Tornadoes are not abstract in North Texas. An EF3 tornado cut across North Dallas on October 20, 2019. On December 26, 2015, an EF4 tore through Garland and Rowlett. The April 3, 2012 outbreak hit Lancaster, Forney and Arlington. When one passes near your home, the roof is often the first and worst-hit part of the house. This page is part of our emergency roof repair service from Irving.
Tornado damage roof repair in Dallas: safety before shingles
After a tornado, the roof may not be safe to stand on, and the rooms under it may not be safe to stand in. So our first job is not roofing. We look at the house from the ground, check for sagging lines and hanging debris, and decide what can be safely covered today. Only then do we climb, photograph and tarp. Our page on emergency roof tarping explains how that cover is fastened to survive the next storm.
If the damage came from a tree the tornado dropped, our fallen tree roof damage page covers the removal sequence.
What tornado roof damage looks like at each EF rating
The National Weather Service rates tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita scale using estimated 3-second gusts. Here is roughly what each level means for a house:
| Rating | Estimated gust | Typical damage (simplified from NWS descriptions) |
|---|---|---|
| EF0 | 65–85 mph | Shingles peeled off, gutters and siding damaged |
| EF1 | 86–110 mph | Roofs badly stripped, decking exposed |
| EF2 | 111–135 mph | Roofs torn off well-built houses |
| EF3 | 136–165 mph | Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed |
| EF4 | 166–200 mph | Well-built houses leveled |
Homes at the edge of a track often see EF0 to EF1 effects even when the center was stronger, and those are the roofs we can usually repair.
How can you spot structural roof damage after a tornado?
Some problems are beyond what shingles can fix. Warning signs we look for:
- A ridge line that dips or a roof plane that waves.
- Decking that flexes or gives underfoot.
- Split, shifted or disconnected rafters or trusses in the attic.
- Daylight through the decking where no shingles are missing.
- New cracks in interior walls or ceilings, or doors that suddenly stick.
Damage away from the center of the track is easier to miss. Shingles that stayed on can still have broken seals, flying debris punches holes in decking that later leak, and North Texas tornadoes often ride in on storms that also drop hail, so a roof may carry two kinds of damage at once. Dallas County's January 2016 dos and don'ts, issued after the December 2015 tornadoes, warned that an adjuster may rely on the owner for the extent of the damage, so we photograph with that in mind.
When we see these, we say so plainly. Framing is not something we will guess about. A licensed professional engineer should assess it, a framing contractor may need to repair it, and your city may require that work before a roofing permit is issued. We tarp to protect the house in the meantime and rebuild the roof once the structure is cleared.
Questions about tornado damage roof repair? Talk to us.
Call for a free inspection and a written estimate. Hablamos español.
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Roof repair after a tornado, in the order we do it
- Ground assessment and photos. Hazards, sagging, debris and access, before anyone climbs, then the damage as the storm left it, from the ground and, where safe, from the roof.
- Emergency cover. Tarps and battens over openings that can be safely covered.
- Structural flag. If framing looks compromised, we tell you and recommend an engineer.
- Full inspection. Once safe, every slope, flashing and vent is checked and documented.
- Claim support. Our report goes with your claim, and we can attend the adjuster's inspection.
- Rebuild and close-out. New decking, underlayment, flashing and shingles, with any permit your city requires, then debris removal, a magnet sweep and completion photos.
What a tornado roof repair from us covers
A tornado job runs in two phases with different goals. The first is protection: keep water out of a house that may already be open to the sky, without putting anyone on a roof that cannot hold them. The second is the permanent roof, which can only start once the framing question is answered and, on an insured loss, once the roofing scope is clear. Keeping the phases separate on paper matters, because temporary repairs are usually a reasonable expense your insurer expects you to take, while the rebuild follows the approved scope. Other trades, such as framing carpenters, engineers and window or siding crews, often work alongside us, so we share our photos and schedule with them. The work covers:
- emergency tarping and battens over openings that can be safely covered
- dated photos of every slope, flashing, vent and interior ceiling stain we can reach
- a written damage report for your claim, and a roofer at the adjuster's inspection
- a free estimate for permanent roofing work, kept separate from temporary costs
- decking, underlayment, drip edge, flashing, shingles and ridge rebuilt once framing is cleared
- debris removal, magnet sweeps and completion photos
How does a tornado insurance claim for the roof work?
Most Texas homeowner policies cover tornado damage under windstorm, usually with the same wind and hail deductible as a hailstorm. What makes tornado claims different is breadth: structure, contents, fences, other trades and sometimes temporary housing. Your adjuster, or a licensed public adjuster you hire, handles the money side; Texas Insurance Code Chapter 4102 keeps contractors out of claim negotiation. We supply evidence, explain the roofing portion of the scope, and build to what is approved. When a federal disaster is declared, FEMA may offer assistance beyond insurance.
What drives the cost of rebuilding a roof after a tornado?
Cost depends on whether the roof can be repaired or must be rebuilt, how much decking is lost, any structural work done by others first, and city code items. Your estimate for our portion is free.
Decking is the biggest unknown. Debris punctures and boards torn loose at the edges are only fully counted once the old shingles come off, so the estimate carries a per-sheet price for replacement. Tarping can be a separate line, and if the house waits weeks for an engineer or framing crew, tarps may need checking or replacing after later storms. Code items such as drip edge, ventilation and underlayment upgrades come into play on a full re-roof under whatever residential code edition your city has adopted. Matching shingles on a partial repair can be harder than usual when a whole neighborhood is ordering the same colors at once. And because tornado claims usually fall under the windstorm deductible, the deductible you owe is set by your policy; Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707 bars any contractor from waiving or paying it.
Why RJ after a tornado, and the areas we cover
When a neighborhood is torn up, you need straight answers. We give fast response, documentation built for insurance, and an honest call on structure. We explain everything in English or Spanish; daños por tornado en el techo are stressful enough without a language barrier. Inspections and estimates are free, and the dated photos we take before tarping give your adjuster a clear record of what the storm did. Past customers wrote about step-by-step explanations and a clean yard afterward, and our Google rating stands at 5.0 from 33 reviews (November 2026). The rebuilt roof carries our workmanship guarantee, written into your contract, plus the shingle manufacturer's materials warranty.
We cover tornado-hit areas across DFW from our Irving base, including Dallas, Garland, Rowlett and Lancaster. Call (725) 745-8803 once everyone is safe.
Permits and contractor checks after a tornado
Credentials note: TDLR keeps no roofing license category, because Texas never created one. After a tornado, out-of-town crews often arrive quickly, so ask whether a contractor is registered with your city. Dallas, Garland and Irving each issue their own roofing permits; Irving, for example, requires a re-roof permit and annual contractor registration, with questions answered by its Inspections Department at (972) 721-2371. Where framing was damaged, the city may want the structural repair permitted or signed off before roofing begins. Be wary of anyone offering to cover your deductible or to handle your claim for you: Chapter 707 bars the first, and Chapter 4102 leaves claim negotiation to you or a public adjuster holding a state license.
