Was Your Roof Damaged By A Storm?

Severe storms can cause a lot of damage to your property, especially to the roof of your home. If you aren’t prepared, you may find yourself dealing with more repairs than you bargained for. This can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars!

What steps should you take before repairing roof damages after a storm? Is calling your insurance company at the top of the list? This is a vitally important step that most people tend to overlook. But why? If you are in a car accident, you wouldn’t hesitate to call your insurance, and you should think about damage to your home the same way.

What Storm Damage Looks Like

Storm damage on your roof can take many forms depending on the type of storm, the duration of the storm, and the severity of the storm. Storms such as hurricanes and hailstorms with heavy winds may damage or remove your shingles. Meanwhile, heavy rainfall may soak through your roof and cause water damage.

Some severe storms may also leave dents or holes in your roof. If you have outdoor furniture or trees near your home, these may also impact your roof during a storm.

If you are unsure whether a storm caused your roof damage, you can call a professional to come and look at your roof. They can help determine the cause of the damage for your home insurance company.

How to React After Finding Storm Damage

Once you have determined that your roof damage was from a storm, you should go through a checklist to protect your property. Here’s what you need to do.

Take Notes of Any Damage

Your first step should be to take images and descriptions of any damage to your roof. This will help you understand what needs to be repaired. It will also give your insurance company an idea of how much you should be compensated for damages.

Be as detailed as possible when you are writing down the damages. Include how much space has been damaged, the severity of the damage, and any other details that may be important.

Make Small Fixes to Minimize Property Damages

If you were unfortunate enough to have holes put through your roof, you should consider making small, temporary fixes to prevent further damage. Water damage is a serious issue, so patching up holes is a necessity!

Inspect the attic area beneath your roof and cover up any holes that you see. If you are unable to properly patch the area, placing buckets underneath the holes can also mitigate water damage.

Contact Your Home Insurance Company

Once you have made minor adjustments to protect your home and have a list of the damages, you should contact your insurance company. With any luck, you will be compensated for the damages to repair your roof. The information you have already gathered will be crucial for your home insurance.

Tips to Protect Your Home in the Future

In order to protect your roof from future storm damage, you should start working right after your home is repaired. Here are some steps you can take to protect your roof from storm damage.

Cut Down or Trim Trees Near Your Home

Stray tree branches can be a nightmare in a severe storm. They can easily bash through a window or cause damage to your roof.

To prevent this, you may want to consider getting rid of any trees that are too close to your home. At the very least, make sure any trees around your home have had their branches trimmed back a few feet from your home. This will prevent them from causing damage during a storm.

Remove Outdoor Furniture Before a Storm

Outdoor furniture and decorations can easily turn into projectiles during a storm. With enough wind speed, they can end up on top of your roof. From there, they can damage shingles and tear holes through the roof itself.

If you know that a storm is on its way, make sure you bring any of your outdoor furniture indoors. You should also pick up any debris or decorations around your home ahead of time. This will limit the amount of damage done to your home during a storm.

Replace Missing or Damaged Shingles

If your roof’s shingles are already damaged when a storm hits, you can expect more damage. If your shingles are in bad enough shape, even a simple thunderstorm can leave you with severe water damage.

Make sure you have regular roof inspections to repair or replace your roof’s shingles; that way, you won’t have to worry as much about water damage caused by severe storms in the future.

Get Your Roof Damages Fixed Today

You don’t have to sit with your roof damages after a severe storm. With these simple tips, you can start preparing for roof repairs and protect your home from future storm damages.

Has your home recently taken on storm damages, and you aren’t sure where to go?

We’re here to help. Contact us with any questions or concerns you have about our roof replacement options, and continue reading our blog for more helpful information.

 

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