How to Prepare Your Roof for a Hurricane or Tropical Storm in Tallahassee
Updated: 4 days ago
By Kayleigh Kellogg, Florida Licensed Roofing Contractor (CCC1336010)Reviewed by Shawn Kellogg, Head Director/Owner
Storm in the forecast this week? Start with the ground-level walk-around below. If something looks wrong, call or text (850) 597-9478. Our office is open Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM, and we answer the phone after hours.
To prepare your roof for a hurricane or tropical storm in Tallahassee, walk around the house and look at the roof from the ground, clear your gutters and downspouts, deal with limbs over the roof, check the attic for existing leaks, and take dated photos. Then stay off the roof during and right after the storm.
Tallahassee sits inland, but tropical storms still bring heavy rain and wind here. As Ready.gov puts it, "Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem." This guide comes from Coastal Roofing Solutions, a family-owned, licensed local roofer.
Before the storm: a homeowner's roof checklist
Most storm prep you can do from the ground in an afternoon: look over the roof, clear gutters, and handle limbs. Leave anything that needs a ladder on the roof to a roofer.
Walk around the house and look at the roof from the ground
Look at the roof from every side, with binoculars or your phone's zoom if you have them.
Look for:
Missing, cracked, curled, or lifted shingles
Loose metal panels or trim
A roofline that sags
Bent or missing ridge caps
Debris piled in the valleys
Don't climb onto the roof. All of this can be seen from the yard.
Clear gutters and downspouts
Gutters need to drain freely so heavy rain moves off the roof and away from the house.
Pine needles and oak leaves are the usual Tallahassee culprits.
Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation.
Tighten loose gutter sections, or flag them for a roofer.
Use a stable ladder with a helper, or skip it and hire someone. Ready.gov lists clearing drains and gutters as a way to strengthen your home.
Look for loose shingles and lifted edges
Wind gets under edges that are already loose, so look closely at the edges, ridge, and corners.
From the ground, a loose shingle often looks raised, wavy, or a different shade than its neighbors. Don't try to glue or nail shingles from a ladder. If you spot several, call us for a free estimate.
Check flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights, and walls
Flashing is the metal that seals the joints where the roof meets something else, and that's where many leaks start.
From the ground, look for bent, lifted, or rusted flashing and for gaps or cracked sealant. Flashing is a roofer repair, not a DIY job. Here's how we handle roof repair in Tallahassee.
Deal with overhanging limbs and secure loose items
Limbs that hang over or touch the roof can break and fall in high wind, so have a tree professional handle big ones well before the storm.
With Tallahassee's oaks and pines, don't take down big limbs yourself the day before a storm. Bring in patio furniture, grills, and decor that wind can throw into the roof or windows (Ready.gov).
Check the attic for leaks you already have
A quick look in the attic on a dry day tells you whether water is already getting in, before a storm makes it worse.
With a flashlight, look for:
Stains or dark spots on the roof deck
Damp or matted insulation
Daylight around vents and pipes
Step only on the joists, and photograph anything you find.
Take dated photos of your roof for your own records
Photos from today give you a clear before-picture to compare against after the storm.
Photograph every side of the house from the ground, plus the gutters and attic, and keep them with your other important papers.
If your roof is near the end of its life
An older roof with widespread wear is more likely to struggle in high wind, so it's worth getting a roofer's honest opinion before next season. Patch versus replace is an on-site call, and we'll tell you plainly if a repair will do. When it's time to replace, homeowners here often compare shingles with metal roofing in Tallahassee.
During the storm: stay safe and stay off the roof
During a hurricane or tropical storm, stay inside and away from windows, and never go up on the roof or a ladder. Roof problems can wait until the storm has passed and it's safe.
Follow local emergency officials and forecasts from NWS Tallahassee and the National Hurricane Center. If you're in an evacuation zone and told to leave, leave (Ready.gov).
Homeowners in Crawfordville and Wakulla County and coastal Franklin County especially should know their zone through county emergency management.
In high winds, take shelter in an interior room (Ready.gov).
If water starts coming in during the storm
Catch the water and protect your things from inside. Don't try to fix the roof until the storm is over.
Put down buckets and towels, and move furniture and electronics.
Stay out from under any ceiling that's sagging or bulging.
Keep water away from light fixtures and outlets. If it's safe and you're not standing in water, turn off power to that area at the breaker (Ready.gov: don't touch wet electrical equipment).
If flooding is a risk, don't go into a closed attic (Ready.gov).
Write down when and where the leak started.
After the storm: check for damage safely
Once the wind and rain have passed and local officials say it's safe, look over your roof from the ground and check inside for leaks. Leave climbing and repairs to a licensed roofer.
Check the roof from the ground
Walk the house again and compare with your before-photos.
Look for:
Missing or lifted shingles
Exposed underlayment or wood
Shingle granules piled at downspouts
Flashing that's bent or pulled up
Gutters that sag or have pulled away
Limbs or debris on the roof
Stay away from downed power lines and report them to your electric utility. Watch for slick ground and debris.
Check inside for leaks
New ceiling stains, drips, or damp attic insulation mean water got in and the roof needs a roofer's look.
Check ceilings (especially near outside walls, light fixtures, and vents), the attic, and top-floor closets. Watch for musty smells over the next few days, and photograph what you find for your own records.
When to call a roofer
Call a roofer if water is coming in, if you can see missing shingles or exposed wood, if a limb is on the roof, or if anything needs a ladder to check.
A roofer should look at it on-site, stop the leak path where possible, and give you a clear written scope and an honest patch-versus-replace read. See our Tallahassee roof leak repair page.
Coastal Roofing Solutions installs emergency tarps, and during a storm we offer night and weekend tarping. We answer the phone after hours. Call (850) 597-9478; our office is open Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM. Before anyone works on your roof, check their Florida license (see the FAQ). Ours is CCC1336010.
Need a tarp? Request an emergency roof tarp online.
Is a tarp a repair?
No. A tarp is a short-term cover that keeps water out until a proper repair, not a fix.
A roofer can install a temporary tarp. Wet, damaged roofs are dangerous to walk on. Coastal Roofing Solutions installs emergency tarps, and during a storm we offer night and weekend tarping. We answer the phone after hours. Call (850) 597-9478.
Serving Tallahassee and the Big Bend
Coastal Roofing Solutions is a family-owned roofer at 2625 Mahan Dr in Tallahassee, serving homeowners across Leon, Wakulla, Franklin, Gadsden, and Jefferson counties.
That includes Tallahassee, Crawfordville and the rest of Wakulla County, Franklin County, including Eastpoint, and Gadsden and Jefferson counties.
We're an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. Kayleigh Kellogg is our Florida licensed roofing contractor, license CCC1336010.
Questions about your roof before or after a storm? Call or text Coastal Roofing Solutions at (850) 597-9478 or request a free estimate. Our office is open Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM.Family-owned · Licensed FL roofing contractor CCC1336010 · Owens Corning Preferred Contractor · 2625 Mahan Dr, Tallahassee
Frequently asked questions
Should I put a tarp on my roof after a storm?
If water is coming in through a damaged spot, a temporary tarp can limit damage inside until the roof is repaired. It's a short-term cover, not a repair, and a roofer should install it; climbing onto a wet, damaged roof yourself is dangerous. Coastal Roofing Solutions installs emergency tarps, and during a storm we offer night and weekend tarping. We answer the phone after hours. Call (850) 597-9478.
My roof is leaking after a storm. What should I do right now?
Catch the water, move belongings, and stay out from under a sagging ceiling. Keep water away from lights and outlets, and if it's safe, turn off power to that area at the breaker. Take photos for your records, then call a roofer. More on roof leak repair in Tallahassee.
When should I call a roofer after a storm?
Call if water is coming in, you see missing shingles or exposed wood, a limb landed on the roof, or checking anything would mean a ladder. In Tallahassee, call or text Coastal Roofing Solutions at (850) 597-9478. Our office is open Monday–Friday, 8 AM–6 PM, and we answer the phone after hours. We also install emergency tarps, including night and weekend tarping during a storm.
Is it safe to go on my roof to check for damage?
No. Look from the ground with binoculars or a phone zoom. Storm-damaged roofs can be slick and unstable. Leave anything on the roof to a licensed roofer.
Can I have my roof looked at before a storm?
Yes. Call or text (850) 597-9478 for a free estimate, and we'll tell you plainly what, if anything, needs attention. When a storm is close, start with the checklist above, since scheduling depends on crews and weather.
How do I check that a roofer is licensed in Florida?
Look up the contractor's license number on the Florida DBPR license search at myfloridalicense.com. Coastal Roofing Solutions' license is CCC1336010.
Comments