What to Do After Storm Damage to Your Roof in Gettysburg, PA

By Appalachian Exteriors

A hail storm or high-wind event just came through Adams County and you need a roof repair in Gettysburg. Here is a clear, step-by-step guide for homeowners in the Gettysburg area — including how to protect yourself from the contractors that will be knocking on your door within 24 hours.

South Central Pennsylvania gets hit with storms year-round. Hail events roll through the Cumberland Valley in spring and summer. High winds follow cold fronts through fall and winter. Ice storms in January and February put weight on roofs that were not designed to carry it. When something happens to your roof, the hours and days right after a storm are when the most important decisions get made — and when the most mistakes happen.

This guide covers what to do first, what to document, how the insurance process works, and how to find a contractor you can trust in the Gettysburg area rather than one who followed the storm in from out of state.

Step 1: Stay off the roof and do a safe ground inspection first

The instinct after a storm is to get up and look at the damage. In most cases that is the wrong first move. Wet roofs are slippery. Wind-damaged sections can be structurally unstable. Hail-impacted shingles are soft and slick underfoot.

Start from the ground. Walk around the entire perimeter of your home and note what you can see from ground level:

• Missing shingles or visible gaps in the roofline
• Granules from asphalt shingles collecting in gutters or downspout drainage areas
• Damaged or dented gutters, fascia, or soffit
• Dents on metal surfaces like HVAC equipment, vents, or exposed flashing
• Visible debris on the roof — tree limbs, branches, or other material
• Water stains appearing on exterior walls near the roofline

Document everything you can see from the ground with photos and the date and time they were taken. This documentation is important for your insurance claim.

Step 2: Check inside for signs of water intrusion

Before calling anyone, walk through your attic if it is accessible. Look for:

• Daylight visible through the roof decking
• Wet insulation or dark staining on rafters and sheathing
• Active dripping or pooled water
• Fresh staining on attic floor or insulation

Then check the ceilings in rooms directly under the roof, especially in the highest parts of the house. Water stains on drywall or plaster, bubbling paint, or soft spots in the ceiling indicate active or recent water intrusion.

If you find active water coming in, place buckets, move belongings out of the affected area, and call your insurance company to report emergency conditions. Temporary tarping may be covered under your policy for active leaks.

Step 3: Call your insurance company and open a claim

If you have visible storm damage or signs of water intrusion, call your insurance company and open a claim. Have the following ready:

• The date of the storm event
• A description of what you observed — missing shingles, granules in gutters, interior water staining
• Your photos and the timestamps
• Your policy number

The insurance company will assign an adjuster to visit your property and assess the damage. In Adams County after a significant storm event, adjusters can be backed up for one to three weeks. File early to get in the queue.

Ask your insurer specifically: does my policy cover storm damage to the roof, and what is my deductible for this type of claim? Understanding your coverage before the adjuster arrives puts you in a better position during the assessment.

Step 4: Get a contractor on site before or with the adjuster — not after

This is the step most Adams County homeowners skip, and it is one of the most important. Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company. Their job is to assess damage accurately, but they are also working quickly across many claims after a major storm event. Items get missed. Line items get undervalued. Code-required upgrades that come with a replacement get excluded from the initial scope.

Having a roofing contractor on site during the adjuster visit — or immediately before it — means someone is there to point out what the adjuster needs to see and to ensure the scope reflects the actual work required. A contractor who is experienced with the insurance claim process in Adams County can make a meaningful difference in what gets approved.

Contact us as soon as you know your adjuster visit date. We will be there with you.

What storm damage looks like on different roof types

Asphalt shingles

Hail damage on asphalt shingles appears as soft spots or bruising — circular impact marks where the granule coating has been knocked loose. This is often not visible from the ground and requires close inspection. Wind damage typically causes shingles to lift, crack along the edges, or blow off entirely. A roof with widespread hail bruising may look fine from the street but be significantly compromised in terms of remaining lifespan.

Metal roofing

Metal roofing panels handle hail and wind significantly better than asphalt shingles. Hail impacts that would bruise and accelerate aging on shingles leave metal panels largely unaffected in most residential hail events. Wind damage on a properly installed metal roof is rare — the panels fasten as a system rather than relying on individual pieces. If you have a metal roof and are concerned after a storm, we are happy to do a free inspection and give you an honest assessment.

Agricultural buildings

Barns, pole buildings, and farm structures throughout Adams County take storm damage differently than residential homes. Large roof spans, older fastening systems, and exposure to high winds on open ground can lead to panel uplift, ridge cap failures, and fastener pull-through. After a significant storm, it is worth walking your farm buildings and checking for panel movement, open seams at the ridge, and evidence of water entry at the eaves.

How to protect yourself from storm-chasing contractors

After any significant storm event in Adams County, contractors from out of state begin canvassing neighborhoods within 24 to 48 hours. Some are legitimate companies operating regionally. Many are not. The same red flags that apply to any roofing contractor apply especially to unsolicited post-storm solicitation:

• Never sign a contract at the door — take their information and verify it independently before agreeing to anything
• Verify PA Home Improvement Contractor licensure — out-of-state crews frequently do not have it and cannot legally perform residential roofing work in Pennsylvania
• Do not pay large deposits upfront — a reasonable material deposit is normal; 50% or more before any work begins is not
• Do not sign an Assignment of Benefits — some contractors ask homeowners to sign over their insurance claim rights. Once you sign, you lose control of the process and the payout
• Do not let anyone start permanent work before the adjuster visits — this can jeopardize your claim regardless of how urgent the contractor makes it sound

What happens after the claim is approved

Once your insurance adjuster has visited and issued a scope of loss, the process moves to contractor selection and scheduling. A few things to know at this stage:

• Review the adjuster scope carefully before accepting it — line items are sometimes missing or undervalued, and supplements can be requested
• You are not required to use a contractor your insurance company recommends or prefers — that choice is yours
• The insurance payout typically comes in two parts: an actual cash value payment upfront and a recoverable depreciation payment after the work is completed
• Keep all documentation — photos, the adjuster report, your contractor estimate, and the final invoice — for your records

Free storm damage inspections in the Gettysburg area

Appalachian Exteriors offers a free storm damage inspection for homeowners throughout Gettysburg, New Oxford, Biglerville, Fairfield, Orrtanna, Littlestown, and the surrounding Adams County communities. We will assess the damage honestly, walk you through what we find, and help you understand whether a repair or full replacement makes more sense for your specific situation.

We are PA Home Improvement Contractor licensed, fully insured, and the owner is personally on site for every inspection and every full replacement. If you have storm damage or are not sure what you are looking at after a recent storm, give us a call.