A major storm can leave your home with roof damage, flooding, fallen trees, or serious structural problems. Once the storm passes, safety comes first. Check for hazards, document the damage, and contact your insurance company before making major repairs.
From there, an experienced builder can help you figure out what can be repaired and what may need to be rebuilt, along with handling permits and planning improvements that can better protect your home from future storms.
Megill Custom Homes and Renovations has over 50 years of experience helping homeowners across Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland repair and rebuild after severe weather. This guide covers the key steps to take after storm damage, from the first inspection to deciding if your home should be repaired or rebuilt.
Step 1: Safety First
Before you start looking over the damage, make sure it’s safe to enter your home. Storms can leave behind downed power lines, gas leaks, standing water, and structural damage that may not be easy to spot.
Stay away from downed or exposed power lines and treat them as live. If you smell gas, leave the area and contact your utility company. If your roof, walls, or foundation look damaged, wait for a professional to confirm the home is safe before going inside. Be careful around standing water, which can hide electrical hazards or damaged flooring.
It can be tempting to get inside and start cleaning up, but taking your time at this stage can help prevent serious injuries. Wait until local officials or a qualified professional says it’s safe to return.
Step 2: Evaluate the Home Storm Damage
Once your home is safe to enter, walk around the property and look for signs of damage. Some problems are easy to spot, like missing shingles or a fallen tree. Others can be harder to notice, such as water getting behind siding or new cracks caused by shifting.
Check the roof, attic, basement, windows, doors, siding, gutters, and foundation. Look for missing or damaged shingles, water stains, cracked siding, damaged trim, debris, new wall cracks, or uneven floors.
Keep in mind that some storm damage may not show up right away. Water can cause problems over time, and hidden structural damage may become more noticeable days or weeks later. Having an experienced builder inspect the property early can help find these issues before they turn into larger, more expensive repairs.
Step 3: Make Note of the Damage and Contact Your Insurance
Good documentation can make the insurance process much easier. Before you start cleaning up or making repairs, take plenty of photos and videos of the damage, both inside and outside your home. Get different angles and include close-ups of areas that are damaged.
Make a list of damaged belongings and note their age and approximate value when you can. Keep receipts for emergency repairs, temporary fixes, or other storm-related expenses. You should also contact your insurance company as soon as possible to start your claim and find out what your policy covers.
Keep in mind that some damage may be hidden or easy to miss during an initial inspection. If the storm caused major damage, talking with an experienced builder before repairs begin can help you understand the full scope of the work and avoid surprises later.
Step 4: Begin Home Storm Damage Repair Planning
Once your insurance claim is underway, you can start planning the repairs. An experienced builder can help you understand the full scope of the damage, work within your insurance coverage, and set a realistic timeline.
Storm repairs can involve several parts of the home at once, including the roof, electrical system, plumbing, and interior. Having one experienced team manage the project can make the process easier and help keep the work on track.
This is also a good time to consider upgrades that make sense while walls or other systems are already being repaired.
Step 5: Repairing Storm Damage and Renovating Your Home
Storm repairs can sometimes create a good opportunity to make other improvements to your home. If walls, floors, or roofing are already being opened up, you may want to handle upgrades at the same time instead of doing more construction later.
You could upgrade your roof, improve drainage around the foundation, update electrical or HVAC systems, or make larger changes like finishing a basement or expanding a kitchen.
Megill Homes also provides home renovation services, including kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and whole-home renovations. If your storm repairs overlap with projects you’ve already been considering, combining the work may make sense.
When to Rebuild vs. Repair
Not every case of home storm damage can, or should, be repaired. In some situations, rebuilding is the more practical and cost-effective path forward.
Consider rebuilding if:
- The structural damage affects the foundation, framing, or load-bearing walls extensively
- Repair costs approach or exceed the value of a rebuild
- Your home was already due for major updates before the storm hit
- You want the opportunity to redesign the layout entirely rather than restore what was there before
Consider repairing if:
- The damage is isolated to specific areas, like roofing or siding
- The structure itself remains sound
- Your insurance settlement covers the scope of repair without major gaps
If you’re unsure which path makes sense, a walkthrough with an experienced builder can help clarify the scope and cost of each option before you commit.
How Megill Custom Homes and Renovations Can Help
Overall, storm damage can leave you with a lot of questions, especially when you’re not sure if your home should be repaired or rebuilt. Starting with a safety check, documenting the damage, and getting an experienced builder involved early can help you understand your options and avoid surprises later.
Megill Homes has over 50 years of experience helping homeowners repair, renovate, and rebuild. If your property can support a new home, our Build On Your Lot process includes a site evaluation and custom design based on your property. For homes that can be repaired, our renovation team can manage the project from design and permitting through the final walkthrough.
If you’re dealing with storm damage and aren’t sure where to start, contact Megill Homes for a consultation. Our team can help you create a plan that fits your home, budget, and timeline.