How to Check for Roof Damage After a Storm?Houses provide shelter from harsh environments and keep us safe inside. You’re safe inside, but what about outside? Roof – the upper exterior side of a house provides shade. Suppose you’re living in an area that faces harsh weather, like storms. Does a durable, strong, and long-lasting roof get affected by it? Obviously! Storms are severe.
No matter whether your roof is installed by professionals or not. It’s about damage caused by strong winds, hail, heavy rain, and falling trees. Repairing and replacing are the next steps, but how can you inspect for damage after a storm?
What you must do and what to avoid in case of damage. However, professional inspections require proper guidance and applicable instructions. Here’s a breakdown of the complete guide that will help you to do so. Let’s start.
Inspecting Your Roof for Damage After a Storm: Detailed Guide
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to inspect your roof for damage after the storm.
Safe to Stay Inside: Before starting the main investigation, ensure the storm has completely passed.
For this, you can check the outside view via glass windows, use the security camera, and watch news updates for information about your area. After authentic verification, come outside the house for further inspections.
Interior Inspection: Before inspecting the outside, it’s more crucial to examine the ceiling, as any damage is often visible from the outside. Make sure you’ve a bright torch. Keep it on towards the ceiling. Check for cracks, any water spots on the ceiling, and water dripping into the inside.
Suppose light is coming from the ceiling; it’s a clear sign that there’s a damaged roof, likely due to a broken tile.
Ground Inspection: Use a pair of binoculars to enhance the inspection process. Inspect the shingles and tiles for dents and broken parts from the ground. Look for any damages, such as broken tiles, sagging, or cracked or missing shingles.
Don’t go directly to the roof, as it can be dangerous and lead to an emergency. If a tree falls on your roof, don’t try to remove it by yourself. This step is crucial as it can help you identify potential roof damage without putting yourself at risk.
Professional Inspection: If you’re unable to find damage and are unsure about it, consider hiring an experienced inspection team in your area and scheduling them to come in as soon as possible.
Delay can cause severe issues, and even the roofing structure can collapse. Professional inspection is crucial as it can help you identify and address potential roof damage early, preventing costly repairs in the future.
What to do Next after Inspecting Your Roof?
What things must you do first, and then afterwards, in a priority row? These are some essential steps you must take after confirming storm damage on your roof.
Proof to Insurance: While inspecting at different angles, ensure you take clear pictures that show the damage and the associated repair costs. It’ll be a first step to ensure your roof insurer pays for you or to you.
Immediate Calls: If damage requires an immediate response, such as a roof leak, take immediate action. Keep a bucket or container under it to prevent damage to furniture or other surrounding objects. Or suggest blocking it temporarily by yourself until the roof insurance company approves the full repair cost.
If your roof is severely damaged and is at risk of falling at any moment, go outside as soon as possible. Your proactive approach can prevent further damage and ensure a swift resolution to the issue.
How to tell if your roof has Storm Damage?
Contact a reputable professional roofing contractor immediately after locating all the roof damage. You can find them via an online search. Be sure the company has a good reputation and provides testimonials.
If you don’t know anyone, ask your friends, family members, or neighbors for a recommendation. Ensure that all damaged parts are repaired professionally.
Types of Roof Damage after Storm:
Guidelines will be practical if you first understand how a storm can impact your house. Different types of damages you can face when inspecting, be sure to keep these in mind, which are:
- Wind Damage: A Storm is an atmospheric disturbance in which strong winds contribute much more. The storm winds cause, bend, and result in the missing or lifting of shingles, which can cause them to lodge in the future.
- Hail Damage: Hail poses severe damage in the case of larger hailstones. The damaging effects of hail depend on its size and velocity; after all, the material used for roofs is more critical. Visually, you can see visible dents and cracks on the roof.
- Falling Trees Damage: In the event of strong winds, weak and heavy branches and stems can fall onto the roof. In the case of old roof buildings that cannot bear the weight of the stem, it can instantly cause mortalities and destroy the house. Be cautious about heavy stems above your homes.
- Heavy Rain Damage: Heavy and prolonged rainy storms can cause shingles or tiles to lose granules, resulting in damage to the complete roof structure. Heavy rains can loosen adhesives in roofing and compromise the roof’s integrity. In the case of standing water, it can cause leaks until it finds its way inside, if not repaired on time.
Conclusion:
Every home should be prepared for a storm. Besides strength and durability, roofs are considered to be the most affected by it. Therefore, a post-storm professional inspection is mandatory to ensure your home remains durable and well-maintained.
As a homeowner, your role in maintaining a long-lasting and well-maintained roof is crucial. If done by you, don’t ignore understandings to read about what possible damages can be done, and you should look after them.
Inspecting the entire roof area should be done by professional roofing contractors to ensure it is satisfactorily repaired or replaced. Don’t give much time to holes that convert into drains and leaks. Do repairs in a timely manner.