Storm Damage Restoration in Englewood.

The first 24 hours after a major storm decide how big the loss becomes. Two storm-related issues need immediate response: roof penetrations (missing shingles, tree impact, lifted flashing) and water already inside the structure. Our trucks roll within an hour for active storm damage with tarping kits, plywood for board-up, water extraction equipment, and structural drying gear.

Tarping goes over any compromised roof area to prevent further water intrusion until permanent roof repair can happen. We use heavy 6-mil tarps secured with battens, not lightweight blue tarps that fail in the next windstorm. Tarping is itself a billable insurance scope.

Board-up applies to broken windows or doors, missing siding sections, or any opening that compromises the building envelope. We secure the property and document for the insurance claim.

This distinction matters because it determines which insurance policy pays. Wind-driven rain that enters through a damaged building envelope (wind broke a window, lifted shingles let rain through the roof, etc.) is covered by standard homeowners as wind/storm damage. Rising surface water that enters at ground level is FLOOD damage, which standard homeowners does NOT cover — that requires NFIP flood insurance.

For coastal NJ properties, both can happen in the same storm. We document the source of intrusion clearly so the right policy pays the right portion of the claim. Misclassification costs homeowners thousands in denied claims.

Tropical storms (Aug-Nov): wind damage to roofs and siding, wind-driven rain through compromised envelopes, occasional surge flooding in shore communities. Coastal NJ is hit harder than inland.

Nor'easters (Oct-Apr): sustained heavy rain over multiple days creates roof leaks at flashing transitions, ice damming on cold-weather events, and wind damage similar to tropical storms.

Ice storms: tree impact damage from ice loading on branches, ice damming where roof eaves are inadequately insulated, and burst pipes in unheated spaces.

Summer thunderstorms: straight-line winds (similar damage profile to tornadoes), hail damage to roofs and siding, lightning strikes that cause electrical fires.

The actions that matter in the first hour: secure the property, document the damage, file the insurance claim, and call a restoration crew that can dispatch immediately. The actions that hurt the claim: signing assignment-of-benefits paperwork from a storm-chase contractor who shows up unsolicited, throwing damaged contents away before documentation, or attempting permanent repairs before the carrier has had a chance to inspect.

For roof openings, get a tarp up if it's safe to do so — but document with photos before AND after. For broken windows, board up the opening to prevent further weather intrusion plus secondary damage from animals or break-ins. For interior water from a roof leak, place buckets under active drips and move what you can save away from the path of travel. Don't try to lift wet sheetrock yourself — it crumbles and makes the cleanup worse.

The single most damaging mistake homeowners make in the first hour is signing AOB (Assignment of Benefits) paperwork from a contractor who shows up unsolicited after a storm. AOB transfers your insurance claim rights to the contractor — meaning you lose control over scope decisions, can't change contractors mid-job, and may end up in litigation between the contractor and the carrier. Storm-chase contractors trail major weather events specifically to collect these signatures. Read anything before you sign, and never sign an AOB on the first call.