If your roof has been damaged by a storm, there are several things you can do to care for it. By doing so, you can prevent any further damage and get your house back to normal.
The first thing to do after a storm is to examine your roof for any damages. It is a good idea to take photos of the damage so that you can document it for your insurance agent.
Remove Debris
The roof is one of the most vulnerable areas of your home after a storm. If debris is left on your roof, it could clog up your gutters and cause structural damage.
Debris can also deteriorate your roof shingles and cause algae growth. Keeping your roof clean and free of organic debris will help prevent these issues.
There are a few different ways to remove debris from your roof. You can use a leaf blower, a broom or even a water hose. Each method requires some level of bending over or getting dirty, but each one is effective in helping to clear up the mess.
A leaf blower is the best choice for removing the most amount of debris without damaging your shingles. You can use it to blow away pine needles, dry leaves, or other light debris. However, be careful when using a leaf blower. It may cause damage to your shingles if you blow too hard, or it can break the adhesive between the shingles.
You can also use a broom to wipe down your roof. Be sure to use a soft broom that won’t damage the shingles, and be very gentle when sweeping.
It is also important to remove any fallen branches that fall on your roof. It’s also a good idea to take photos of the damage to your roof so that you can file an insurance claim and get reimbursed for debris removal costs.
If your roof has been damaged by a storm, the cleanup process can be expensive. You may need to file an insurance claim, or you might be able to participate in a debris cleaning program through your local county or city.
Once your roof is cleaned, you can begin repairing it. You can hire a professional or do it yourself.
Removing roof debris isn’t difficult, but it is an essential part of maintaining your home’s safety and integrity. The right tools will make the job much easier, and you’ll avoid causing long-term damage to your home.
Trees are a natural element of your landscape, and they can be a big hazard to your home’s stability. Debris like leaves can build up on the roof, accumulating over time and causing serious structural problems to your home. This is especially true if you have large trees with heavy branches that constantly drop their spent leaves.
Check Gutters
Gutters are a vital part of a roofing system that helps to direct water away from your home and keep it off your roof. Even commercial roofing systems place importance on checking gutters regularly. They also help to avoid the accumulation of rainwater near your foundation, which can lead to damage like mold or soil erosion.
It’s important to check your gutters for damage after a storm. This is an important step in protecting your home and can prevent a lot of costly repairs.
If your gutters are damaged, it can affect the entire structure of your home. It can cause water to seep into areas that it shouldn’t, including near the foundation and underneath your siding and windows.
After a storm, inspect your gutters for any damage that may have occurred, such as dents, missing pieces, or stains. If you find any of these issues, it’s best to call in a professional for repair work.
Once you’ve done a thorough inspection, make sure to clean out your gutters. This can be a difficult task, but it’s essential to keep them in good working order.
Clear away any major debris from your gutters, such as leaves and twigs. Scoop the materials out of your gutters and place them into a bucket securely attached to your ladder or tarp on the ground.
While scrubbing your gutters, look for leaks and areas where sealant appears to be worn. These could be the result of a previous storm or a simple wear and tear issue, but they might also indicate more serious problems.
Next, examine the slope of your gutters and how they connect with downspouts. A good slope should be consistent and evenly spaced across the whole length of the gutters. It’s also a good idea to look for signs of pooling water in portions of the gutter that are away from the downspout.
If you notice any of these issues after a storm, contact your local roofing contractor to schedule an inspection and storm damage repair. These repairs will help to ensure that your gutters are in good working condition and will protect your home from future storms.
Inspect Your Attic
The best way to prevent serious damage from a storm is to check your roof regularly and get any issues fixed before they turn into major problems. After a big storm, it’s especially important to make sure your roof is safe and secure.
Typically, the first thing to look for when inspecting your roof after a storm is missing or damaged shingles. These can be an indicator of a bigger problem down the road, such as a leaking roof or water damage to your home.
When a roof isn’t properly ventilated, excess moisture can build up inside the attic and cause mold to grow. In addition, it can also cause condensation to form and rot wood.
Attic ventilation is also crucial for preventing the formation of ice dams, which are formed when snow melts and runs down a roof until it freezes at the edges. During a heavy freeze, this causes icicles to form and trap water behind them, which can lead to costly damage.
Next, examine the gutters and downspouts. Those that aren’t draining properly may need to be cleaned out or replaced.
If your home has a chimney or skylights, check the flashing around them to make sure it’s secure. During a storm, the flashing can be displaced and pulled away from the chimney or skylight’s masonry.
Another area to check is the soffit/ridge vents, which take air from the bottom of the attic (the soffit) and exhaust it through the top of the attic (the ridge). If they aren’t working efficiently, you’ll need to have them repaired.
A professional roof inspection is a great option to make sure your roof is protected from future storms and other problems. It’s more thorough than a simple visual inspection and allows a roofing professional to get up onto your roof to see the exact condition of your shingles and flashing.
It’s also important to inspect your attic for any signs of pest infestation, which can be a common result of the cold and snow of winter. Rodents and other small critters love to make their homes in the attic, so be sure to check for droppings or torn insulation.
Inspect Your Flat Roof
After a storm, it’s a good idea to perform a thorough inspection of your roof. This will help you determine if any damage has been done and if there is anything that needs to be repaired. It will also allow you to get a professional opinion as to what steps need to be taken in order to repair the damage.
Depending on the type of flat roof you have, you may need to inspect your roof at least twice a year. This is especially important after heavy rain and snowstorms. This will allow you to gauge how well your roof handles different weather conditions and whether any additional roof coatings are needed.
It’s a good idea to take a walk on your roof after a storm and look for signs of ponding water. This is a sign that there is some weakness in the roof and will need to be addressed immediately.
Aside from ponding water, you should also check for any areas of the roof that seem to give way under your weight. This is a sign that the roof decking has become weaker in this spot and needs to be replaced.
Another common sign of a problem with your flat roof is when it leaks. This can cause serious damage to your property and can even lead to rot and mold if left untreated for too long.
One of the easiest ways to see if your flat roof is leaking is to crawl up to the attic and look for any wet spots that are visible from the ground. If you notice any, you should contact a roofing contractor to make sure that there is no structural damage below your roof.
You should also walk around the exterior of your home and look for any blistering paint or peeling paint that might be indicative of humidity buildup. This is an issue that often results from lack of proper ventilation and can be worsened by a storm.
Lastly, be sure to take a close look at the base flashings and any potential penetrations. These areas are often neglected when building or maintaining a roof, and can cause leaks over time if not properly inspected.
