Wind, rain, hail, snow, and other natural weather events can cause more damage to your home than you might realize. Any time a storm strikes, it’s worthwhile to check your home for any damage afterwards, particularly your roof.
Roof damage, if unnoted and left unrepaired, can evolve into greater problems with your home’s interior, from leaks and mold to weakened ceilings. Catching the damage and repairing it right away is your best bet for extending the life of your roof and avoiding a total overhaul.
Despite the importance of inspecting and repairing your roof, it’s not always easy to see the damage. It’s obvious if a tree falls, but otherwise, it may be difficult to diagnose whether you have a problem.
So we’ve put together this guide. If you’re wondering how to care for your roof properly and protect it from the worst effects of the weather, below are a few handy tips.
How to identify the damage
As soon as the weather has cleared and it’s safe to do so, head outside with the goal of locating any damage to your roof. If you don’t feel comfortable checking it yourself, you might consider hiring a professional roofer to do it for you.
Begin your search on the ground. Walk slowly around your home and look for dislodged shingles or any other debris that should be your roof. Also check for large objects on the ground, such as a tree branch. There’s a possibility that the object hit your roof before it landed on the ground. Debris of any kind on the ground is a sign that your roof may have suffered some damage and merits further inspection.
Check drainpipes, valleys, and outer edges of your roof. If these areas look bent, dented, or damaged in any other way, you’ll want to repair them as soon as possible. Depending on the level of damage to each of these places, they might not be able to perform their proper function, which will lead to further roof damage.
Use proper safety measures and a secure ladder to examine the roof. Avoid stepping on top of your roof. Only trained professionals should climb on a roof because they know how to avoid falling. Secondly, you cannot know whether the storm may have caused enough damage to make your roof unstable. If you use a sturdy ladder secured by another person, you can stand near the top of the ladder and survey the surface of your roof to determine the damage. Look for dents from hail, missing shingles, cracks, and other perceptible damage.
Assess the gutters and flashing. The flashing on your roof refers to the metal parts, generally aluminum or galvanized steel, around the joints in your roof. The joints are typically located around your chimney, gutters, and the peak of your roof. They are the weakest points of your home, so they’re the most likely to get damaged in a storm. Cracks, dents, and holes in the flashing and gutters can create serious water damage in the future and should be addressed as soon as possible.
Check the interior walls and ceilings of your home. If you notice leaks, water spots, cracks, or other damage, those are unmistakable signs that there’s a problem with your roof.
Document the damage for the insurance company. Take photos, collect multiple witnesses, and keep any evidence of lost shingles after the storm to present to your insurance company at the proper time. It’s also a good idea to keep all your receipts from past maintenance or home roof repairs that you may have performed yourself. Taking the simple steps to document the damage will make the reimbursement process much smoother when it comes to filing a claim.
These are all great steps for dealing with minor roof damage, but sometimes you won’t need to inspect the damage to know it’s there. If a tree falls through your roof, for example, you’ll know it immediately. If that happens, find a safe place in your home until the storm clears, such as in a basement or closet.
Once it’s safe to go outside, photograph the scene for insurance purposes, and find a safe place to stay. Then, call your insurance company to file a claim and begin looking into quality roofing contractors in your area who can handle the repairs and get you back into your home as soon as possible.
What to do when your roof is damaged
Once you’ve identified the damage, it’s in your best interests to have it repaired immediately. Delaying most repairs will only lead to more costly renovations, interior property damage, and possibly even injury.
One of the first things you should do after you’ve identified the damage is notify your home insurance company and file a claim. A representative will come to the property and perform an inspection in order to determine the level of damage, and offer you a quote for having it repaired.
You’ll want to submit all your evidence of damage in order to facilitate the reimbursement.
Hire a quality roofing contractor
Once your residence has been inspected and the claim approved, you should call a trusted contractor. Right after a storm hits, you’re likely to see an increase in the number of contractors competing for your business.
This is good news because it means you’re likely to see deals and discounts as contractors post competitive prices for the job, but you still need a good and reliable one to do the work.
When you’re looking for a solid contractor, you’ll want one who puts customers first, performs a quality job, and is courteous and professional throughout. It doesn’t hurt if the price is right, too.
Contact Iron River Construction
We can help you with that. At Iron River Construction we are available to help you with all of your after-storm roofing needs. Our professionals are trained with a customer-first attitude, which means we have your best interests in mind and are willing to communicate and help you through this stressful process.
Our 20 years of experience in the Minneapolis area makes us more than qualified to perform a superior job with customer satisfaction guaranteed, and our competitive rates set us apart from the rest.
For more information about how Iron River Construction can help you, contact us today.
