Storm Damage Restoration Services
in DuPage & Will County

What should you do first after storm damage?

Keep everyone away from downed power lines, stay out of the building until it is safe to enter, and photograph the damage before anything is moved. Then cover the openings so rain stops getting in and call your insurer. The Illinois Department of Insurance asks policyholders to make temporary repairs that prevent further damage and to keep every receipt.

Storm losses get worse with every rain while a roof, window or wall is open. A tarp or a sheet of plywood in the first day can be the difference between one wet ceiling and a whole floor of wet drywall, insulation and flooring. That is why board-up and tarping come first in our process, ahead of drying and repairs.

How severe do storms get in DuPage and Will County?

The National Weather Service calls a thunderstorm severe when it can produce hail an inch or larger or wind gusts over 58 mph. Either one can tear shingles, break windows and drop limbs onto a roof, and every few years a storm here does far more.

Late on June 20, 2021, an EF-3 tornado with estimated peak winds of 140 mph tracked 17.6 miles from Naperville through Woodridge, Darien and Burr Ridge into Willow Springs. The NWS Chicago office counted more than 900 damaged structures, at least 300 of them with significant damage or destroyed, along with at least 11 injuries and thousands of downed trees.

A year earlier, the August 10, 2020 derecho swept across northern Illinois. NWS Chicago confirmed 15 tornadoes in its area that day, including EF-1 tornadoes in Wheaton and in Lombard and Villa Park, and logged wind damage across DuPage and Will counties.

Where the water goes once the roof is open

Wind-driven rain rarely stays where it entered. It soaks attic insulation, pools on top of ceiling drywall until the drywall sags, and wicks down inside wall cavities where it cannot be seen. Hail damage to shingles is not always obvious from the ground, so a leak may only show up with the next rain.

The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. We measure moisture behind the surface, open wet cavities where needed and run structural drying until readings show the materials are dry, which keeps a storm claim from turning into a mold remediation job.

Winter storms and ice dams

Storm damage is not only a summer problem. University of Minnesota Extension describes an ice dam as a ridge of ice at the roof edge that blocks melting snow from draining, caused mainly by heat escaping from the house. Water backed up behind it can leak into walls, ceilings and insulation, which is the same interior drying and repair work as a summer roof leak.

Does insurance cover storm damage?

Usually, for wind and hail. The Insurance Information Institute lists windstorm and hail among the perils a standard homeowners policy covers, while flood damage is excluded and needs separate flood insurance. FEMA notes that NFIP flood policies generally have a 30-day waiting period before they take effect, so a policy bought when a storm is in the forecast will not help with that storm. Rain that comes in through a roof or window opened by wind is normally storm damage; water rising from the ground or a creek is flood. Our flood and storm cleanup page explains that difference in more detail.

The Illinois Department of Insurance tells policyholders to photograph damage before cleaning up, make the temporary repairs needed to prevent further damage, keep receipts for that work, and hold on to damaged items until the adjuster has seen them. We photograph and log every opening, wet area and removed material so that record exists from the first visit. Policies differ, so check yours, and see our insurance claim guide for how the process usually runs.

How do you avoid storm-chaser contractors in Illinois?

After big storms, out-of-area crews go door to door. The Illinois Attorney General warns residents about these storm chasers, reminds them that roofers must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and public adjusters by the Department of Insurance, and advises against paying in cash or through peer-to-peer apps. Illinois law adds several protections:

• Written contract. Home repair work over $1,000 requires a signed written contract that states the total cost and the contractor's business name and address (815 ILCS 513/15).
• Consumer-rights pamphlet. The contractor must give you the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet before you sign (815 ILCS 513/20).
• No deductible deals. A contractor may not promise to pay or rebate any part of your insurance deductible (815 ILCS 513/18).
• No contractor-adjusters. The same section bars contractors from representing you on the claim or filing it for you; they can give you an estimate and talk with your insurer's adjuster.
• A way out. If a contract is to be paid from insurance, you can cancel it in writing before midnight on the earlier of the fifth business day after the insurer tells you in writing that the loss is not covered, or the thirtieth business day after the insurer receives your proof of loss.

For permanent roof replacement, ask for the roofer's state license. The IDFPR roofing brochure says Illinois roofing license numbers start with 104- and should appear on the contract.

Commercial storm damage restoration

For a business, the cost of a storm is measured in closed days as much as in drywall. Commercial storm damage restoration starts with the same steps, securing the building, stopping water and drying the structure, but is planned around keeping as much of the operation running as possible. That can mean sealing off damaged areas so other floors or suites stay open, protecting inventory and equipment, and phasing work so the most important spaces come back first.

Keep a record of when operations stopped and restarted, and ask your agent whether your policy includes business income coverage. We keep photo and moisture records for your carrier and property manager. See damage mitigation for businesses, commercial water damage restoration and our guide to business continuity after water or fire damage.

Who to call for each part of storm damage

A storm job often involves several trades, and knowing who does what saves time:

1. Downed power lines or a gas smell: the utility and 911 first, before anyone goes near the building.
2. Trees on the house: a tree service removes the tree; we can tarp and board the opening once it is clear.
3. Openings, water and drying: us, for board-up, roof tarping and temporary shoring, water removal and drying.
4. Permanent roof replacement: a roofer with an Illinois roofing license.
5. Interior repairs: us again, for drywall, flooring and finishes through repairs and reconstruction.

Storm damage near you? We serve homes and businesses in Naperville, Woodridge, Darien, Burr Ridge, Wheaton, Lombard, Villa Park and the rest of DuPage and Will County. If water is coming in now, call 24/7 at (630) 241-1111.