A tree fell on your house — what to do before the insurance company arrives

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Local codes, regulations, and best practices vary by region.

A tree or a large branch is on your roof or on your house. There’s damage. You need to document it, secure the house from further damage, and get the insurance claim process started. You also need to stay safe and not do anything that makes things worse.

Trees are heavy. Tree damage is serious. A large tree on a roof can cause catastrophic damage—collapsed roof, broken walls, structural compromise. Do not attempt to remove a tree yourself. This is professional work requiring specialized equipment and expertise. Your job is to document the damage, call your insurance company, and secure the house from weather until help arrives.

Step One: Ensure Safety

If a tree is still unstable or partially on the house, do not go near it. Branches can fall. The tree can shift. If power lines are involved, do not touch anything. Call the utility company first. Let them shut off power to downed lines before anyone approaches the damage.

Ensure family is away from windows and doors near the tree damage. A tree that’s partially fallen could shift or branches could break.

Step Two: Call Your Insurance Company

Call your homeowner’s insurance immediately. Describe the situation. Tell them a tree has fallen on the house. Provide your address and details about the damage.

Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover tree damage. The insurer will likely recommend a specific contractor or arborist. Follow their guidance. They may want to inspect before cleanup begins. Do not remove the tree until your insurer has assessed it.

Insurance will authorize emergency repairs to prevent additional damage (roof tarping, debris cleanup) and will manage the claim through restoration.

Step Three: Document Damage Thoroughly

Take extensive photos from multiple angles. Get wide shots showing the entire damage scene and close-ups of specific damage. Document the condition of the tree (is it dead, diseased, otherwise in poor condition), where branches are hitting the house, roof damage, window or wall damage, and anything else the tree affected.

Document the date and time. Note weather conditions. If this happened during a storm, document that—it affects insurance coverage.

Keep these photos organized. You’ll need them for insurance claims.

Step Four: Prevent Additional Damage

If the tree has created an opening (broken window, hole in roof), you need to prevent rain from getting into the house. This is temporary protection until professional repair happens.

For a roof opening, a tarp secured with rope or strapping provides temporary protection. This prevents rain from entering and causing water damage inside. A tarp costs $20-50. Securing it properly is more challenging if you’re uncomfortable on a roof. If there’s any doubt, hire someone to install the tarp. Cost is $200-400 but prevents expensive water damage.

If a wall is breached or windows are broken, you’ll need temporary boarding. Plywood sheets secured over openings prevent further damage and weather intrusion. Hire a contractor to do this if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. Cost is $300-500 but necessary for protection.

If interior water is already present, follow water damage protocols (turn off electricity if water is near it, move belongings to safety, call a water damage company).

Understanding Tree Removal

Never attempt to remove a large tree yourself. Tree removal requires specialized equipment, trained arborists, and safety protocols. Improper removal can damage the house further or cause injury.

An arborist will assess the tree’s condition, plan removal carefully, and remove it in sections if necessary. Cost ranges from $500 to $3,000+ depending on tree size and complexity. A tree that’s partially collapsed is more complex to remove safely than a tree that fell cleanly.

Some of the cost might be covered by homeowner’s insurance, especially if the tree was healthy and fell due to storm, not due to owner negligence (dead tree that wasn’t maintained).

What Insurance Covers

Most policies cover tree damage to the home itself—roof damage, wall damage, broken windows. This is typically covered under the dwelling coverage section.

Removal of the tree is sometimes covered, sometimes not. Check with your insurer. Some policies cover removal only if the tree damaged the house. Some don’t cover removal at all. This varies widely.

Damage to other property (fence, garden, parked car) might have separate coverage limits or deductibles. Check your policy details.

Damage Assessment and Repair

Once the tree is safely removed, the house needs assessment for structural damage. A structural engineer or home inspector can assess roof damage, wall integrity, and whether there’s hidden damage inside walls.

Professional repair includes roof replacement or repair, wall repairs, and water damage restoration if water got inside. These costs depend on damage extent. Minor roof damage might cost $1,000-3,000. Major structural damage could cost $10,000+.

Work with your insurance company on repairs. They’ll manage the process and authorize payment.

If the Tree Was on a Neighbor’s Property

If a neighbor’s tree fell on your house, the situation is different. Your homeowner’s insurance typically covers the damage. Your insurer might attempt to recover costs from the neighbor or their insurance if the neighbor was negligent in maintaining the tree.

Do not attempt to get compensation directly from the neighbor during the emergency. Let insurance handle this. Work on getting your house repaired and secured immediately.

Safety During Cleanup

Once the tree is removed, you’ll have significant debris. Do not attempt to remove heavy branches yourself. Keep family away from the debris area. Debris cleanup is often included with tree removal or done separately by cleanup crews.

If water got into the house during tree damage, it needs professional restoration. Follow water damage protocols covered in other emergency articles.

Temporary Lodging

If damage is severe enough that the house is not safe or habitable (major roof breach, structural issues), you might need to stay elsewhere. Keep documentation of temporary housing costs. Some insurance policies cover this under “loss of use” coverage. Check your policy.

Prevention Going Forward

After you’ve recovered from tree damage, assess your property for problem trees. Dead trees, diseased trees, or trees with poor structure should be addressed. Regular tree trimming and maintenance prevents some incidents.

Very large trees near the house are inherent risks. They might need to be removed to prevent future damage. This is an investment in long-term protection.

The Bottom Line

A tree on your house is an emergency requiring professional response. Do not attempt removal yourself. Document damage extensively. Call your insurance company immediately. Prevent additional damage with temporary protection (tarping, boarding). Work with your insurer on assessment and repair. Tree removal is professional work costing significant money. Insurance typically covers the damage to your house. Do not delay reporting this—quick insurance intervention prevents additional secondary damage from weather.

© The Whole Home Guide