Tulsa doesn’t get to ease into spring.
One week it’s calm. The next, hail’s pounding rooftops and wind is tearing trees down the street. By the time you hear the sirens or see that radar map turning purple, it’s too late to protect your roof — or your claim.
At Tier-One Roofing, we respond to hundreds of storm-damaged homes every year in Green Country. But the homeowners who fare the best? They’re the ones who took ten minutes to prepare before the first storm hit.
This checklist gives you the 10 things every Tulsa homeowner should do now — not later — to protect their roof, prevent costly repairs, and make insurance claims go smoother (if they ever become necessary).
Whether your roof is brand new or aging fast, these are the steps that separate peace of mind from panic during Oklahoma’s storm season.
1. Photograph Your Roof and Property Today
This is step one for a reason.
If you ever have to file a storm claim, the burden is on you to prove what was pre-existing and what wasn’t.
Take your phone and snap these angles:
Wide shots of your entire roof from ground level
Each slope separately
Close-ups of vents, skylights, and flashing if visible
Gutters, siding, and windows
Detached structures like sheds or garages
Also document your ceilings and attic spaces — especially near chimneys, vents, or previous leak areas. Having these photos on file will speed up any future inspection and strengthen your claim if adjusters question damage origins.
Tier-One Roofing can help document this professionally if you’d rather have high-res aerial photos and a written condition report.
Already worried your roof might not hold up this year? Call Tier-One Roofing for a pre-season inspection. We’ll photograph and document everything for you — no cost, no pressure.
2. Clear Your Gutters and Downspouts
Clogged gutters are a small problem until it storms.
If water can’t flow away from your roofline, it pools and seeps under shingles, floods soffits, and destroys fascia. We’ve seen heavy spring rains back up into attics through blocked downspouts.
Make sure:
Gutters are clear of leaves and debris
Downspouts are directing water 3+ feet from your foundation
Gutter fasteners are secure — wind can rip them off otherwise
You aren’t seeing overflow or staining already
Tier-One Roofing can inspect your gutter system during a standard roof evaluation and let you know if it’s contributing to hidden roof damage.
3. Trim Trees Near the Roofline
Tulsa is full of mature trees, especially in Midtown, Maple Ridge, and older neighborhoods.
Overhanging limbs are one of the biggest threats to your roof during high wind events. They scrape shingles, dislodge vents, and crash into valleys when they fall.
You want:
8–10 feet of clearance between the roof and the nearest branch
Dead limbs removed entirely
Branches trimmed back from power lines (call the utility company for this)
We’ve seen a single limb cost a homeowner a full roof, two rooms of drywall, and mold remediation — just from a 15-minute gust.
Trees too close for comfort? Schedule an inspection and we’ll tell you whether that limb is a liability or not. Better safe than sorry when the wind picks up.
4. Check for Missing or Loose Shingles
Before the next system rolls through, walk the perimeter of your home and look up. If you notice:
Shingle tabs lifted or missing
Exposed felt or underlayment
Debris hanging from ridge vents or valleys
Sagging areas or discoloration
Your roof is already compromised.
High winds in Tulsa don’t need much to get underneath a weak point and turn it into a gaping hole. What might be a minor $400 repair today could become a full interior leak next week.
Tier-One Roofing can spot these problems quickly and fix them the right way — no duct tape, no patches, no cheap sealant jobs.
5. Review Your Homeowners Insurance Policy
Before you have to use it, read it.
Pull out your declarations page and look for:
Deductible amount (percentage or fixed)
Whether you have ACV or RCV coverage
Code upgrade (Ordinance & Law) coverage
Wind/hail exclusions
Time limits on reporting storm damage
If your deductible is more than $2,500 or you have ACV-only coverage, you may want to rethink your repair-vs-replace strategy ahead of storm season.
We’ve helped homeowners work through claim strategy before a storm hits so they’re not scrambling after.
Not sure what your policy covers? Tier-One Roofing can review it with you and help you prepare — before you ever have to file a claim.
6. Secure Loose Items Around Your Home
Wind doesn’t just damage roofs directly. It turns everything in your yard into a projectile.
Before the storm rolls in, make sure:
Patio furniture is tied down or moved inside
Trash cans are secure
Garden tools are stored
Outdoor equipment (grills, toys, umbrellas) is off the porch
Yard signs are pulled out
Even soft items like cushions can lodge under shingles or crack siding during 60+ mph gusts.
Every spring we see preventable damage to roofs, windows, and siding from things that didn’t need to be out there in the first place.
7. Check Your Attic for Moisture and Light
This is one of the simplest — and most important — things you can do before storm season.
Climb up into your attic during the day and look for:
Visible sunlight around pipes, vents, or valleys
Damp insulation
Dark stains on wood
A musty smell (indicates long-standing moisture)
Rusty nails or metal plates
If any of these are present, your roof has already been compromised — and another storm could make it much worse.
Tier-One Roofing inspects every attic we can access during inspections, because what’s happening underneath your roof matters just as much as the shingles on top.
8. Test Your Sump Pump and Backup Power
This might not seem roofing related — until your gutters overflow, your foundation floods, and your basement starts filling up.
Storm prep includes:
Making sure your sump pump works
Clearing out the pit
Checking backup batteries or generators
Confirming your downspouts don’t drain directly next to the house
While not every Tulsa home has a sump system, if you do — and it fails — the water that comes in might not be covered under your homeowners policy. Prevention is cheaper.
9. Know Who You’ll Call First After the Storm
Don’t wait until your roof is leaking to Google "roofers near me."
Most storm-chasing companies show up after the damage is done, offering quick fixes and suspicious contracts. They won’t be around six months from now to honor a warranty — and many don’t even carry local licensing.
Tier-One Roofing is Tulsa-based, veteran-led, and trusted by families across Bixby, Broken Arrow, Owasso, and the entire metro. We’ve been through hundreds of storm seasons. We’ll be here for the next one.
Save our number now.
When the hail hits, your future self will thank you.
Want a pre-storm checkup and documentation before the season starts? We’ll inspect, photograph, and keep it on file — so if something happens, you’re ahead of the game.
10. Schedule a Roof Inspection Before the Forecast Turns
The single best thing you can do before storm season: get a professional on your roof.
Not after the sirens. Not after you see shingles on the lawn. Before.
Tier-One Roofing performs full pre-storm inspections that include:
Drone or ladder inspection
Attic check for ventilation/moisture
Documentation of current condition
Insurance-ready photo report
Repair recommendations if needed
Honest, pressure-free advice
You don’t have to be a roofer to prepare like one. We’ll make sure your system is ready — and if it’s not, we’ll fix it before it costs you five times more later.