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How to Protect a Roof Before a Severe Storm

By Best Colorado Roofing Published November 5, 2026 Weather & Hail

You can't stop a Colorado hailstorm — but you can absolutely reduce what it costs you. When severe weather is forecast, a few hours of preparation protect your roof before the storm and strengthen your position after it. Here's what to do, in priority order.

1. Secure or store loose items

Patio furniture, grills, trampolines, and loose yard items become wind-borne projectiles in a severe storm. Move what you can into the garage; secure what you can't. This single step prevents a surprising share of storm-season roof punctures.

2. Clear gutters and drains

Storms dump enormous water volume fast. Clogged gutters overflow, back water under the eaves, and add weight that can tear them loose in wind. A quick clearing before the storm lets the drainage system do its job when it matters most.

3. Address vulnerable branches

You won't trim a tree in an afternoon before a storm — but you can note dead or hanging limbs near the roof and keep people and cars clear of them. Long-term, keeping branches trimmed back from the roofline is year-round storm prep.

4. Document your roof's current condition

This is the step most people skip and most wish they hadn't. Photograph your roof from the ground — all slopes, gutters, vents — with today's date. If the storm damages the roof, these "before" photos prove the damage is new, which matters enormously for any insurance conversation. It takes ten minutes.

5. Prepare inside

Know where your attic access is, keep buckets and tarps accessible, and if you have skylights, know that they're hail-vulnerable — closing interior shades won't protect the glass, but it contains the mess if one breaks. After the storm passes and it's safe, do the ground-level damage check promptly.

One call connects you. Best Colorado Roofing is a lead-generation platform — call the number on this site to be connected with an independent roofer. See storm damage roof repair in Colorado and roof maintenance.

FAQs

Can anything make a roof hail-proof before a storm?

No — there's no hail-proof roof, only hail-resistant ones. Class 4 impact-rated shingles and metal systems reduce damage, but preparation is about minimizing harm and documenting condition, not preventing the storm.

Should I tarp my roof before a storm?

No — tarping before a storm is impractical and dangerous in wind. Tarps are for after damage, to keep water out until repairs. Prepare by securing, clearing, and documenting instead.

Storm season is roof season. Be ready.

One call connects you with an independent roofer for pre-storm inspection — no forms, no waiting.

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