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Storm and roof-leak damage in Olympia
A roof leak shows up first as a stain, a drip or a sagging patch of ceiling. If rain is getting into the house, call to be connected with an independent contractor about the water already inside.
Calling soon after you find the water usually leaves more choices. The call goes to an independent contractor.
Water inside versus water outside
A roofer repairs the roof. A restoration contractor deals with wet insulation, drywall and floors below the leak. Many storm losses need both, in that order, and the people are usually different.
Temporary repairs, such as a tarp, are common while a permanent fix is arranged. The Washington insurance regulator says to keep receipts for repair materials like plywood or tarps.
- A ceiling stain that grows, or one with a brown edge.
- Paint bubbling or drywall tape lifting near an exterior wall.
- Water down the inside of a wall below a window.
- Wet attic insulation that no longer springs back.
Timing matters to insurers
The regulator's page on leaks says storm or accident damage to a roof can be covered, but that insurance will not cover water damage if you delay repairs. If your policy requires you to protect the property, the insurer has five business days to approve a mitigation scope.
That five-day clock is the insurer's, not yours. Ask your agent or company how they want emergency work documented before you spend money.
High tides are different
Rain from above is a storm claim. Water that comes in at street level during a king tide is flooding, which standard home policies do not cover. The City of Olympia notes that on 27 December 2022 low air pressure and heavy rain pushed the actual high tide well above the predicted one.
Questions people ask
Can a gutter overflow cause interior damage?
Yes. Water that cannot drain off the roof edge can back under shingles or run down siding into a wall. The signs are the same as a roof leak.
Water still spreading? Make the call.
You will be asked what is wet, where the water came from and whether it has stopped. Have the street address in front of you.