A Tree Fell on My House: What to Do Right Now (Step by Step)
I’m Rudy Perez, owner of All In Tree Services and Pro, and our crew has pulled trees off of homes across Metro Atlanta for over 15 years. If a tree just crashed into your house, this guide walks you through exactly what to do right now, who to call, how insurance works, and what the removal process looks like.
Take a breath. You can handle this, and help is available.
Step 1: Get Everyone Out Safely
Your safety comes first. Everything else can wait.
- Leave the house immediately if you see ceiling sagging, walls cracking, or hear the structure groaning. Grab your family and pets and go.
- Do not go into the room where the tree made contact. The roof structure may be compromised, and additional sections can collapse without warning.
- Watch for downed power lines. If the tree pulled down a line or the line is draped over the tree, stay at least 35 feet away. Call 911 right away.
- Turn off utilities if you can do so safely. If you smell gas, hear hissing, or see sparks, leave the house and call 911. If you can reach your main breaker or gas shutoff without going near the damage, turn them off.
I have seen situations in Powder Springs where a large pine punched through a roof and the homeowner walked right under it to grab a phone charger. That tree shifted 20 minutes later. Whatever is in the damaged area, leave it.
Do not go back inside until a professional (fire department, structural engineer, or building inspector) confirms the structure is stable.
Step 2: Call for Help (In This Order)
Once everyone is safe, here is who to call and when.
Call 911 If:
- Anyone is injured or trapped
- Power lines are down or touching the tree
- You smell gas
- The tree caused a fire
- The structure looks like it could collapse
Call Your Insurance Company
File a claim as soon as possible. Most homeowners policies require prompt reporting, and delays can create problems with your claim. Have your policy number ready and tell them:
- A tree fell on your house
- The approximate size of the tree
- Where it hit (roof, wall, garage, etc.)
- Whether anyone was injured
- Whether utilities are affected
Ask your adjuster whether you can proceed with emergency tree removal or if they need to inspect first. If the tree is an immediate danger to people or could cause further damage, most insurers expect you to take reasonable action to prevent additional loss. Document everything and keep your receipts.
Call a Tree Removal Service
You need a licensed, insured tree service that handles 24/7 emergency tree removal. Ask them:
- Are you insured for structural work?
- Can you come assess the situation today?
- Do you have crane capability if needed?
- Can you provide a written estimate for the insurance company?
Avoid anyone who shows up uninvited after a storm offering cash-only deals. Storm chasers cause more damage than they fix, and if they are not insured, you are liable for injuries on your property.
Step 3: Document Everything Before Anyone Touches the Tree
This step is critical for your insurance claim. Before any work begins, grab your phone and capture as much as you can.
- Photograph the full scene from multiple angles, including the root ball, trunk, and point of impact
- Take close-ups of all structural damage: roof penetration, broken rafters, cracked walls, damaged siding, gutters, windows
- Shoot video walking around the entire perimeter of the damage
- Photograph the tree itself, including the base where it broke or uprooted
- Note the date and time the tree fell
- Save any weather alerts on your phone from that day
If the tree fell from a neighbor’s yard, photograph where it was rooted. This matters for insurance purposes.
I tell every customer: the more documentation you have, the smoother your claim goes. An adjuster who shows up three days later cannot see what the scene looked like before the crew started cutting.
How Homeowners Insurance Handles a Tree on Your House
This is one of the first questions every homeowner asks, and the answer depends on what the tree hit and why it fell.
What Homeowners Insurance Typically Covers
Tree removal from a covered structure. If a tree fell on your house, garage, shed, fence, or other insured structure, your policy generally covers removal of the tree and repair of the damage.
Additional living expenses. If your home is uninhabitable, many policies cover hotel costs and temporary housing while repairs are completed.
Emergency mitigation. Tarping, boarding up openings, and emergency removal to prevent further damage are usually covered, even before the adjuster arrives.
What Insurance Often Does Not Cover
A tree that fell in the yard and missed everything. If the tree did not hit a covered structure, most policies limit removal coverage to $500 to $1,000 per tree, and many do not cover yard-only trees at all.
A dead tree the insurer considers “neglected.” If your insurance company determines the tree was dead or obviously decayed and you did not address it, they may deny the claim.
Flood-related tree falls. Standard homeowners policies exclude flood damage. If a flood uprooted the tree, you would need separate flood insurance.
Deductibles and Limits
Your deductible applies to the total claim (tree removal plus structural repair). If your deductible is $1,000 and the total claim is $6,000, you pay the first $1,000.
Some policies cap tree removal at $500 to $1,000 per tree, with a total limit of $2,500 to $5,000 per event. Check your declarations page or call your agent to confirm your limits before making decisions.
Tips to Strengthen Your Claim
- File immediately. Do not wait days or weeks.
- Take photos and video before any cleanup begins.
- Get a written estimate from your tree service.
- Keep every receipt for emergency expenses (tarping, hotel, tree removal deposit).
- Ask your adjuster if they want to inspect before removal or if you can proceed.
How We Remove a Tree from a House (Safely)
Removing a tree from a structure is very different from a standard tree removal in an open yard. One wrong cut can shift thousands of pounds onto an already damaged roof. This is the kind of job where experience matters most.
Here is how our crew handles tree-on-house removals across Smyrna, Mableton, and the rest of our Metro Atlanta service area.
Assessment
We inspect the tree, the structure, and everything around the job site. We look at where the tree is resting, how much weight is on the roof, which direction the trunk wants to move, and whether power lines or gas lines are involved. This takes 20 to 45 minutes, sometimes longer for large trees.
Planning Each Cut
Every cut gets planned before anyone starts a chainsaw. We map out the order of operations: which limbs come off first, where the weight will shift as we remove sections, and how to keep the remaining trunk stable on the structure. If the tree is balanced on the ridge of the roof, removing the wrong side first can roll the entire trunk through the ceiling.
Sectional Removal and Rigging
We take the tree apart in small sections, working from the top down. Each piece gets rigged with ropes and lowered in a controlled direction, away from the house. Our climbers and ground crew communicate on every cut. The goal is to reduce weight on the structure gradually, without sudden shifts.
For large trees, a crane may be required. A crane lets us lift heavy trunk sections straight up and away from the roof instead of cutting them apart on the structure. This is safer for the house and faster overall. Learn more about crane-assisted tree removal and how pricing works.
Protecting the Roof During Removal
As we take sections off, we place plywood or protective sheeting on exposed areas to prevent boots and equipment from causing additional damage. Once the tree is fully off the structure, we can see the full extent of the roof damage for the first time.
Cleanup
We remove all wood, branches, and debris from the property. We chip branches on site to reduce volume and haul away trunk sections. The job site should look clean when we leave.
What Does Emergency Tree-on-House Removal Cost?
Every job is different. The cost depends on the size of the tree, how it landed, access to the site, whether a crane is needed, and how urgent the situation is.
Here are general ranges based on what we see across Metro Atlanta:
| Situation | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Medium tree (12 to 18 inch trunk) on roof, no crane | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Large tree (20 to 30 inch trunk) on roof, standard rigging | $3,000 to $6,000 |
| Large tree on roof requiring crane | $4,000 to $10,000+ |
| Tree through the roof into living space | $5,000 to $12,000+ |
| After-hours/weekend emergency surcharge | 20% to 50% above standard pricing |
Factors That Affect Price
Tree size and species. A 70-foot loblolly pine weighs significantly more than a 40-foot sweetgum. Heavier trees require more equipment and more time.
How the tree landed. A tree resting on the ridge is different from one that punched through the roof and is hanging inside the attic.
Access. Tight lots, fences, power lines, and neighboring structures all limit how the crew can work and what equipment they can bring in.
Crane vs. no crane. Crane rental adds $500 to $3,000+ depending on the size of the crane and how long it is needed. For full pricing details, see our tree removal costs page.
Time of day and urgency. Emergency calls during a storm event, overnight, or on weekends cost more because of the risk and demand.
Always get a written estimate. A reputable tree service will give you a clear number before work starts. If someone refuses to put a price in writing, call someone else.
What Happens After the Tree Is Removed
Getting the tree off your house is the first step. Here is what comes next.
Temporary Repairs
Your tree service or a general contractor should tarp or board up any roof openings immediately after the tree is removed. This prevents rain, animals, and debris from entering the house and causing secondary damage. Most insurance policies cover the cost of emergency tarping and temporary repairs.
Structural Assessment
A licensed contractor or structural engineer should inspect the framing, trusses, rafters, and any load-bearing walls that were affected. What looks like a small hole in the roof from the outside may involve broken trusses, cracked rafters, and water damage you cannot see.
Permanent Repairs
Work with your insurance adjuster and a licensed roofing contractor or general contractor for permanent repairs. Get multiple quotes. Make sure the contractor’s scope matches what your insurance approved.
Stump Removal
The stump stays behind after the tree is removed. You can add stump grinding to the initial job or schedule it separately. Grinding is usually cheaper when bundled with the removal.
Preventing a Tree from Falling on Your House
Georgia’s severe storm season runs from March through September, bringing thunderstorms, straight-line winds, and occasional tornadoes. You cannot stop a storm, but you can reduce the chances that a tree ends up on your roof.
Schedule Regular Tree Trimming
Regular tree trimming removes dead branches, reduces canopy weight, and lowers wind resistance. Trees trimmed every 3 to 5 years handle storms much better than neglected ones. I always tell customers: tree work is cheaper and safer before it becomes an emergency.
Know Your Problem Trees
Some species cause more structural damage than others in Georgia:
- Loblolly pines. Tall, heavy, and shallow-rooted. These are the number one tree we pull off roofs in Lithia Springs, Fayetteville, and across Metro Atlanta.
- Water oaks. They develop internal decay as they age, often without visible signs until a large limb or the whole tree fails.
- Bradford pears. Weak branch structure. They split apart in moderate winds.
If you have large pines or mature hardwoods within striking distance of your house, have them evaluated by a professional.
Get a Hazard Tree Assessment
A hazard tree assessment identifies trees that are likely to fail. We look for:
- Visible trunk cracks or splits
- Mushrooms or conks (fungal fruiting bodies) at the base, which signal internal decay
- A trunk leaning more than 15 degrees
- Roots lifting out of the soil
- Large dead branches in the canopy
- Cavities in the trunk
Removing a hazardous tree before it falls costs a fraction of what emergency removal and structural repairs cost after it goes through your roof.
Inspect After Every Storm
Walk your property after storms and look up. Cracked branches, hanging limbs, and partially uprooted trees may not fall immediately. They can come down days or weeks later on a calm afternoon.
For more on storm preparation and cleanup, read our storm damage tree removal guide.
My Neighbor’s Tree Fell on My House: Who Pays?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer surprises most people.
In most cases, your own homeowners insurance covers the damage to your property, even if the tree came from your neighbor’s yard. Your policy covers your structure regardless of where the tree originated.
Your insurance company may pursue your neighbor’s insurer if there is evidence of negligence, meaning the neighbor knew the tree was dead or hazardous and did nothing about it. But that process happens between the insurance companies. Your priority is filing your own claim and getting the tree removed.
Document where the tree was rooted (on your side or the neighbor’s side) and photograph it clearly. This helps the adjusters sort out the details.
If a neighbor’s tree looks like a hazard, the best thing you can do is notify them in writing. A dated letter or email creates a record that they were aware of the risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call 911 if a tree falls on my house?
Call 911 if anyone is injured, if power lines are down, if you smell gas, or if the structure looks like it could collapse. If the tree landed on the house but everyone is out safely and there are no utility hazards, your next calls should be your insurance company and a tree removal service.
How long does it take to remove a tree from a house?
A small to medium tree on a roof typically takes 3 to 6 hours. A large tree that requires crane work or has penetrated deep into the structure can take a full day or longer. After major storms, wait times for a crew to arrive can be 1 to 5 days depending on demand.
Can I remove the tree myself?
No. A tree resting on a structure is under unpredictable tension and compression. Cutting in the wrong spot can cause the trunk to roll, drop through the roof, or swing toward you. This job requires professional rigging, an experienced crew, and insurance coverage. We have seen homeowner attempts turn minor damage into catastrophic structural failure.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a claim?
Filing a single weather-related claim generally does not cause a rate increase, but policies and carriers vary. Ask your agent directly. Choosing not to file a legitimate claim to avoid a rate increase often costs more in the long run than the potential increase would.
How do I find a trustworthy tree removal company after a storm?
Look for a company that is licensed, insured, and established in your area. Ask for proof of insurance, a written estimate, and references. Avoid anyone who demands full payment upfront, refuses to put the price in writing, or shows up uninvited the day after a storm. Check Google reviews and ask neighbors for recommendations.
Call All In Tree Services and Pro
If a tree fell on your house in Powder Springs, Smyrna, Mableton, Woodstock, Fayetteville, or anywhere across Metro Atlanta, call us right now. All In Tree Services and Pro provides 24/7 emergency tree removal with experienced crews, crane capability, and full insurance coverage. We have been doing this for over 15 years, and we treat every call like it is our own home.
Call (470) 608-2545 for immediate emergency response, or visit our tree removal services page to learn more about how we work. We will get there, we will get the tree off safely, and we will walk you through every step.