After an LA storm, look for slipped, cracked, or missing tiles, lifted or torn shingles, tile pieces or granules in the yard and gutters, bent or loose flashing, and debris or branches on the roof. Inside, watch for new ceiling stains, damp spots, or drips. Los Angeles storm damage is more often wind, wind-driven rain, and falling branches than hail, but the result is the same: broken spots where water can now get in.
We do not get much hail here, but the Santa Ana winds and the winter storm season do real damage. Strong wind lifts and cracks tiles, peels shingles, and works flashing loose. Wind-driven rain pushes water under materials that shed a straight rain just fine. And falling branches, common on tree-lined streets across the Valley and the Westside, crack tiles and gouge shingles where they land. Any of these opens a path for water that shows up as a leak in the next rain.
The safe way to check is from the ground and from inside, not by climbing up. Walk the yard for fallen tile pieces and shingle granules, look up at the roofline for slipped or missing pieces, and check ceilings and the attic for fresh stains. If you spot damage, our storm damage repair and roof repair pages cover the fix, and a roof inspection confirms the full extent.
| Where | Sign of damage |
|---|---|
| On the roof (from the ground) | Slipped, cracked, or missing tiles or shingles |
| In the yard and gutters | Tile pieces, shingle granules, debris |
| At the edges and penetrations | Bent or loose flashing |
| Inside, on ceilings | New stains, damp spots, drips |
| In the attic | Daylight, wet wood, or dripping |
If you find damage, get it looked at before the next rain, since a broken spot only gets worse once water starts working through it, as our page on delaying a repair explains. Take photos from the ground for your records, since they help if you end up filing a claim, and our insurance claim support page walks through that. Staying ahead of the season with a pre-winter check and regular roof maintenance catches weak spots before a storm finds them.
Catch broken spots before the next rain. Call (310) 806-5959 or request an estimate below.
Tell us what you saw after the storm. We check the roof and give you a written price, with no obligation.