(985) 641-6960
TL;DR: Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, and a pre-season roof inspection is the single highest-leverage storm-prep step Louisiana homeowners can take. Existing damage — even small issues you can’t see from the ground — turns minor storms into major repair bills. AccuWeather is forecasting 11 to 16 named storms and 3 to 5 direct U.S. impacts for the 2026 season, and Bergen’s Roofing offers free pre-season drone inspections across Slidell and St. Tammany Parish. Schedule yours before late May to beat the rush. Call (985) 641-6960 to book.
Hurricane season in Louisiana isn’t a question of if — it’s when
Louisiana homeowners know the drill. Every year between June 1 and November 30, the Gulf Coast lives under the threat of named storms, and Slidell sits in one of the most exposed corridors in the United States. Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Ida, Hurricane Laura — Louisiana has lost so many homes to hurricanes that the National Weather Service permanently retired the name “Laura” after the 2020 season.
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1, 2026. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center starts issuing tropical weather outlooks on May 15 — about two weeks earlier than the season opens — because storms have increasingly formed before the official start date. Several major forecasting organizations have already published their 2026 outlooks:
- AccuWeather: 11 to 16 named storms, 4 to 7 hurricanes, 2 to 4 major hurricanes, with 3 to 5 direct U.S. impacts expected
- Colorado State University: 13 named storms, 6 hurricanes, 2 major hurricanes (slightly below average)
- University of Arizona: 20 named storms, 9 hurricanes, 4 major hurricanes (their forecast is the most aggressive)
- NOAA’s official 2026 outlook is scheduled for release on May 21, 2026
The wide range across forecasters reflects genuine uncertainty about how strong El Niño conditions will become this year, but every credible forecaster agrees on one thing: there will be storms. And in Louisiana, even a “below-average” season can produce a single hurricane that changes everything.
The question for every homeowner in Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Lacombe, and across St. Tammany Parish isn’t whether a storm is coming. It’s whether your roof is ready when one does.
Why your roof matters more than anything else during a hurricane
Your roof is the first system to fail during a hurricane. Wind enters through compromised roof edges, shingles peel away, water gets underneath, and within hours an intact home becomes a flooded one. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), which conducts full-scale hurricane testing on actual homes, has documented that the overwhelming majority of catastrophic hurricane damage starts at the roof.
What this means in practice: a roof that’s already weakened by minor pre-existing damage performs dramatically worse in a hurricane than a roof in sound condition. A few missing shingles, a deteriorated flashing seal, an unsecured ridge cap — these issues that look minor on a sunny day in May become the failure points that lose your roof in a category 2 in September.
A pre-season inspection identifies these issues while there’s still time to fix them.
What is a pre-hurricane roof inspection?
A pre-hurricane roof inspection is a comprehensive evaluation of your roof system performed before hurricane season begins, designed to identify any pre-existing damage or weakness that could cause a roof failure during a storm. Unlike a post-storm inspection (which assesses damage after the fact) or a real-estate inspection (which is generally less thorough), a pre-season inspection focuses specifically on hurricane-readiness.
A complete pre-season inspection should evaluate:
- Shingle condition across the entire roof surface — missing, cracked, curled, or granule-loss shingles
- Flashings and seals around chimneys, vents, skylights, and roof-to-wall transitions
- Roof edges including drip edge, gable trim, and starter-strip integrity (this is where most hurricane failures begin)
- Ridge caps and hip caps
- Decking integrity including any signs of soft spots or sheathing rot
- Attic ventilation — under-ventilated attics overheat and degrade shingles faster
- Gutters and downspouts including secure attachment to the fascia
- Penetrations — every place something passes through the roof is a potential leak point
- Tree clearance — overhanging limbs that could fall during high winds
At Bergen’s Roofing, we conduct pre-season inspections using high-resolution drone roof inspections, which capture details a ground-level walk-around inspection cannot — and let us evaluate your roof without walking on it (foot traffic on aging shingles can cause additional damage).
Why inspect now and not later in the season?
The right time for a Louisiana homeowner to schedule a pre-hurricane roof inspection is late April through May — before the official June 1 season start. There are four concrete reasons for this timing:
Repair lead times. If an inspection identifies damage that needs addressing, it takes time to schedule the repair. Materials need to be ordered, crews scheduled, weather windows watched. A repair scheduled in early May can be completed before June 1. The same repair scheduled in mid-July might be pushed back if a storm system disrupts the schedule.
Crew availability. Once the first named storm appears in the Gulf, every roofer’s schedule fills with emergency tarp work and active leak repairs. Pre-season is when crews have capacity for thorough inspections and proactive repairs.
Insurance documentation. A pre-season inspection report establishes a documented baseline of your roof’s condition. If a storm later damages your home, this report becomes powerful evidence that distinguishes new storm damage from pre-existing wear, which can affect how your claim is handled.
Insurance discount eligibility. In Louisiana, IBHS Fortified Roofing certification can qualify homeowners for substantial homeowners insurance premium discounts. If your inspection identifies that your roof could benefit from upgrades to reach Fortified status — and the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grant could cover much of the cost — early-season is when those upgrades can be completed and certified before storms threaten.
Signs your roof needs more than an inspection — it needs work now
If any of the following are true, don’t wait for hurricane season — call for an inspection immediately:
- Your roof is over 15 years old (for asphalt 3-tab) or over 20 years old (for architectural shingles)
- You can see missing or visibly damaged shingles from the ground
- You have active or recent interior water staining on ceilings or walls
- Granules are visible in your gutters or at the base of downspouts
- You haven’t had your roof professionally inspected in the past 3 years
- Your roof has damage from a previous storm that was patched but never fully repaired
- Your home was built before 2005 and the roof has not been replaced or upgraded to current Louisiana wind codes
The closer you are to hurricane season, the more these become urgent. A roof in any of these conditions is at materially elevated risk of catastrophic failure during even a moderate hurricane.
What does a pre-hurricane roof inspection cost in Slidell, Louisiana?
At Bergen’s Roofing, pre-season roof inspections are free. We provide free, no-obligation drone inspections to homeowners across Slidell and the surrounding St. Tammany Parish communities. There’s no catch and no pressure — we’ll inspect your roof, give you an honest report on its condition, and only recommend work if work is genuinely needed. If your roof is in good shape, we’ll tell you that, too.
This is a deliberate choice on our part. We’ve been in Slidell since 1989, and we’ve watched too many neighbors find out about a roof problem during a storm instead of before one. Removing the cost barrier to pre-season inspections is one of the small ways we try to make our community better-prepared.
To schedule a free pre-season inspection: call (985) 641-6960 or book online.
What happens if your roof fails during a hurricane?
A hurricane-related roof failure cascades quickly through every system in your home:
- Water intrusion within hours, soaking insulation, drywall, and framing
- Mold growth beginning within 24 to 48 hours of moisture exposure
- Electrical hazards from water reaching wiring or fixtures
- Structural damage to ceilings, walls, and sometimes floor framing
- Personal property loss including furniture, electronics, and irreplaceable items
- Displacement — many roof failures force homeowners out of the home for weeks while remediation occurs
- Insurance claim complications especially if pre-existing damage is suspected
The cost of this cascade routinely runs into mid-five and six figures. The cost of a pre-season inspection — when it’s free, as ours are — is zero. The cost of any repair that an inspection identifies is almost always small relative to the cost of a hurricane-driven roof failure.
This is why every Louisiana homeowner with a roof over their head should be inspected every year before hurricane season.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a pre-hurricane roof inspection take?
A typical pre-season roof inspection takes 30 to 60 minutes for a single-family home. Drone-based inspections complete the surface evaluation in roughly 15 to 20 minutes; the rest of the time covers attic ventilation, gutters, soffits, fascia, and the inspection report. You don’t need to be home during most of the inspection, though we’ll often want to access the attic, which requires interior access.
Are pre-hurricane roof inspections really free?
Yes. Bergen’s Roofing offers free, no-obligation pre-season roof inspections to all homeowners in our service area, which includes Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Abita Springs, Lacombe, Madisonville, Pearl River, and surrounding communities. There’s no fee, no charge, and no obligation to follow up with repairs unless you choose to.
What if my inspection finds damage?
If your inspection identifies repairs that should be made before hurricane season, we’ll provide a detailed report with photographs, a clear explanation of what we found, and a written estimate for the recommended work. You’re never under pressure to use Bergen’s for the repair — many homeowners take our inspection report to other contractors for comparison estimates. Our goal is for your roof to be hurricane-ready, regardless of who does the work.
Will my homeowners insurance pay for the inspection or repairs?
Most insurance policies don’t cover routine pre-season inspections (that’s why we offer them free). However, if storm damage is identified — even from a prior storm that wasn’t reported at the time — insurance may cover the repair. Our team has handled hundreds of insurance claims and can help you evaluate whether documented damage qualifies. Louisiana homeowners may also qualify for the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grant, which can substantially offset the cost of upgrading to an IBHS Fortified Roof.
Is a drone inspection as thorough as a walk-on inspection?
In most cases, drone inspections are more thorough than traditional walk-on inspections. High-resolution drone cameras capture details from angles that are difficult to see when standing on the roof, including the full surface of high pitches, the back side of dormers, and ridge details. Drone inspections also avoid the foot-traffic damage that walking on aging shingles can cause. For inspections requiring particular attention to a specific area (such as around a chimney or skylight), our team may also do a hands-on inspection of that section.
How early should I schedule before hurricane season?
The ideal time to schedule a pre-season inspection in Slidell is late April through mid-May. Scheduling this early gives time to complete any identified repairs before the official June 1 season start. If you’re reading this in May, schedule now. If you’re reading this in June or July, schedule today — late is much better than never.
Can I do my own pre-hurricane roof inspection?
You can do a basic visual check from the ground — look for obviously missing or curled shingles, sagging sections, or visible damage. You can also check your attic for signs of water intrusion, daylight visible through the roof deck, or sagging sheathing. However, the issues that cause most hurricane roof failures aren’t visible from the ground or the attic — they’re at the roof edges, around penetrations, and in the condition of fasteners and seals. A professional inspection is the only way to genuinely evaluate hurricane-readiness.
Does Bergen’s Roofing serve my area?
Bergen’s Roofing serves Slidell and the surrounding St. Tammany Parish, plus parts of Orleans Parish and Jefferson Parish. We provide free pre-season inspections in: Slidell, Mandeville, Covington, Abita Springs, Lacombe, Madisonville, Pearl River, Chalmette, Metairie, Kenner, Harvey, Marrero, and Terrytown. To confirm we serve your address, call (985) 641-6960 or visit our Service Areas page.
What if a storm is already forming in the Gulf?
Once a named storm is in the Gulf and Slidell is in the forecast cone, our schedule shifts almost entirely to emergency tarp work and immediate leak response. Pre-season inspections become much harder to schedule. This is the single most important reason to call before May ends — once the season is active, our inspection availability drops sharply.
Schedule your free pre-hurricane inspection today
The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1, 2026. Whether forecasters end up calling it active or quiet, every Louisiana homeowner needs the same thing: confidence that their roof will hold when a storm comes.
Bergen’s Roofing has been serving Slidell and St. Tammany Parish since 1989. We’re a GAF Master Elite Contractor and an IBHS Fortified Roofing Contractor — credentials held by less than 2% of US roofing contractors. Our pre-season inspections are free, thorough, drone-based, and come with no pressure to follow up with paid work.
Call (985) 641-6960 to schedule your free pre-hurricane roof inspection in Slidell or surrounding St. Tammany Parish.
Or book online here — it takes less than 60 seconds.
Don’t wait until you’re watching the cone of uncertainty on the news. Call now.
