Wind, falling limbs and heavy rain on Montclair roofs
Storm Damage Roofing in Montclair, NJ
Did the wind take a few shingles, or did something heavier land? Storm damage calls in Montclair, NJ run from lifted tabs and bent gutters to limbs on the roof. Once the wires are accounted for and the sky has cleared, call (973) 358-8198 and report what the storm left behind.
Stop and get safe if
- A wire down, sagging or draped over a branch: treat it as live, stand 30 feet back, and report it to 911 or to PSE&G's line, 1-800-436-7734.
- A tree or limb leaning on the house with wires in it: leave the cutting alone and call PSE&G or 911.
- A ceiling bowed with water or drywall hanging loose: do not stand under it, and call 911 if it looks ready to drop.
- Standing water around outlets or the panel: do not step in. Turn power off only from dry ground, or leave it to an electrician.
From the storm to the claim, in sequence
- While the storm is onstay inside and away from windows. Afterward: look up at the wires before looking at the roof.
- First walkphotograph the yard, each side of the roof and any limb that came down, before anything is cleaned up. The state insurance department asks for those pictures.
- Nextprotect what is open with the simplest temporary cover available, and keep the receipt.
- Thencall (973) 358-8198, and phone the insurer too. Neither call has to wait for the other.
Where the trouble starts
- Gusts that lift shingles, bend flashing or peel back the ridge cap
- Limbs from street and yard trees that drop on shingles or tear a gutter loose
- Heavy rain that overwhelms gutters and finds weak joints
- Leaves and debris packed into valleys and drains, holding water against the roof
- Snow and ice loads that drag on shingles and pull gutters off the fascia
Short answers
- How urgent is storm damage, by your number out of ten?
Scoring 8 to 10: a wire down, a limb through the roof or a sagging ceiling. Move away from it and phone 911 or PSE&G. Scoring 4 to 7: missing shingles or water coming in, so call (973) 358-8198 right away if the roof is open. Scoring 1 to 3: a bent gutter or a few lifted tabs, which means photographs now and a look booked for later.
- What does the state insurance department say to do first?
New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance says to photograph damaged property before throwing anything out, make temporary repairs that stop more damage, and keep every receipt. It also says you may choose your own contractor. Its consumer line is 1-800-446-7467 on weekdays.
- Can I pull the branches off the roof myself?
Not near wires. NIOSH says to stay ten feet from power lines and to use a nonconductive ladder around live ones, and PSE&G says to leave trees tangled in lines to its crews. A limb resting on shingles with no wire nearby can wait for a roofer.
- How hard did Ida and Isaias hit this area?
In two days, 1 and 2 September 2021, Ida's remnants left 8.44 inches in the Newark Airport gauge, and Maplewood, also in Essex County, recorded 8.39. Isaias, on 4 August 2020, took power away from over a million New Jersey customers, and for some the outage ran up to five days.
- Does a storm call reach the towns around Montclair?
Yes. Cedar Grove, West Orange, Bloomfield and the rest are on the same line, and Cedar Grove roofing and Bloomfield roofing show what the older houses there face. Next step: call (973) 358-8198.
A limb on the edge, from the lawn
The picture is drawn from the viewpoint a homeowner has after a storm: standing on the grass, looking up at a limb across the lower edge and a gutter bent under its weight. Most of the useful facts are visible from here. Where did it land, is a wire anywhere near it, and are shingles on the ground?
This is a rendered scene, not a photo taken after a real storm.
On a visit
- Call (973) 358-8198 with the date of the storm, what landed and where water is getting in; the contractor can then arrange a visit.
- Wires, limbs and loose debris first, since a roofer will not work around a live line.
- Shingles, ridge cap and flashing, checked for lifted, missing or cracked pieces.
- Gutters and downspouts, which often show the first sign of impact damage.
- Interior and attic: stains, wet insulation and the underside of the boards.
- Photos and notes you can pass to your insurer, and a talk about temporary protection versus full repair.
Tarp, wait or call: choosing the next step
- Wire near the damage: stop and call 911 or PSE&G before anything else.
- Water coming in now: cover or contain it from the inside and call a roofer.
- Shingles missing but the ceiling dry: photograph, then book a look.
- Only a bent gutter or a few tabs: photograph and schedule a look in the coming days.
- Unsure: the ground-level walk in the attic hatch guide sorts most cases.
A tree on the roof: Montclair's rules for the tree itself
Street trees in Montclair are generally the township's, and its pages say only township crews or tree companies working for the township may prune or remove them. Dangerous township trees go to Community Services at 973-509-5711 on weekdays, or the police line at 973-744-1234 after hours.
For a tree on private ground, the township's removal rules apply to the tree, separately from any roof work. The roof side, including paperwork, is covered on the rules page.
More roof jobs
Sources PSE&G, Downed power lines Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, Assessing roof damage after Superstorm Sandy (7 Nov 2012) NJ Department of Banking and Insurance, Guidance on filing insurance claims for storm-related damage NIOSH, Falls from ladders are preventable (reviewed 1 Mar 2024) New Jersey Weather and Climate Network, The Beat Goes On: August 2020 and summer recaps (7 Sep 2020) New Jersey Weather and Climate Network, Remnants of Ida strike New Jersey Township of Montclair, Shade trees in Montclair Q&A FEMA, Tips for safely returning to a fire- or flood-damaged home (13 Jul 2024)
Describe the roof, then dial.
Before you call (973) 358-8198, find the street address, note which room shows water and jot down roughly how old the roof is. Tenants: the owner arranges roof work, so the landlord hears about it first. Towns: Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, West Orange, Cedar Grove, Clifton, Little Falls.