Quick Answer: What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your Roof?
If a tree falls on your roof, get everyone outside and call 911 if anyone is hurt or power lines are down. Photograph the damage, call your insurer, and hire a licensed roofer to tarp the roof. Never climb up or move the tree yourself.
Knowing what to do if a tree falls on your roof can protect your family and your home. Quick action keeps rain out and supports your insurance claim. Bright View Exteriors, a roofing company in Beltsville, MD, built this 12-step checklist for Maryland homeowners.
Why a Fallen Tree Is More Serious Than It Looks
When a tree falls on your roof, it can look like it only broke a few shingles. Under the surface, the damage is often much worse.
A mature tree or large limb weighs hundreds or even thousands of pounds. When a tree falls on your roof, that weight can harm every layer:
- Shingles and underlayment can tear, puncture, or crush.
- Roof decking, the plywood or OSB under the shingles, can crack or break.
- Rafters and trusses, the framing that holds up the roof, can split or shift.
- Insulation, wiring, and ceilings below the damage can get soaked fast.
You cannot see cracked framing from the ground. A roof that looks mostly fine can still be unsafe, so book a professional roof inspection. Rain can soak insulation within hours, and mold can start to grow within 24 to 48 hours.
What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your Roof: The 12-Step Emergency Checklist
Follow these steps in order. The first four protect your safety. The rest protect your home and your claim.
Steps 1 to 4: Stay Safe When a Tree Falls on Your Roof
- Get everyone outside. Move your family and pets out right away, even if the damage looks small. A damaged roof can collapse without warning. Do not go back inside for belongings.
- Call 911 if there is danger. Call if anyone is hurt, you smell gas, or you see smoke or sparks. Treat every downed power line as live. Stay far back and report it to your electric utility.
- Shut off utilities only if it is safe. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 from outside. Turn off the main water valve only if you can reach it safely. Leave the electrical panel alone if it is wet or near the damage.
- Check the damage from a distance. Walk around the outside, but stay out from under the tree. Look for a sagging roof line, holes, exposed framing, broken windows, damaged siding, or new ceiling cracks. Never climb onto the roof.
Steps 5 to 9: Protect Your Home After a Tree Falls on Your Roof
- Take photos and video. Capture the whole tree, the roof damage, and any wet rooms inside. Note the date, time, and weather. Keep damaged items until the adjuster has seen them.
- Call your insurance company. Report the claim and get a claim number. Ask about your deductible, temporary repairs, tree removal limits, and living expenses. A contractor that offers insurance claims assistance can help you document the loss.
- Call a licensed roofer for emergency tarping. A tarp keeps rain out until permanent repairs begin. Most policies expect you to prevent further damage after a loss.
- Hire a tree service to remove the tree. Do not cut or pull the tree off yourself. It may be holding up weak spots in the roof. Use an insured crew with the right equipment.
- Limit water damage inside. Place buckets under leaks and move furniture and electronics away. Stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings.
Steps 10 to 12: Plan the Repair After a Tree Falls on Your Roof
- Save every receipt. Keep receipts for tarping, tree removal, hotel stays, and supplies. Ask your insurer which living expenses your policy covers.
- Get a full inspection and a written estimate. A licensed roofer should check the decking, framing, flashing, gutters, attic, and nearby slopes. Compare the estimate with your insurer’s estimate. You choose your own contractor.
- Complete permanent repairs and do a final walk-through. Roof repair may mean new decking and shingles, or framing repair. Some damage needs a full roof replacement. Ask whether your county requires a permit, and keep your contract, warranty, and photos together.
Emergency Roof Tarping After Tree Damage
Emergency roof tarping is a temporary waterproof cover placed over damaged roofing after a tree falls on your roof. It keeps rain out until permanent repairs begin. A tarp lasts weeks, not years, so schedule repairs soon.
A professional crew typically does the following:
- Clears loose debris and broken shingles from the area.
- Covers the damage with a heavy-duty, UV-resistant tarp that reaches past the damage and over the ridge.
- Secures the tarp with wood strips fastened to solid framing, so wind cannot lift it.
- Checks the attic for active leaks.
Do not tarp a steep, wet, or damaged roof yourself. Ask the roofer to photograph the roof before and after tarping. Bright View Exteriors handles emergency storm repairs and full storm damage restoration.
Does Insurance Cover Tree Damage to Your Roof in Maryland?
In most cases, yes. When a tree falls on your roof from wind, a storm, or ice, it is usually a covered event under a standard homeowners policy. Your insurer pays covered repairs minus your deductible.
What Is Usually Covered
- Repairs to the roof, decking, and framing damaged by the tree.
- Interior damage from water that entered through the damaged roof.
- Reasonable temporary repairs, such as emergency tarping.
- A limited amount for tree removal when the tree hits your home. These limits are often low, so check your policy.
What Can Cause Problems
- A dead or diseased tree that the owner ignored.
- Actual cash value (ACV) coverage, which subtracts depreciation.
- Late reporting, or missing photos and receipts.
- A percentage-based wind deductible, which can be higher than a flat deductible.
Replacement cost value (RCV) coverage pays to replace the roof with new materials. Read your policy before storm season. The Maryland Insurance Administration offers consumer help at 800-492-6116.
Who Pays If a Neighbor's Tree Falls on Your Roof?
Your own homeowners insurance usually pays for damage to your home, even when the tree grew in your neighbor’s yard. Your insurer may seek reimbursement from the neighbor if the tree was dead and they knew it.
- Healthy tree, storm damage: your insurer handles your claim.
- Dead tree the neighbor knew about: your insurer still pays first, then may pursue the neighbor.
- Your tree falls on a neighbor’s home: their insurer usually pays, unless you ignored a known hazard.
If a neighbor’s tree looks dead or leaning, take dated photos and send a polite written notice. This is general information, not legal advice.
Cost and Factors: What Affects Repair Costs When a Tree Falls on Your Roof
No two tree-damage jobs cost the same. These factors move the price:
- Size of the damage: a small puncture costs far less than damage across several roof planes.
- Hidden damage: cracked decking or split rafters add labor and materials.
- Roofing material: asphalt shingles and stone-coated metal price differently.
- Interior repairs: wet insulation, drywall, and paint may need replacement.
- Tree removal: costs rise when a crane is needed or the tree is close to the house.
- Your coverage: your deductible, ACV or RCV terms, and any tree removal limit decide what you pay.
Ask for written pricing before work starts. Compare the scope of work, not just the total.
Bright View Exteriors also offers financing options if you need help with your share. Read our Maryland roof financing guide for ways to pay.
How to Choose a Roofer After a Tree Falls on Your Roof
After a big storm, out-of-town crews often knock on doors. Learn how to avoid roofing scams after a storm. Then use this checklist:
- Check the license. Maryland requires roofers who work on homes to hold an MHIC license.
- Ask for proof of insurance, including liability coverage.
- Get a written contract that you and the contractor both sign.
- Look for a local address and reviews you can verify.
- Get at least two written estimates, and learn how to compare roofing estimates.
Why Choose Bright View Exteriors
Bright View Exteriors is a licensed roofing and storm restoration contractor headquartered in Beltsville, Maryland. We serve homeowners and commercial property owners across Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
What sets our team apart:
- 4.9-star Google rating based on 130+ verified local reviews.
- 45+ years of combined team experience in residential and commercial roofing.
- Free, no-pressure storm inspections are scheduled fast across our service area.
- In-house insurance claim assistance: we meet with your adjuster and document the damage.
- Transparent, upfront pricing with financing options when needed.
- Manufacturer-certified installations with extended workmanship warranties.
Conclusion
A fallen tree is stressful, but a clear plan helps. Remember what to do if a tree falls on your roof: get out, call for help, document the damage, report the claim, and cover the roof fast.
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Contact us today to schedule your inspection or get a free quote.
FAQ: What to Do If a Tree Falls on Your Roof in Maryland
What should I do if a tree falls on my roof?
Get everyone and your pets outside right away. Call 911 if anyone is hurt, you smell gas, or power lines are down. Do not go back inside until a professional says the home is safe.
Is it safe to stay in my house after a tree hits the roof?
Not until a professional says it is safe. Hidden damage to rafters, trusses, or decking can lead to a collapse, even when the room below looks fine. Stay elsewhere until the roof is inspected.
Should I call my insurance company or a roofer first when a tree falls on my roof?
Call 911 first if there is any danger. After that, you can call both right away. Your insurer opens the claim, and a licensed roofer can tarp the roof and document the damage.
Does homeowners insurance cover it when a tree falls on your roof in Maryland?
Usually yes. Wind, storm, and ice damage from a falling tree is typically a covered event, minus your deductible. Limits, exclusions, and tree removal caps vary, so review your policy or ask your insurer.
Who pays if my neighbor's tree falls on my roof?
Your own homeowners policy usually pays for damage to your home. If the neighbor knew the tree was dead, your insurer may seek reimbursement from them. Storm damage from a healthy tree is generally not the neighbor’s fault.