Tree and limb impact
A heavy limb punches through shingles and sheathing, leaving a hole that lets in rain. The damage is both structural and water-related, and the opening has to be covered before drying can succeed.
Urgent? Phones answered 24/7
Storm Damage Restoration in Seattle: Wind, Fallen Limbs and Rain Inside
Drying and cleanup after a Puget Sound windstorm or soaking front drives rain through a Seattle roof, attic or wall.
- Phones answered 24/7
- Basements, roofs and old pipes
- Check the contractor's L&I registration
Get a fast quote
Fastest: call (833) 490-5225. Or send this and we call you back.
Storm Damage
Storm Damage Restoration: what it covers
Quick answer
Storm damage restoration in Seattle covers the water that gets in after wind opens a roof or a limb falls: extraction, tarping coordination, drying and a documented scope for your insurer. Seattle Water Damage Restoration answers phones 24/7 and schedules same day when a technician is free. Roof repair itself belongs to a roofer.
Puget Sound storms come in two flavors, and both do damage. A windstorm brings down limbs and sometimes whole trees onto roofs, fences and cars. A long, soaking front, the kind that arrives between October and March, finds the weak points in a roof over days rather than minutes. The second kind is less dramatic and more common.
Seattle is full of evergreens and big maples, often standing right beside the houses. When a heavy limb comes down, the roof deck breaks open, and rain falls into the attic, onto the insulation and through the ceiling drywall below. Even without a fall, wind can lift shingles and push rain sideways under flashing, so the first sign may be a stain on a bedroom ceiling the next morning.
The restoration work begins after the storm has passed or the opening is covered. A roofer or tarp crew closes the roof, then the water is extracted and the attic, ceilings and walls are dried and cleaned. This page explains what to document, what to do first and how the drying works.
- Service area
- Seattle & King County
- Availability
- Phones answered 24/7, emergencies first
- Typical cost
- $1,305–$5,707, average about $3,455 (estimate)
- Phone
- (833) 490-5225
Warning signs
Signs you need storm damage restoration
Stay away from downed power lines and anything touching them, and do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof. Call (833) 490-5225 for the water, and a roofer for the opening.
- A fallen limb or tree resting on the roof, a gutter or the siding
- Missing, lifted or creased shingles seen from the ground after a windstorm
- A ceiling stain or sag that appears the morning after heavy rain
- Wet, flattened attic insulation or daylight visible through the roof boards
- Water running down the inside of an exterior wall near a window or chimney
- Gutters torn away from the fascia or overflowing along one side
- Dripping from a light fixture or ceiling fan in the room below the roof
- A musty smell in an upper room after several wet days
Our process
How our storm damage restoration visit works
Make it safe
Stay away from downed power lines and any limb still leaning on the house. A tree service or roofer deals with the wood; a restoration crew does not climb onto a damaged roof.
Cover the opening
A roofer places a temporary tarp or board-up so more rain stays out. Ask for the receipt, because temporary protection is usually part of a claim.
Extract and open
Water is extracted from carpet and floors, and wet insulation is removed from the attic. Sagging ceiling drywall is cut open so trapped water can drain, which also prevents a sudden collapse.
Dry the roof space and the rooms below
Dehumidifiers and air movers run in the living areas, and the attic gets airflow too. Moisture readings in rafters, sheathing and framing guide the schedule.
Document for your claim
Photographs, readings and a written scope go to your insurer. Keep any damaged materials until the adjuster has seen them, if you can.
Cost
How much does storm damage restoration cost in Seattle?
Storm jobs combine water work with roof repair, and only the water work is ours. We have no Seattle price, so the figures below are national.
| Job | Typical range | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total for a water damage job (national) | $1,305–$5,707, average about $3,455 | Bob Vila, citing Angi and HomeAdvisor data; a national figure, not a Seattle price |
| Average spend per job (national) | $1,364–$6,301, average about $3,833 | HomeAdvisor 2025; the same guide gives $3.50–$7.50 per sq ft nationally |
| Cost per sq ft by water category (national) | Category 1 $3–$4, Category 2 $4–$6.50, Category 3 $7–$7.50 | Repeated across several national guides; not a Seattle quote |
| Temporary roof tarp or board-up | Quoted on site | Paid to the roofer or tarp crew; amount depends on the opening and access |
Estimates only. Every dollar figure above is a national figure from the publisher named, not a Seattle or Washington price. Your own price is confirmed on site, and put in writing, before any work starts.
What should you do first after a limb hits your roof?
Get everyone out from under the damaged area, keep away from any power lines, and photograph the damage from the ground. Call a roofer or tarp service to close the opening, then call a restoration crew for the wet insulation and ceilings. Do not climb onto the roof.
Safety comes before saving property. A limb that has come down can still shift, and a wet roof is slippery.
Inside, move furniture away from drips and catch water in buckets. If a ceiling is bulging, a technician may need to relieve it, so say so on the call.
Why is a soaking Seattle storm hard on roofs?
Months of damp let moss and needles build up on shingles, gutters clog, and flashing weakens. Then wind and sustained rain arrive together. The result is leaks at weak points that were invisible in dry weather, often showing up in ceilings days later.
A single wet day rarely does the damage. It is the weeks of dampness that soften roof edges, lift shingles and rot fascia boards, so the next storm finds an easy way in.
That is also why a stain can lag the storm. Water soaks insulation first, sits there, and only reaches the drywall after the insulation is full.
How do you document storm damage for insurance?
Photograph the exterior and interior before cleanup, keep receipts for tarping and repairs, and ask for moisture readings from the drying crew. Report the claim promptly and keep damaged materials if you can. Coverage is decided by your insurer under your own policy.
Date-stamped photographs of the tree, the roof opening and the wet rooms are the strongest evidence. Wide shots first, then close-ups.
Write down what you did and when: who you called, what was covered, when the tarp went on. A short log is easier to hand to an adjuster than a memory.
If the storm caused several kinds of loss, a flooded yard and a leaking roof, treat them separately. Wind and flood are handled differently in most policies.
Options
Types and options for storm damage restoration
Wind-driven rain
Rain pushed horizontally can get under flashing, around chimneys and through window frames with no visible roof damage. The water travels inside the wall, and drying must reach the cavity.
Saturated gutter and drainage overflow
Gutters and downspouts full of needles overflow against fascia and siding, and water enters at eaves and the base of the wall. Prevention is cheaper than repair.
King County
Why storm damage restoration is different in King County
Evergreens and large deciduous trees are part of Seattle's character, and many sit within falling distance of a house. In a December windstorm, roots loosened by weeks of wet soil are less able to hold, and trees come down more easily.
Older roofs under tree cover collect moss, which holds moisture against the shingles and lifts their edges. Cedar shake, composition shingle and older flat or low-slope roofs each have their own weak points.
Power outages often follow storms here, which affects sump pumps. A basement that stays dry on normal days can take water when the power goes out and the pump stops.
Skip the guesswork. Call for a straight answer.
Tell us what's happening and we'll tell you honestly whether it's a quick fix, and what storm damage restoration should cost.
Where we work
Storm Damage Restoration across King County
- Storm Damage in Seattle
- Storm Damage in Medina
- Storm Damage in Mercer Island
- Storm Damage in Bellevue
- Storm Damage in Kirkland
- Storm Damage in Seahurst
- Storm Damage in Bainbridge Island
- Storm Damage in Southworth
- Storm Damage in Kenmore
- Storm Damage in South Colby
- Storm Damage in Renton
- Storm Damage in Redmond
- Storm Damage in Rollingbay
- Storm Damage in Mountlake Terrace
- Storm Damage in Indianola
- Storm Damage in Manchester
- Storm Damage in Sammamish
- Storm Damage in Bothell
- Storm Damage in Retsil
- Storm Damage in Suquamish
- Storm Damage in Vashon
- Storm Damage in Edmonds
- Storm Damage in Bremerton
- Storm Damage in Tracyton
- Storm Damage in Port Orchard
- Storm Damage in Keyport
Not sure if you're covered? Check your ZIP code.
Related
Related services
Roof Leak Water Damage
Drying wet attic insulation, sheathing and ceilings after a roof leak in a Seattle house, one that may have run for weeks.
Ceiling Water Damage
Draining, drying and assessing a wet ceiling in a Seattle house, from an upstairs bathroom or a roof leak.
Flood Damage Cleanup
Cleanup and drying after river or storm flooding reaches a Seattle-area house, including contaminated Category 3 water.
Structural Drying and Dehumidification
How a wet Seattle house is dried to measured readings, from plaster and fir floors to basement slabs and crawl spaces.
Guides
Read before you book
Atmospheric Rivers and Flooding Around Puget Sound: What December 2025 Showed
From December 8 to 11, 2025, an atmospheric river dropped 15 inches or more of rain in 72 hours at many Cascade and Olympic sites, prompting a statewide emergency and sandbagging in Renton's Maplewood.
Wet Winters, Slopes and Landslide Risk in Seattle: Water, Soil and Your House
About 8.4 percent of Seattle is mapped slide-prone.
FAQ
Storm Damage Restoration FAQs
Do you repair the roof?
No. A roofer repairs or tarps the roof. We extract the water and dry the attic, ceilings and walls. We tell you early if the opening needs closing so the drying does not start while rain is still coming in.
How soon should I act after a storm?
As soon as it is safe. Wet insulation and drywall start to grow mold in a mild, damp climate within a day or two, and the EPA advises drying within 24 to 48 hours. Cover the opening first, then dry.
Will insurance cover the wet ceiling?
Wind and tree damage is commonly covered under homeowners policies, but conditions and deductibles vary. Ask your insurer, and keep records. Coverage is their decision.
Can wet attic insulation be saved?
Sometimes, if it is a clean-water leak and caught early, though compressed or soaked batts are usually replaced. Blown-in insulation that has soaked is typically removed. A technician checks it with a meter.
What if the power goes out and my basement floods?
A sump pump needs power, so a battery backup is worth considering. If water enters, see emergency water removal. Stay out of water near outlets.
What is the difference between wind and flood damage?
Wind damage comes from above, through a damaged roof or wall. Flood comes from rising water on the ground. Insurers treat them differently, and flood needs its own policy. Describe how the water entered when you report a claim.