Published May 27, 2026
If a tree fell on your house in Upstate SC, call Martin Tree and Turf Care: (864) 913-3978 — our emergency line is answered 24/7. While you wait, here is what to do and what not to do in the next few hours.
Step 1 — Get Everyone Out and Stay Out
Do not go back inside until a structural engineer or contractor confirms the structure is safe. A tree on a roof transfers significant load — ceilings can fail after the initial impact as structural members shift. If you smell gas, leave immediately and call 911 from outside. Do not use any electrical switches if the tree may have damaged wiring.
Step 2 — Call for Emergency Tree Removal
Call Martin Tree and Turf Care at (864) 913-3978. Our emergency line is answered 24/7. Describe the situation: what type of tree, which part of the structure it is on, and whether anyone is in danger. We will give you an estimated response time and tell you what to do while we are on the way. Do not attempt to cut or remove the tree yourself — a tree under load can shift when cut without proper rigging and cause secondary collapse.
Step 3 — Call Your Insurance Company
Call your homeowner's insurance company after you have confirmed safety and called for tree removal. Most standard SC homeowner's policies cover tree removal when a tree damages a covered structure — but the process requires documentation. Take photos and video of the tree and all visible damage before anything is moved. Your adjuster will need: photos of the tree and damage, the cause of the tree failure (storm, decay, unknown), and documentation of the removal work performed.
Step 4 — Document Everything
Photograph the tree from multiple angles before removal. Note the time and date. If a storm caused the failure, document the weather event — a screenshot of a weather app or news report showing the storm. Document any damage to the structure: roof, walls, windows, gutters. Martin Tree and Turf Care provides written documentation of the damage, cause, and work performed on every storm and emergency job — this is what your insurance adjuster needs.
Step 5 — Get the Tree Removed Safely
Trees on structures require controlled removal, not quick cutting. Our crew evaluates the tree's load distribution before making any cut. Each section is rigged and lifted clear before the cut is made — not dropped onto the already-damaged structure. The crane option is available when the tree is on a roof with no room for conventional rigging. After the tree is removed, we perform full cleanup and can tarp the roof opening until a roofing contractor arrives.
What Not to Do
Do not try to remove the tree yourself. Do not let an uncertified crew use chainsaws without rigging — a tree under load can shift catastrophically when cut. Do not delay calling insurance — most policies require prompt notification. Do not throw away any debris before the insurance adjuster has seen it or you have photographed everything. Do not assume a standing tree left after a storm is safe — hanging limbs and partially failed trees are "widow-makers" that can fall without warning.
What our arborist sees on site
We have been on hundreds of trees-on-structure jobs in Upstate SC. The biggest mistake homeowners make is trying to handle any part of it themselves before we arrive. A tree resting on a roof is under load — it can move in unexpected ways when disturbed. Call us first.
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