Storm Damage Roof Repair in Pasadena, CA — We Document Everything
Santa Ana winds, heavy rain, fallen branches, ember damage from the 2025 Eaton Fire — we respond same-day, assess the damage, repair the roof, and provide the documentation your insurance adjuster needs.
California's 14-Day Insurance Rule — Do Not Miss This
Report Storm Damage to Your Insurer Within 14 Days
California homeowner insurance policies require you to report storm, wind, or fire damage within 14 days of the event. If you wait longer, your carrier may deny the claim entirely — even if the damage is clearly covered. Most homeowners do not know this rule until it is too late. We do. We provide dated photographic documentation and a written damage report on the same day we inspect, so you can file immediately.
When a storm hits Pasadena, the visible damage on your driveway is usually not the whole story. A Santa Ana wind event that moves your neighbor’s tree onto their car may have also shifted clay tiles on your roof, cracked chimney caps, and separated flashing — all invisible from the ground.
We respond same-day. We go up on the roof. We photograph every issue — not just what is visible, but what the storm actually did to the underlayment, flashing, and structure. That documentation is what turns a denied insurance claim into an approved one.
The Storm Events That Damage Pasadena Roofs Every Year
Santa Ana Wind Events
50–80 mph wind gusts through Pasadena's canyon corridors are common in fall and winter. These winds peel back shingle tabs, displace clay tiles, shift ridge caps, and separate flashing at chimneys and vents. The damage is often invisible from the ground but causes leaks at the next rain event. We respond the same day as a wind event and document everything while the evidence is fresh.
Eaton Fire Ember Damage (2025)
The January 2025 Eaton Fire sent embers across Altadena and north Pasadena. Embers scorched ridge caps, softened seal strips, and damaged flashing on hundreds of homes — often in ways completely invisible from the ground. This damage shows up as a leak 6–12 months later. If your home is in the affected area and you have not had a post-fire inspection, call us. Many insurance claims for this damage are still being processed.
Heavy Rain After Dry Periods
Pasadena's dry season lasts 6–8 months. When the first heavy rains arrive in October or November, they hit roofs that have been thermally stressed all summer. Cracked shingles, separated flashing, and dried-out underlayment seals all become leak points simultaneously. The first serious rain of the season is when we get the most emergency calls.
Fallen Branches and Trees
Pasadena's mature urban tree canopy drops heavy branches during wind events. Branch impact damage ranges from cracked tiles and punctured membranes to structural damage of the decking beneath. We respond same-day, remove debris, tarp open sections, and assess the full scope of damage before quoting permanent repair.
Hail Damage
Hail events are less common in Pasadena than in other parts of the country but they do occur. Hail bruises composition shingles, cracks clay tile, and dents metal roofing. The damage is almost impossible to assess from the ground. We inspect and document hail damage with the specific photo formats that insurance adjusters require.
Cumulative Storm Season Damage
Sometimes a single storm event is not the cause — it is three consecutive winter storms that collectively overwhelm an aging roof. We assess cumulative damage honestly, identify which issues are storm-related (and likely insurable) versus pre-existing wear, and document both accurately so you can make informed decisions about repair versus replacement.
What We Provide for Your Insurance Claim
We have helped hundreds of Pasadena homeowners get storm damage claims approved — including many that were initially denied. Here is what we provide after every storm damage inspection.
- Dated photographs of all damage. Every issue on the roof is photographed with the date and time embedded. This establishes when the damage was identified relative to the storm event — critical for claims filed under the 14-day rule.
- Written damage description. A clear, plain-language written description of what was damaged, how it was damaged, and how we know it was caused by the storm event rather than pre-existing wear. This is what adjusters need to approve coverage.
- Itemized repair estimate. A line-by-line estimate of what it costs to repair each item. Adjusters use this to calculate your claim amount. Our estimates are accepted by all major homeowner insurance carriers active in California.
- Material specifications. If your insurance claim covers replacement of a specific roofing section, the adjuster needs to know what materials are required. We provide this in the format carriers request.
- WUI zone compliance documentation. For homes in designated WUI zones, Class A materials are required by California law. We document this requirement in our report so there is no dispute with your carrier about material specifications.
Storm Damage Repair Cost in Pasadena CA — 2026
| Repair Type | Cost Range | Insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency tarping — active leak | $250 – $600 | Usually covered |
| Wind-lifted shingles (1–15) | $350 – $1,200 | Usually covered |
| Clay tile displacement repair | $400 – $1,500 | Usually covered |
| Branch impact — section repair | $600 – $3,500 | Usually covered |
| Flashing damage repair | $400 – $1,800 | If storm-caused |
| Eaton Fire ember damage | $500 – $4,000 | Varies — document fast |
| Full replacement — storm-caused | $8,000 – $35,000 | If total loss |
Free written estimate after inspection. Insurance documentation included at no extra charge.
Storm Damage Roof Repair — Questions and Answers
Call us for a second opinion. Insurance adjusters sometimes conduct ground-level inspections that miss roof-level damage entirely. We have gone up on roofs after adjuster denials, found clear storm damage, documented it with dated photographs, and provided supplemental reports that resulted in claim approvals on second review. We do not charge extra for this review service.
Same day for all Pasadena ZIP codes. We prioritize active leaks and open roof damage. Emergency tarping is available immediately to stop water entry while we assess and schedule permanent repair. After major storm events, we may have a short queue — call early to get on the schedule.
It depends on your policy and when you report. California law gives insurers 15 business days to acknowledge a claim and 40 days to accept or deny after proof of loss is submitted. The 14-day reporting rule starts from when you knew or reasonably should have known about the damage — not from when the fire occurred. If you suspected damage but have not confirmed it, call us for an inspection. Ember damage often does not become a visible leak until months later.
We provide all documentation that supports your claim. You file the claim and communicate with your carrier — that relationship stays with you. We do not take assignment of benefits or represent you with your insurer. What we do is give you documentation that is complete, accurate, and formatted in a way that adjusters find credible and actionable.
We document what the storm did versus what was pre-existing. Insurance policies cover sudden damage — they do not cover ongoing deterioration. We identify the storm-caused damage accurately and honestly. If both are present, we separate them in our report so you can make an informed decision about what to claim versus what to repair out of pocket.
Storm Damage? Call Now — We Document and Repair Same Day
Same-day response · Dated photos · Written insurance report · CSLB Licensed · 2-year warranty
Serving all Pasadena ZIP codes · Altadena · San Marino · Arcadia · Sierra Madre · Monrovia