The weather can be extremely unpredictable and could often cause severe damage to your home. Elements such as hail, heavy rain, sleet, and windstorm are enough to leave a trail of destruction that leaves an impact on your life, more specifically, your house and your roof.
A roof is an essential part of your house. So, as a homeowner, you must be aware of the proper actions to be taken once your roof has been damaged.
Here are some tips on how you could assess and repair your damaged roof after a devastating storm.
Check the interior and make temporary fixes
After severe weather, the first area to search for damage after a destructive storm hits the area is the inside of your home. Start from the attic and check for any signs of water leakage or damage. Water stains on your ceilings and walls could be a sign of some serious problems with your roof. It could also indicate that a large leak has been going on for some time.
Storms that produce projectiles such as hail, sleet, and heavy rain could cause damages like dents and holes to the roof. If the roof becomes severely damaged in an area above the interiors or living space, make temporary fixes to minimize the damage to the interior property. For serious damages, use an ice and water membrane or strapped tarping method.
You should also remove the valuables away from underneath the damaged area and place a bucket or garbage can under the leak.
Assess the damage from the outside
Next, assess the damage to the exterior by inspecting the area around your house to look for pieces of roofing, shingles, or tiles that may have fallen on the ground. It’s possible for fragments of roofing especially shingles to be lifted up by severe wind if the roof becomes too old and sealant stripping can no longer hold on well.
The storm could also cause gutters and downspouts to bend, sag, or loosen from the structure. Gutters could also become clogged with the debris and dirt that have been washed away by heavy rain. Once they’re jammed, gutters would not be able to carry water away from the roof, causing backed up and water damage to the roof or the interior of the structure.
Check if your chimney is leaning. If it is, then it’s suffered damage. Inspect the chimney flashing to see if it has tears and be on the lookout for loose, damaged, or missing bricks as well.
Remember to prioritize your safety and don’t climb on the roof to conduct your own inspection. A storm-damaged roof may be weakened, or you could slip from the wet shingles. The roof damage could be easily seen from the ground. You can also use a pair of binoculars to identify the damaged areas.
It would be impossible not to notice a large branch or tree fall on your roof. Once you suffered damage as large as that, it’s time for you to stay out of your house until you can hire a contractor to assess the damage.
Contact your insurance company
Once you’ve identified the extent of the damage, determine whether it’s large enough to call the insurance company or if it would be more economical to hire a contractor for the necessary repairs. If you have opted for house insurance, you can contact your homeowner’s insurance company to file a claim.
Make sure you’ve kept the receipts for any storm damage roof repair, even those done by yourself for reimbursement.
Hire a credible contractor
Since the claim process can be tricky, turn to a roofing contractor for assistance. They’ll help you navigate the process, increase the chances of your claim’s approval, and make sure you’re not spending more money than necessary.
To avoid sub-standard workmanship, make sure to hire a certified roofing contractor. Avoid hiring traveling contractors as they could make the situation even worse.
Fahey Roofing Contractors are the reliable contractors you need to help with the necessary roof repairs and roof replacement. Check out our residential roof replacement services, residential roof repair services, or contact us at (304) 735-7663 to learn more.