An open roof soaks insulation, drywall and framing with every storm — we tarp and secure it today, 24/7
When a storm tears open your roof — whether through missing shingles, a hail puncture, wind uplift, or a fallen branch — the clock starts immediately. This is not a situation where waiting until morning or the next business day is acceptable. With the very first rainfall after the damage occurs, water penetrates the decking and begins saturating your attic insulation. Wet insulation loses nearly all of its thermal value and becomes extremely heavy, increasing the load on the ceiling below. Within the first rainfall event, water can travel down rafter bays and begin staining and softening drywall ceilings.
Within 24 to 48 hours of sustained moisture in a confined attic space, mold colonies can begin to establish in wood framing and insulation — particularly during warm months. Mold remediation adds thousands of dollars to an already expensive repair and is not always fully covered by insurance. Saturated drywall and plaster ceilings can collapse without warning, creating an immediate safety hazard for anyone in the rooms below. Wet electrical fixtures and junction boxes present a genuine electrocution and fire risk that demands immediate attention.
Beyond the physical damage, your homeowners insurance policy almost certainly contains a duty-to-mitigate clause. This means your insurer expects you to take reasonable steps to prevent additional damage after a covered loss. Leaving an open roof uncovered — and allowing water to compound the damage over days or weeks — can give your insurance carrier grounds to dispute or reduce the portion of your claim attributable to water intrusion after the initial storm event. Do not give them that opening. Protect your claim and your home. Call Allied Emergency Services right now at (800) 792-0212. Our crews respond in one hour or less.
Des Plaines is a resilient city of approximately 59,000 residents in northeastern Cook County, Illinois — bordered by Park Ridge to the east, Niles and Morton Grove to the south, Rosemont to the southeast, and Mount Prospect and Elk Grove Village to the west and northwest. The city is divided by the Des Plaines River, which runs through its core and has historically contributed to localized flooding in lower-lying residential neighborhoods, particularly around the Prairie Lakes and Big Bend Lake areas.
Des Plaines carries a housing stock that spans generations, from the Craftsman bungalows and post-war ranch homes found in the Pine-Kenilworth, Algonquin Road corridor, and Chestnut Street neighborhoods, to mid-century ranches near Oakton Community College and newer construction closer to I-294 and I-90. Older roofs are common throughout the city, and many homes still feature original three-tab asphalt shingles that are particularly vulnerable to hail and wind events that the Chicago metro area regularly experiences.
The proximity of Des Plaines to O'Hare International Airport creates a unique geographic situation — the city sits at the confluence of major weather corridors that funnel storms in from Lake Michigan to the northeast and open prairie systems from the northwest. Supercell thunderstorms tracking along Interstate 90 frequently impact the Meadow Lane, Big Bend, and Graceland Avenue neighborhoods. The city's school district boundaries — including Maine East High School, Maine West High School, and Algonquin Middle School zones — are all firmly within our primary emergency response territory. When storms hit any neighborhood of Des Plaines, our crews can be on-site within the hour.
Pearson Park, Lake Opeka, the Chippewa Woods, and the YMCA complex on Rand Road are landmarks that help our dispatchers and field crews navigate quickly to any residential street in the city. We know the difference between the northern reaches near the Des Plaines Oasis and the dense residential blocks south of Golf Road, and we respond to all of them with equal urgency.
Every storm damage scenario covered — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Severe thunderstorms and straight-line wind events are the most common cause of sudden roof damage in the Des Plaines area. Wind speeds of 60 mph or greater — which the National Weather Service regularly records during summer supercell events — can lift entire sections of asphalt shingles, exposing the underlayment and decking below. In the worst cases, entire roof sections are peeled back, leaving the attic completely open to the sky. Our crews respond immediately, assess the decking for structural integrity, clear debris, and install heavy-duty commercial-grade tarps using anchor board methods that secure the covering without creating new penetrations in your remaining roof structure.
Des Plaines sits squarely in the hail belt of northeastern Illinois, and significant hail events — defined as stones one inch in diameter or larger — occur multiple times each season. Hail damage to asphalt shingles ranges from cosmetic granule loss to full punctures through the shingle and underlayment, particularly in older or thinner roofing materials. Our crews conduct a systematic roof-slope-by-slope inspection to identify impact patterns, photograph every puncture or mat-bruise, and apply protective covering over the most vulnerable sections. Proper hail documentation captured at the time of the emergency tarp installation is critical for your insurance claim, as hail damage can be difficult to substantiate weeks later when adjusters may claim the damage was pre-existing.
Des Plaines is a well-canopied city with mature oaks, elms, and maples shading many residential streets — particularly in the older neighborhoods around Riverview Road, Lee Street, and Prairie Avenue. In high-wind events, these large trees or their major limbs frequently come down on homes, creating complex damage scenarios that involve both structural penetration and debris management. When a tree strikes a roof, the decking beneath may be cracked, splintered, or pushed inward, creating a compromised surface that requires careful stabilization before any tarp can be safely installed. Our crews coordinate directly with your tree removal service or can recommend qualified vendors, and we do not begin our tarping process until the structural integrity of the decking is assessed and stabilized where needed.
The emergency tarp is not the end of the story — it is the bridge between disaster and full restoration. Allied Emergency Services manages the entire repair path from initial tarping through permanent roof replacement. After the tarp is secured, our project coordinators compile your complete damage documentation package and work with your insurance company's adjuster to ensure a comprehensive scope of loss is established. We have extensive experience helping Des Plaines homeowners ensure that all storm-related damage — including hidden damage to decking, insulation, and interior ceilings — is properly identified before insurance estimates are finalized. Allied is an Illinois Licensed Roofing Contractor (#104.019029), fully qualified to perform the permanent restoration work once your claim is approved, ensuring complete continuity of service.
Understanding the storm risks facing Des Plaines homeowners throughout the year
Des Plaines and the broader northeastern Illinois region experience a full four-season severe weather cycle that makes roof damage a year-round concern. The city's location at the junction of Cook and the neighboring collar counties places it directly in the path of weather systems that move along the Lake Michigan shoreline from the northeast and from the open prairie to the west and southwest. This convergence zone creates conditions for some of the most intense localized storms in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Spring — typically April through June — is peak severe thunderstorm season in the Des Plaines area. Supercell thunderstorms capable of producing large hail, damaging straight-line winds, and occasional tornadoes track frequently across Cook County. The National Weather Service Chicago office regularly issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Watches for the region during this period. Hail events with stones measuring one to two inches in diameter have impacted neighborhoods across Des Plaines multiple times in recent years, resulting in widespread roofing damage claims across entire ZIP codes simultaneously.
Summer storms, while sometimes less organized than spring supercells, can produce intense microbursts with wind speeds exceeding 80 mph in localized areas. These downburst events are particularly dangerous for mature tree canopies, and tree-strike roof damage is common in the densely wooded residential sections of the city. Late summer also brings the occasional remnant of Gulf Coast tropical systems that travel northward, delivering prolonged heavy rainfall that can exploit any existing vulnerability in aging roofing systems.
Fall and winter present a different threat profile. Ice storms and heavy wet snow can cause immediate structural loading on roofs, and freeze-thaw cycles cause ice dams to form along eaves, forcing water back up under shingles. Ice dam damage is one of the most insidious forms of roof water intrusion because it often goes undetected until interior ceilings show staining weeks after the ice event.
Cook County averages multiple significant hail events each spring. Storms tracking northeast along I-90 regularly bring golf-ball-sized hail to Des Plaines neighborhoods, stripping granules and puncturing aging shingles throughout the city's extensive post-war housing stock.
Fast-moving summer storm lines known as derechos have produced wind damage across northeastern Illinois multiple times in recent decades. The 2011 derecho event and similar systems caused significant tree-fall and structural roof damage from the Wisconsin border to the southern suburbs in a matter of hours.
Remnant moisture from Gulf Coast tropical systems occasionally reaches Illinois in August and September, delivering multi-day heavy rain events that overwhelm drainage and expose any weakness in roof systems. These extended rain periods make prompt emergency tarping even more critical.
October and November bring strong cold fronts with gusty northwest winds capable of lifting loose or deteriorated shingles. Early freeze events can cause immediate ice dam formation along roof eaves, particularly on north-facing slopes with insufficient attic insulation.
Illinois winters bring ice storms and heavy snowfall events that place significant loads on residential roofs. Homes with inadequate attic ventilation are particularly susceptible to ice dam formation, which forces water infiltration under shingles along eaves and valleys.
In the aftermath of a storm, the instinct to climb up and cover the damage yourself is understandable — you want to protect your home. But DIY roof tarping after significant storm damage is among the most dangerous tasks a homeowner can attempt, and the risks extend far beyond the physical danger of the work itself.
First, consider the structural unknown. A roof that has just been struck by hail, high winds, or a falling tree has unknown integrity beneath the surface. Hailstones can crack decking boards while leaving the overlying shingles apparently intact. Wind uplift can separate the decking from the rafters without leaving obvious visual evidence. A tree limb can shatter a rafter while the damage remains hidden by debris. When a homeowner walks out onto a damaged roof, they are stepping onto a surface that may give way beneath them — and a fall from a residential roof typically means at least a story and a half of free fall onto a hard surface. This type of fall causes severe injuries and fatalities every storm season across Illinois.
Second, wet roofing materials are extraordinarily slippery. After rain, hail, or heavy dew, asphalt shingles, metal valleys, and algae-covered surfaces become as hazardous as ice. Standard rubber-soled shoes provide minimal grip. Extension ladders placed against damaged gutters or soffit can shift. The combination of damaged surfaces, slippery conditions, and improvised equipment creates a high fall risk even for physically capable homeowners.
Third, improper tarp installation frequently causes additional damage and complicates insurance claims. The most common DIY mistake is driving roofing nails or screws directly through the tarp face into the remaining decking — which punctures otherwise sound roofing material and creates new leak paths around every fastener. Professional crews use anchor boards placed at the ridge and eaves so that the tarp is secured over the board, not nailed through it. This method creates zero new penetrations in the existing roof structure.
Finally, insurance carriers examine post-storm repairs carefully. A tarp that was improperly installed and created additional water intrusion — or a repair that damaged sound portions of the roof — can be used to dispute portions of your claim. Professional tarping backed by an insured, licensed contractor protects your claim, establishes a clear before/after record, and gives your insurer no legitimate basis to question whether the subsequent damage was caused by the storm or by post-storm mishandling. The cost of professional tarping is nearly always covered by your homeowners policy. There is simply no scenario where attempting DIY tarping is the better choice.
A single, accountable team manages every step of your recovery
You call (800) 792-0212 — day or night, weekend or holiday. Our live dispatcher immediately logs your address and damage description and routes the nearest available crew to your Des Plaines property. Upon arrival, our lead technician conducts a site safety assessment, identifies the extent and type of damage, and stabilizes any immediately hazardous conditions such as hanging structural members or displaced heavy debris. We assess whether the decking can safely support our crew and equipment before proceeding. Work begins within minutes of our arrival. Our target is to have your roof secured within the same service call — typically under two to three hours for most residential tarping jobs.
While the crew secures the roof, our technician systematically photographs every damaged area from multiple angles. Photos capture overall slope conditions, close-up impact detail, interior damage visible through the opening, and the completed tarp installation. We document roof pitch, square footage affected, number of roofing layers, and any pre-existing conditions that were present before the storm. This documentation is organized into a structured damage report that becomes part of your insurance submission. Comprehensive early documentation is often the single most important factor in ensuring your insurance claim accurately reflects the full extent of your storm damage. If the insurance adjuster visits your property weeks later, our photos ensure the initial damage picture is preserved and cannot be disputed.
After your roof is secured, Allied's project team works with you to ensure your insurance claim process moves forward efficiently. We provide your carrier with our documentation package, and we coordinate access for the insurance adjuster's on-site inspection. Our experienced staff understands what adjusters look for and can help ensure that all legitimately damaged areas are included in the inspection scope. We communicate clearly about what we found and documented, providing factual information that supports a complete and accurate claim. Allied Emergency Services is a licensed restoration contractor, not an insurance adjuster or public adjuster. We document damage and perform restoration repairs. We do not adjust, negotiate, or settle insurance claims on your behalf. Our role is to ensure your carrier has complete, accurate information about what we found.
Once your insurance claim is approved and the scope of repairs is established, Allied's licensed roofing crews return to perform the permanent restoration. For most storm damage cases in Des Plaines, this involves a full roof tear-off of existing materials, inspection and replacement of any damaged decking, installation of new underlayment and ice-and-water shield at the eaves and valleys, and application of new shingles, ridge caps, and all flashing details. We carry GAF and CertainTeed roofing products and can match your existing shingle profile and color or upgrade to an impact-resistant shingle class — which can qualify you for an insurance premium discount in Illinois. All permanent repair work is performed by Allied's own crews, not subcontractors, under our Illinois roofing license.
When the restoration is complete, your project manager conducts a detailed final walkthrough with you to review all work performed, confirm that every element of the approved scope has been completed to specification, and address any questions you have about your new roof system. We provide all warranty documentation — including manufacturer product warranties and Allied's workmanship warranty — and ensure you have everything you need for your insurance file. The tarp comes down only after the permanent roof is complete and inspected. Our goal is not just a repaired roof, but a fully satisfied customer who knows exactly what was done to protect their most significant investment. If anything is not right, we make it right before we close out the job.
Reviews represent typical customer experiences.
"We had a massive storm roll through our neighborhood on Prairie Avenue around midnight and woke up to the sound of water pouring into our master bedroom. Called Allied and they were at my house by 1:30 AM. The crew was professional, fast, and explained everything they were doing. By morning our roof was completely covered and we didn't lose another drop of water inside. Cannot say enough good things about how they handled a crisis."
"A huge oak limb came through our roof during the July thunderstorm and opened up about a 4-by-6-foot hole right into the attic. Allied showed up within the hour, stabilized the damaged decking, and had the area fully tarped and secured before the next storm band came through that evening. Their documentation photos were incredibly detailed and made the insurance process so much smoother. Highly recommend their services to anyone in the Des Plaines area."
"After last spring's hail storm, I honestly did not know where to start. Allied came out the same day, did a thorough inspection, documented every bit of damage with photos, and had a protective tarp up before nightfall. What impressed me most was their follow-through — they coordinated with my adjuster, walked me through the entire repair scope, and then completed a beautiful roof replacement. One company handled everything from the emergency tarp to the final finished product."
Our team responds within 1 hour — don't let damage get worse.
Allied Emergency Services responds to every neighborhood in Des Plaines and surrounding communities
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