One of the most common ways through which roofs get damaged is through a storm. And the truth is that we cannot predict or control the weather, it has a mind of its own. But what we can do is to protect our homes and keep them from getting damaged from rainstorms and the ikes.
If your area is at risk of getting hit by a hurricane or other major storm, then this article will show you 9 steps you can take to protect your roof from storm damage. These steps are practical and actionable, and as you implement what we just shared in this post your roof will stand a better chance when a storm hits.
Step 1: Replace missing or damaged shingles:
This is a very important step that you need to take to protect your roof from storm damage. This is simply because when you have damaged or missing shingles, you leave your roof vulnerable to damage. And this can only facilitate serious problems for you, but if you replace the missing shingles and the damaged ones, you are protecting your roof. The new shingles will be in a better condition to withstand the strain that the storm will offer and this will ensure that your roof does not get damaged.
To do this, you can hire a professional roofing contractor or you can get new shingles and replace them yourself if you can. After replacing your missing or damaged shingles, it is also important to learn how to properly maintain a shingle roof to withstand most weather conditions and reach its life expectancy.
Step 2: Repair roof sidings that are loose:
Another part of your roof that you need to also look at is your roof siding. When the roof siding is damaged or loose, you risk your roof being damaged badly. And this is what most homeowners do. They neglect the roof sidings and do not even know if they are good or not and when the storm hits, it damages the roof badly because there is no protection.
As a homeowner, you have to ensure that all aspects of your roof are in a good condition to save time and money from total roof wreck that might occur when you neglect those small changes on your roof.
Step 3: Ensure that your gutters are cleaned out:
Do not allow your roof gutters to be clogged up, this is very bad for your roof because if your gutter is clogged, it makes the water flowing away from your roof hard. And when you do not clear it out, it keeps water in and this can lead to roof damage. So to prevent storm damage to your roof, you have to clean out your gutter so that water does not get stuck there and damage your roof.
Step 4: Upgrade your roof vents
All vents are not created equal, you need to check if your vent can withstand the storm. If you find out that your vent cannot withstand a storm, you need to check with a professional to replace it. Some vents are built to protect your roof from storms.
Step 5: Check out your chimney, and ensure it is covered.
Another weak spot on your roof is your chimney. This is a very important area that people forget, you have to cover your chimney to prevent rain from seeping into your home especially during a storm. Check that chimney now and make sure it is covered.
Step 6: Fix every leak ASAP
Before the rainy season, you need to perform an audit of your roof and check for any leaks that you may find. You may need a professional for this or you can perform this audit yourself. Once you find a leak, fix it, do not procrastinate, and say you will do it later. Fix that leak now because if you do not it can cost you dearly later. Leaks are tiny little problems that can cause very big damage, especially during a storm.
Step 7: Make sure your doors and windows are properly sealed.
You have to understand the way wind works. Once wind, especially a powerful one, finds an opening in your home, it can use that route to cause damage internally to your roof. It can displace a shingle from within and cause other problems. This is why you need to ensure that all your doors and windows are properly sealed. This way the wind cannot find any way to penetrate your home and damage your roof from the inside. Ensure that there is no space between door hinges and openings. Close every slim corner, this will save you a lot of problems when a storm hits.
Step 8: Update your insurance policy:
The deal is that you can do everything within your power to prevent the storm from damaging your roof but life happens. Sometimes even your best efforts can be made to look inadequate by the forces of nature. And this is why it is always important to have a plan B. And when it comes to preparing for a storm, you need insurance. This way, even if your roof gets damaged, you will not have to pay for the repair from your pocket. This saves you money. Many homeowners do not know that their home is not covered for storm damage. Check with your insurance company, see what your house insurance covers and ensure that you are ready for a storm damage
Step 9: Replace the roof if it is weak:
This last step is not really for everybody because it does not apply to everyone. Maybe after conducting an audit of your roof, you discover that the roof is too old and weak to survive another storm and that repairs alone will not cut it, then it is time to replace the roof with a new one. This is to avoid the heartaches that come with having a damaged roof. So if your roof is old enough for a change, change it and get a new one. This step is usually expensive but cost-effective in the long run.
Conclusion
Disaster can strike at any time and that is why it is important to stay prepared and ready for whatever disaster may arise around you. The steps listed above will help you to prepare properly for a storm and it will ensure that you do not face any losses from the negative impacts of a storm. It is better to be ready than to be sorry. Take these steps seriously, they are very important.
