Roof replacement after storm damage

Mercer County is inland, but storms still find it: summer thunderstorms with hail and downbursts, nor'easters with wind and wet snow, and the remnants of tropical systems moving up the coast. When a storm leaves a roof that is no longer worth patching, the steps below keep the process orderly.

Signs the roof needs replacing

• Missing or creased shingles across several slopes
• Hail bruises: dark spots where granules were knocked off
• A tree or limb that punctured the deck or cracked rafters
• Water stains spreading in the attic or on ceilings
• An older roof whose shingles have lost their seal and lift in every wind

Step by step

1. Make it safe. Stay away from downed wires. Get a tarp over any opening and keep the receipts.
2. Document. Photograph each side of the house, the damage up close, and the attic and ceilings.
3. Report the claim and note the claim number and adjuster.
4. Get a roofer's inspection to document damage the adjuster may not see from the ground.
5. Compare the adjuster's scope with the roofer's findings.
6. Sign a written contract that meets New Jersey rules, once you understand the claim.

Storm chasers. After big storms, crews from out of the area go door to door. New Jersey requires home improvement contractors to be registered, and registered contractors must put their 13VH number on contracts and advertising. No number, no signature.

For the paperwork, see checking a New Jersey roofer.