How To Assess Your Roof For Damage After A Storm

Summer tends to be the one season that everyone looks forward to. It’s filled with long, hot, sunny days, allowing for plenty of outdoor time, activities, and recreation. Unfortunately, summer is also known to have some of the most unsettled weather of the entire year, with summer storm season being a reality for many across the country. Summer storms tend to bring with them heavy rain, wind, flooding, and even hail in some cases. So, what does this mean for your house?

It’s not uncommon to sustain some sort of damage to your roof during the summer storm season, which is why it’s important you are proactive after a storm and assess the roof. Here are some ways you can do just that.

Wait Until the Storm Has Passed

First things first, you want to wait until the storm has passed before you go out there and start assessing the roof for damage. The last thing you want to do is risk your own safety by standing outside during heavy rainfall, strong winds, lightning, and even flooding. Remain indoors until it is safe to come out.

If the roof does start leaking during a storm, your best bet is to mitigate and keep the damage to a minimum. This means placing buckets under the leak, moving furniture out of the way, rolling back carpeting if possible, and even placing plastic tarps on the floor to protect the flooring.

Do a Perimeter Check from the Ground

Once the storm has cleared, and it’s safe for you to go outside, do a perimeter check from the ground. What this means is walking around the entire perimeter of your house looking at the roof carefully. Be sure to watch for signs of missing shingles, shingles that are loose or flapping in the wind, curling, and other damage. There may even be loose debris such as branches that have fallen onto the roof.

It's also important to take a look at the gutters during your check, making sure they are still in place and secure or storm damage dry out services can do it for you.

Call in the Professionals for a Roof Check

If you have spotted damage or you just don’t feel like you can get a good look from the ground, it’s best to call in the professionals for a roof check. The last thing you want to do is risk your own safety by climbing up there and walking around on the roof. Not only are roofers trained and have the right safety gear, but they also know what to look for once they are up on the roof.

Ensure the Roofline is Kept Clear for Future Storms

Moving forward, it’s a good idea to refer to this residential roofing guide on what and how to clear any potential hazards that could cause damage to your roof in a future storm.

Never Ignore Roof Issues

The final tip is to make sure you never ignore potential roof issues. If you suspect there is a problem, it’s best to get it checked immediately. Water damage in the home can be extensive and very expensive, so you don’t want to get to that point.