Why Inspecting Your Roof Prior to a Storm Event Is Important

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

Loose shingles may never be seen to the naked eye. It may be time for an inspection.

As we saw with Hurricane Ian recently, and other lesser storms, these events come on in a hurry with very little warning. While it is an impossible ask to expect homeowners to efficiently prepare on spot when a storm is headed your way, there are several preventative measures you can take to minimize the damage to your home, which ultimately saves you from situations of being above your policy limits. 

Three basic ways to ensure you are taking the proper steps before a storm hits your hometown:

• Remove Any Dead Wood: If you have an extendable, electric/gas saw, you will want to begin by trimming any limbs away from the structure of your home. Hire a professional to take care of the larger limbs and trees. This of course reduces the risk of trees and heavy limbs from damaging your home from the heavy winds of a storm.
• Secure All Outdoor Items: it is always a good measure to remove all free-standing, moveable objects from your home, such as chairs, picnic tables, umbrellas, and other related items and secure these items away from the conditions of the storm. Taking this step helps reduce the risk of objects being blown into the windows of your homes causing water damage from the heavy rain and winds.
• Inspect Your Roof Periodically: A brand new roof should be able to withstand the threats of most weather events; however, in the likely event that you do not have a brand-new roof, it is important to know that a roof with a minimum age of 5+ years needs to be inspected every so often. Your trusted professionals will check for loose shingles, nails, and of course the sheathing of your roof. It is better to go ahead and address these types of items before the storm blows through to ensure the structure, and specifically your roof, is in its strongest state.