Short answer
If a tree fell on your roof, get everyone out of the rooms under it. Stay far from any downed power lines, and call 911 if anyone is hurt or lines are down. Do not climb up or cut the tree yourself. Take photos from a safe spot, call your insurer, then a tree service to lift it off and a roofer to tarp the hole.
Safety first
Leave the house and call 911 if you hear cracking, see a ceiling sag or smell gas. Stay far away from downed power lines and anything touching them, including the tree. Do not use a chainsaw on a tree that is resting on the house: it can shift and roll.
What to do when a tree falls on your roof
1A tree comes down on the roof
Wind, soaked soil or rot can bring down a tree or a big limb. The weight can crack the rafters below.
Read all the steps
- A tree comes down on the roof. Wind, soaked soil or rot can bring down a tree or a big limb. The weight can crack the rafters below.
- Everyone out of the rooms below. Close those doors and keep kids and pets away. Stay far from power lines; if any are down or someone is hurt, call 911.
- No climbing and no chainsaw. A tree resting on a house can shift when you cut it. Lifting it off safely takes ropes or a crane and a trained crew.
- Take photos and call your insurer. From a safe spot, photograph the tree, the roof and any damage inside. Report it right away and ask what they need.
- Tree crew lifts it off, roofer tarps it. A tree service removes the tree, then a roofer covers the hole until the repair. The house stays dry.
- Everyone safe? Call a roofer for a tarp Especially if: any tree or large limb on the roof: ask for a tarp once it is lifted off.
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Signs the damage is serious
- Cracks or a sag in the ceiling, or doors that suddenly stick.
- Daylight, rain or wet insulation coming into a room.
- Broken rafters you can see from the attic hatch (do not go in).
- Damage near the chimney, the electric meter or the gas line.
Insurance basics
When a storm brings a tree down on the house, many policies help pay to remove it and repair the roof. A tree that falls without hitting a building is often treated differently. Keep every receipt: tarp, tree removal and any hotel if the home is not livable. Ask your insurer before any permanent repair.
When to call a roofer
- Any tree or large limb on the roof: ask for a tarp once it is lifted off.
- Power lines are down or touching the tree (call 911 and the power company first).
- The ceiling is cracked, sagging or letting water in.
- You smell gas (leave the house and call 911 from outside).
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call first when a tree falls on my house?
911 if anyone is hurt, power lines are down or you smell gas. Then your insurer, a tree service to remove the tree and a roofer to tarp the roof.
Does homeowners insurance cover a tree falling on the roof?
Often, when a storm or wind knocked it down, including removing the tree from the house. If the tree was dead or neglected, the claim may be denied, so ask your insurer.
Can I stay in my house after a tree falls on it?
Stay out of the rooms under the damage. If a ceiling sags, you hear cracking, or the power or gas is affected, leave until a pro checks it.
Can I remove a tree from my roof myself?
No. The tree can shift or roll when you cut it, and the roof under it may be weak. Tree services lift it off with ropes or a crane.
What if my neighbor’s tree fell on my roof?
Usually your own homeowners insurance handles the damage to your house. If the tree was clearly dead or neglected, your insurer may go after the neighbor’s insurer.
How do I keep trees from falling on my house?
Have an arborist check big trees near the house every few years, especially ones that lean or look dead. Trim limbs that hang over the roof.