Your roof is more fragile than you might think. The bad news is roof maintenance and replacement can be expensive.
Homeowners, on average, spend between 1% and 4% of a home’s value on regular roof maintenance and repairs yearly.
You must follow these roofing repair and roof inspection tips to stop weather damage and storm damage on your roof. Check out our storm damage restoration services. Protect your property from storm damage now.
13 Tips to Protect Your Roof Before a Storm
This section explores ways to barrier your home from high and strong winds. Call us so that We can help you with all your roofing needs before a storm hits.
Place Protective Plywood or Other Material on Your Roof
Shingles made of asphalt material are among the most affordable methods you can apply to protect your roof from damage during hurricane season.
But the biggest issue with asphalt shingles is they are prone to cracks and splits, which leads to leaks, especially during a hurricane.
You might have to replace the shingles if they become damaged. To give your roof an added layer of protection before a hurricane lands, use protective sheet-like plywood over your roof.
But you need to make sure it is completely waterproof. Plywood is more expensive than asphalt shingles, but it can be the most effective way to barrier your roof.
Protecting your roof will be less expensive than having your roof replaced after a hurricane. It will save you money in the long run. You must ensure that the plywood you selected was treated with a water-resistant product.
Roof sheets are another strategy that can protect your roof from strong winds and water. It is designed to keep water away from your home. But you must ensure they are installed and sealed correctly.
Certain products seal the roof completely, whereas others only seal the sheet in specific areas.
If you buy an inexpensive roofing protection product that does not seal well, you may replace or repair your roof.
Cut Down Trees Around Your Home
Trees and natural fixtures beautify your home or business establishment. But this means you need an additional layer of protection when preparing for a storm forecast to carry high winds and water.
Trees, plants, and other debris pose a hazard to your roofing. It is crucial to trim the trees when the inevitable happens, so you are ready.
Tree branches and fruits that hang from trees are susceptible to flying off in the middle of strong winds and could hit different areas of your home, including the roof.
Trimming trees mitigates risks and decreases the chance of damage to your home.
Remove Material Outside Your Home and Park Cars Inside Your Garage
Before a hurricane hits, you must remove material or debris outside of your property so you won’t have to spend time outdoors in the middle of the storm.
It may even be best to hire a roofing company to remove these obstructions.
Please take note that some of these materials can be massive, so it will take more time and energy to clear your home’s yard. It is also recommended to remove the decorations in your home before the arrival of a hurricane because it might only result in more damage.
Also, consider incorporating hurricane shutters to windows and doors.
Your cars and vehicles need to be cared for as well. Park them in your garage to prevent damage and car-inflicted damage to your structures.
Gear up for Strong Storm Resistance
To protect your roof from damage from storms, it is best to add roofing cement beneath the shingle tabs, especially those not fastened firmly and tend to pop up.
Placing high wind shingles on the eaves helps as well. Starter shingles are designed explicitly for extreme wind resistance right where wind damage is likely to occur.
If your roofing material is worn and of subpar quality, consider installing a new roof with high-quality shingle with better wind resistance, UV light resistance, a more challenging water barrier, and a longer lifespan.
Mitigate the “Heat Death” of Shingles
In the hot Australian sun, shingles on roofs are tested for most of the year. But a high-grade and UV-resistant roofing is an excellent way to cool the heat.
Another crucial factor is placing a high-quality underlayment to separate your shingles from the roof deck.
Incorporating attic ventilation and a radiant barrier on the attic ceiling helps reduce heat and moisture issues that could affect the longevity of wood and shingle materials on your roof.
Repair and Maintenance by a Roofing Contractor
One of the things you can do to protect your home is performing maintenance repairs on any leaks.
This will include inspecting holes in your roof. If you notice any holes, please get them fixed at once by a roofing company. If the roof is leaking water, you must have the gutters checked regularly for blockages.
If you have clogged gutters, checking the gutter guards is crucial.
If it is clogged, it is critical to remove the debris and repair the problem. To mitigate severe damage to your roof during a storm, take the time to perform a comprehensive leak detection and repair inspection.
Inspect Your Roof
Follow a roof maintenance schedule. Make sure your roof is thoroughly inspected once or two times a year. Check for bubbling in areas that could indicate that water is pooling beneath the surface along with missing or damaged pieces of shingles.
Investigate Your Attic
Another area you must check is your attic. Go up to your attic during high noon and examine if there are points where light is shining in from the outdoors. Take note that light and air leaks can turn into water leaks during the height of a storm.
Check for stains or discolorations on rafters, plywood, and wood beams on the attic floor.
Examine possible damages to the insulation of the floor. These are areas where leaks could happen during a rainstorm.
Add Insulation
Insulation is especially crucial for those who live in cold climates. Insulation helps protect your roof from an ice dam. This occurs when too much heat escapes from your roof and melts the snow. Once the water re-freezes, it could cause the water to leak into your home. An ice dam can result in costly roof repairs if you have an ice dam.
On average, water damage can set you back $2,386 and may even require the complete replacement of your roof.
Ventilate Your Roof
Proper roof ventilation ensures your roof stays firm and secure to your home and shingles pieces do not fly off during a windstorm.
Clean your gutters
Gutters direct water away from your roof. Backed-up water could pool on your roof.
This pool can weigh down your roof structure and pose a hazard. Cleaning your gutters is a tedious chore, but it is crucial, especially if a storm is coming.
Purchase Some Tarps
After a storm has landed and caused damage, tarpaulins become a rare find. Home improvement stores often sell out their tarps and plastic supplies.
Even roofers may struggle with supply shortages, especially if there is widespread storm damage. Please purchase some tarps before storm season.
In this way, you are better prepared to make any temporary repairs and stop further damage.
Check Your Insurance Policy for Roof Repair Coverage
Look over your insurance policy. Are you familiar with what it covers?
Verify if it is up-to-date. Secure your roof warranty and your insurance policy to make these documents easy to find.
Download a claims form in the event of a power outage that might keep you from accessing your policy online.
Snap pictures to document your roof’s condition before and after the storm.
Presenting evidence of how much damage was caused by a storm can hasten your claim and ensure its approval.
Program Important Numbers into Your Phone
If you have experienced storm damage, you need to file a claim. Besides letting your family and loved ones know you are safe, your insurance agent is the next person you must call after a storm.
The next call will be to a trusted roofing contractor so they can schedule repairs immediately.
Having those numbers on your speed dial can save valuable time.
Getting repairs started as quickly as possible can mitigate further damage before the next storm hits.
Types of Storm Damage to Roof
A powerful storm can cause significant damage to a roof. When a storm passes over your city, examine the amount of damage to your roof.
Even a tiny leak caused by a storm can escalate into a massive problem for your entire house.
The following types of storms can cause tremendous damage to a roof:
· Wind Storms
· Hail Storms
· Rain Storms
To protect your roof, you must know how to take care of it and identify damages.
Wind Can Cause Damage to Your Home
Strong winds cause hazards to your surrounding structures, such as fallen branches, uprooted trees, and fallen power lines.
While these dangers ensue after a big storm, the wind itself can also cause structural damage to your home.
When winds hit the roof, shingles fly off. But if wind speeds are incredibly high, even newly installed shingles can get loose and fall off.
Other wind damage to roofing includes falling objects and debris like tree branches and broken power lines.
Wind Damaged Roofs
Roofs are vulnerable to wind damage. Strong winds do not uniformly hit roofs.
Wind tends to cause damage to the roof edges or areas of the roof that are already wobbly.
These loose parts of the roof are vulnerable targets because winds could rip through shingles and cause a domino effect.
Falling objects and debris typically damage roofs. Eventually, your roof might start leaking or rotting after long-term wind damage due to exposure to water.
What Is the Best Quality Roof for High Winds?
If you want the best roof for strong and high winds, the decking underneath the shingles must be sturdy, and your fasteners must be of premium quality.
Craftsmanship is extremely crucial. Some metal roofing designs can withstand wind speeds of up to 150 miles per hour.
Wind Speed Damage
The following are major storm wind speeds you need to prepare for.
45 mph to 57 mph
The National Weather Service states that slight damage can ensue should wind reach 45 miles per hour. But this range is still within the non-severe category. These non-severe winds could cause tree branches to break off and roof storm damages wobbly or weak shingles.
58 mph to 74 mph
Severe winds can cause considerable damage to landscaping and structures at this speed.
At this range, major storm winds could take down entire tree limbs, uproot trees, rip away shingles in good condition, and cause problems with chimneys. Has your roof been inspected as soon as possible after the storm?
75+ mph
These speeds cause widespread damage to trees, flip mobile homes, and cause significant damage to the roofing of commercial structures and buildings.
3 Different Forms of Storm Damage
Severe weather damage can impact your roof in many ways. You must know the red flags to expect from these harsh elements. Has your roof been inspected? The following are signs of roof storm damage you should know.
Identifying Wind Damage to Your Roof
If you have recently experienced 45 mph winds in your area, check your roof for signs of roof damage. High and strong winds could tear tree branches off and damage roofs.
Granules Missing from Your Shingles
Comparable to hail, wind can also result in loss of granules. The granules are the sandpaper-like part of the shingle. Your gutters are the first area you must check to determine if you have missing granules. Granules tend to pile up in gutters.
Roof Edges Curling from Peeling Shingles
Roof edges and other pressure points are more likely to sustain wind damage.
Check for curling where the wind hit during your roof inspection and peel away the shingles. Shingles keep water out, so if they become loose, it could lead to water damage and a quickly deteriorating roof.
Entire Sheets of Shingles Are Missing from the Roof
One of the easiest ways to determine if you have a wind-damaged roof is the loss of entire sheets of shingles.
If shingles land in your yard or other areas of your property, you must call a professional to check other areas where the damage occurred. Strong and high winds can rip shingles and leave your roof vulnerable.
Cracks or Tears in a Flat, Rubber Roof
If your roof has a flat design, check for missing pieces or tears in the material.
Winds can lift the material, rip it, and create bubbles that could hurt the covering’s integrity.
Damaged Soffit or Fascia
Like shingles, soffit and fascia direct water away from the roof and mitigate leaks. Once damaged, a soffit and fascia could open your home to water damage and critters that might gain entry. Wind could cause cracks, loosen or bend areas, and even blow away a weakened fascia.
Chimneys
Does your chimney look crooked?
This is a sign of a problem. In some cases, there are missing spots of lashing, which could break the ceiling surrounding the chimney and allow water to seep in.
Leaks and Indoor Signs of Roof Damage
Roof damage could be written on the wall. If you discover discolorations, wet spots, or peeling paint, there is a good chance your roof has leaks.
How to Repair a Wind Damaged Roof
Roof damage caused by winds can be repaired.
The extent of repair will depend on the damage and range from shingle replacement to installing a new roof.
If you notice damage to your roof, you must schedule a property evaluation from a roofing contractor at once. Damages will only exacerbate the longer your roof and home are exposed to the elements.
Experts will assess your property via state-of-the-art drones to determine the damage. They will discuss the extent of damage that occurred.
Conclusion: Does Insurance Cover Wind Damage?
Does your insurance cover roof damage from wind?
You must first call roofing experts for a free roof inspection.
If you are tackling roof damage caused by winds, you might be able to submit a homeowners insurance claim.
You must check your homeowner’s insurance policy to determine if wind damage is covered.
Roofing professionals can educate you on the cause of your roof damage and the necessary repairs and expenses. In this way, you have the information you need should you choose to file a claim with your insurance company.
A roof inspection ensures you do not miss anything regarding the necessary repairs to your roof.