Tree Fell on Roof Repair — Tarp, Rafters, Decking and Reroof
A storm dropped a tree or a big limb on the roof. Once it is off, here is how the hole gets covered the same day and the roof gets put back.
After a tree fell on the roof and the tree service has lifted it off, JMB Builders tarps the hole, replaces the broken rafters or truss parts and the roof decking, and reshingles the damaged roof section tied into the rest of the roof. Across the Twin Cities and north metro, documented with photos for your insurance claim, priced per project, with an engineer's letter when framing broke.
- Priced per project
- Tarp, framing, decking and shingles
- Engineer's letter when rafters or trusses broke
- Photos and line items for your claim
- Licensed MN contractor BC809005
This page is the roof part of tree damage. A limb that punches through shingles and decking, or a trunk that lands across the ridge, leaves three problems on top of the house: an open hole letting water in, broken framing under it, and a section of shingles torn and scuffed well past the hole. When the tree also broke walls, windows or siding, the whole-house repair is on our tree-fell-on-house page.
The order is the same every time. The tree service lifts the tree off; nobody should try to cut a loaded trunk off a roof from a ladder. Then the hole gets tarped or sheeted over the same day, with the tarp fastened to battens and run over the ridge so wind cannot get under it. Photos go to your insurer before any repair starts.
The repair: shingles stripped back well past the hole, broken rafters sistered or replaced, damaged truss parts repaired to an engineer's letter, cracked decking replaced sheet by sheet, then membrane, underlayment and shingles woven into the old roof. Storms in the north metro drop a lot of oak and pine on houses; the shingle match is often the hardest part, and we raise it with your adjuster early.
What you supply
- Photos of the tree on the roof and the hole after it came off, from the ground and the attic
- Your claim number and the adjuster's contact once you have them
- The approved scope and any engineer's letter
- Leftover shingles or a bundle wrapper, for the color match
What JMB supplies
- Emergency tarp or plywood cover over the hole, fastened to battens over the ridge
- Photos with a scale reference and a line-item list of the roof damage for your claim
- Meeting your adjuster on the roof and in the attic
- Broken rafters sistered or replaced; truss repair to an engineer's letter
- New roof decking, ice and water membrane, underlayment, drip edge and shingles on the damaged section
- Gutters, vents and flashing in the damaged area replaced
- Repair debris hauled away and finished photos in your job folder
How it is priced: per project
Quoted in writing from your photos within one business day. What moves the number:
- Whether rafters or trusses broke, or only the decking and shingles
- Size of the damaged roof section and how far the shingles were torn around it
- Roof pitch, height and story
- Shingle match: a current color versus one that is no longer made
- Gutters, vents and flashing in the path of the tree
- Emergency tarp as its own line, which most claims list separately
Tell us whether the tree is still on the roof and whether the hole is covered. Photos from the attic under the hole help the most.
How long it takes
Tarp: as soon as the tree is off. The roof repair starts once the scope and any engineer's letter are in; most damaged sections take one to three days on site.
How your project works
- 1
Tree off, hole covered
The tree service lifts the tree or limb off. We tarp or sheet the hole the same day, fastened over the ridge so it survives the next storm.
- 2
Document
Photos from the roof, the attic and the rooms below, with a line-item list of broken framing, decking, shingles, gutters and vents.
- 3
Engineer and adjuster
An engineer writes the repair when rafters or trusses broke. We walk the roof and attic with your adjuster.
- 4
Frame, deck and reroof
Rafters sistered or replaced, trusses repaired to the letter, decking replaced, then membrane, underlayment and shingles woven into the old roof.
- 5
Finish and photos
Gutters and vents back on, permit inspection when one was pulled, and finished photos in your job folder for you and your insurer.
Tree Fell on Roof Repair — Tarp, Rafters, Decking and Reroof: questions, answered
What should I do when a tree falls on my roof?
Get people out of the rooms under the damage and call the utility if a line or the meter was hit. Photograph the tree on the roof from every side, call your insurer to open a claim, and have a tree service lift it off. Get the hole tarped the same day to stop water, and keep every receipt.
Who do I call first after a tree falls on my roof, the tree service or a roofer?
The tree service lifts the tree off; a loaded trunk on a roof is dangerous to cut from below. Call a contractor at the same time so the tarp goes on as soon as the tree is off. Your insurer should hear from you the same day either way.
Can a tree branch through the roof be patched, or does the roof need replacing?
Most branch punctures are a section repair: broken decking replaced, any cracked rafter sistered, and the shingles rebuilt over that area and woven into the old roof. A full reroof comes up when the damage spans several planes, the shingles cannot be matched, or the policy pays for a whole slope. Your adjuster's scope decides how much is covered.
Do I need an engineer after a tree broke my roof rafters or trusses?
When rafters or trusses are cracked, broken or pushed out of line, yes. An engineer looks at the framing and writes the repair, and that letter is what the building permit and your adjuster go by. If only the decking and shingles broke and the framing is straight, an engineer is usually not needed.
How long can a tarp stay on a roof after tree damage?
A tarp fastened to battens and run over the ridge holds through weeks of weather, which covers most claim timelines. A loose tarp held with bricks does not. Check it after every storm and call if it moves; water getting under it adds damage the claim may not cover.
Will the repaired roof section match the rest of my shingles?
We match the brand and color when they are still made and use leftover bundles when you have them. When the color is discontinued, ask your adjuster in writing how your policy handles matching before anything is ordered. A mismatched section is sometimes a reason the policy pays for the whole slope.
Recent JMB work, from our job log
59 installs recorded across 30 Twin Cities communities since Dec 2025. Window and door installs for homeowners and for the builders and dealers we sub for. Counts come straight from our job log; no customer names.
Get a written quote for this job
Three photos and a sentence is enough. You hear back within one business day. Or text the photos to 763-204-2099.
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Read morePage reviewed September 26, 2026 · JMB Builders LLC, MN license BC809005 · All roofing pages
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