Tree Fell on Your Roof? What to Do First, Step by Step

When a tree falls on your roof, it usually happens in the worst weather, often at night. North metro Atlanta has a lot of tall pines and old hardwoods, so homeowners in Holly Springs, Woodstock, Canton and Marietta see this after nearly every big storm. If a tree fell on your roof, the steps you take in the first hour make a real difference for your safety and your house.

Here is what to do first, what to leave to the pros, and how the repair usually goes.

Step 1: Get Everyone Safe

Your family comes before the roof. Do a quick check:

• Is a ceiling cracked, sagging or open to the sky? Get everyone out of that part of the house. A damaged truss or rafter can give way without warning.
• Are power lines down or tangled in the tree? Stay far away and keep kids and pets inside. Call 911 and your power company. Never touch the tree or anything it is touching.
• Do you smell gas? Leave the house right away and call 911 and your gas company from outside.

If the damage looks serious, it is OK to leave and stay somewhere else for the night. Your safety matters more than anything inside.

Step 2: Stop the Water Inside

Once it is safe to be in the house, limit the water damage:

• Put buckets and towels under drips.
• Move furniture, rugs and electronics out of wet rooms.
• If water is near a light, outlet or ceiling fan, turn off that circuit at the breaker.

Our post Roof Leak? What to Do First covers more ways to protect the inside of your home.

Step 3: Document Everything

Before anything gets moved, take photos and video from the ground and from inside:

• The tree on the roof from several angles
• Where the tree came from, including the stump or root ball
• Ceiling damage, wet insulation and damaged belongings
• Damage to gutters, siding, fences, cars or anything else nearby

Write down the date, the time and what the weather was doing. Save any receipts for emergency supplies or a hotel. This record helps our team understand the damage and plan the work.

Step 4: Leave the Tree and the Roof to the Pros

Please do not climb on the roof or start cutting. A tree resting on a roof can be under heavy tension. One cut in the wrong spot can drop the weight further into the house or swing a limb at whoever is holding the saw.

Tatum's Roofing handles tree removal with a team of experienced tree removal experts, including crane operators and climbers, then secures and inspects the roof. The usual order is:

1. We handle the tree removal. Our team of experienced tree removal experts uses cranes, rigging and climbers as needed to carefully lift the tree off the home.
2. We secure the opening. That usually means a heavy tarp and boards over the hole to keep rain out.
3. We inspect the structure. With the tree gone, we can check the decking, rafters and trusses, not just the shingles.

What the Damage Usually Looks Like

Surface damage

Smaller limbs often just scrape, crack or knock off shingles, bend gutters and dent drip edge. These are often straightforward repairs.

Decking and structural damage

A large trunk can break through the decking and crack rafters or trusses. That calls for framing repair before any new roofing goes on. In some homes, damaged framing work may need a permit, so ask your roofer what your city or county requires.

Hidden damage

Even when the hole looks small, the impact can loosen shingles and break seals well away from where the tree landed. A full inspection of every slope and the attic is the only way to know.

Why Removing a Tree From a House Takes Specialized Skill

A tree resting on a house is not a routine yard cleanup. Its weight may be bearing on damaged framing, and cutting one section can shift the rest. Removing it takes careful planning, controlled lifting and a team that understands how to avoid adding stress to the home.

Tatum's Roofing handles this work with experienced tree removal experts, including crane operators and climbers. We assess how the tree is supported and use cranes, rigging and controlled cuts as needed to remove it carefully, with the goal of preventing further damage. Once the tree is off, we secure the opening and inspect the roof and supporting structure before planning repairs.

Watch Out for Storm Chasers

After a storm, crews from out of town knock on doors across Cherokee and Cobb counties. Be careful with anyone who pushes you to sign on the spot or asks for a large payment up front. Our post How to Spot a Storm Chaser covers the red flags.

Repair or Full Replacement?

If the damage is limited to one area and the rest of the roof is in good shape, a section repair is often enough. If the roof was already older, or the damage spreads across several slopes, a replacement may make more sense. Repair or Replace? Five Questions to Ask can help you weigh it.

When a new roof is the right call, a roof from Tatum's Roofing comes with our 5-year workmanship warranty along with the manufacturer's limited lifetime warranty. Extended coverage is available through GAF System Plus and Owens Corning Preferred Protection.

How to Lower the Risk Next Time

• Have an arborist look at large trees close to the house, especially ones that lean, have dead limbs or show rot at the base.
• Trim limbs that hang over or rub the roof.
• Get a roof inspection after any big wind storm, even if nothing fell.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I remove the tree from my roof myself?

No. A tree on a roof can be under tension and can shift when cut. Tatum's Roofing handles the removal with a team of experienced tree removal experts, including crane operators and climbers, then secures and inspects your roof.

Can I stay in my house after a tree hits the roof?

Only if the structure looks sound and there are no downed power lines or gas smells. If a ceiling is sagging or open, stay out of that area or stay somewhere else until the house is checked.

Why does a tree on a house need special attention?

The tree's weight can rest on damaged parts of the roof, and branches can be under tension. Our experienced tree removal team plans the cuts and lifting sequence, using cranes, rigging and climbers as needed to reduce the risk of further damage to the home.

How fast can the roof be tarped?

Call as soon as it is safe. Once our tree removal team has removed the tree, we can assess and secure the opening to help keep more rain out while permanent repairs are planned.

Get a Free Roof Inspection After Storm Damage

Tatum's Roofing is based at 2210 Holly Springs Pkwy #26 in Holly Springs and serves homeowners across Cherokee and Cobb counties and the rest of north metro Atlanta. If a tree or limb hit your roof, we can handle tree removal with our team of experienced crane operators and climbers, then inspect your roof for free, photograph what we find, and explain your options in plain language. Learn more about our storm and hail damage repair and roof repair services, or call 470-298-2288 to book your free inspection.