One of the most frustrating aspects of being a homeowner is protecting your home. There really is not much you can do if Mother Nature unleashes her wrath. And while your entire home can be affected in a severe storm, most of the brunt will be borne by your roof. As such, it is crucial to know what to do in case your home has been subjected to a blizzard, snow storm, or even severe rainstorm.
- Always perform a very thorough assessment of your roof
Even before you can make any type of fixing, it is important to gain a thorough understanding of the extent and severity of the storm damage to your roof. We do not recommend getting a ladder and climbing up your roof to inspect the degree of damage. What you need is to get your binoculars, move as far back as possible, and perform a visual inspection of your roofing from afar. Make an educated estimate as to the area of the damaged section as well as any other specific detail that you can see. A good thing to remember is to get a piece of paper and draw your roof as you see it through the lens of your binoculars. This way you can provide an approximate damage assessment which you can use to discuss with your insurer or the roof repair contractor.
- Institute quick fixes to help mitigate further damage
Based on your assessment, you can easily determine which ones can be easily fixed and which ones will require a more professional approach. Also, you will have to think proactively to help prevent the encroachment of the damage to other parts of your house. For example, if you noticed that a section of your roof is heavily damaged and that there is a strong chance that water can seep or leak through the spaces or cracks in this section, then you can protect the living space directly underneath this section by removing any furniture that may be in the way of water dropping from your roof or ceiling. You can also place an empty bucket to catch falling water. If you’re up to it, you can strap a tarp or even a water membrane over the damaged section. If the damage is quite small, you can probably replace the shingle in an instant.
- Get in touch with your insurer
Your damage assessment will give you an idea whether the repairs to be performed on your roof can be covered by your insurer. If the cost of repair is not really that large, you might have a much better chance negotiating with a contractor.
- Hire a dependable roof repair contractor to restore your roof
As much as possible stay away from travelling contractors for your solar panel install and instead opt for a certified roofing contractor who is located within your area. Traveling contractors typically follow storms and will usually come with mediocre reputation at best.
Knowing what to do to your roof after a major weather disturbance is important in keeping the integrity of your home.