage roof repair in Reading, 24 hours a day, and ask for a written estimate before any work starts.