Any weather element in its extreme form can threaten a home’s well-being and long-lasting performance. Extreme sunshine can wear down paint on the eaves or soffit and downgrade your shingles. Wind can pull shingles from your roof or carry and drop heavy debris and objects. On the other hand, heavy rainfall can cause even more adverse damage.
During a stormy season, it’s highly likely your roof will be dealing with multiple extreme weather conditions simultaneously. To keep your roof safe during this season, use these five practical tips as preparatory actions against roof storm damage.
Get it Inspected
A well-maintained room will have a better chance of survival against the harshest storm than a poorly maintained one. Effective roof maintenance starts with regular inspections, through which minor roof problems are caught early and dealt with before they escalate. It’s crucial to hire a roofing contractor just before the storm season to inspect the roof and fix any visible damages.
A professional roof inspection can save you from huge financial losses associated with the expensive repairs or roof replacements that follow heavy storm damage. If you’ve recently had your roof inspected, you may not need to call a professional inspection team when the storm approaches. Simply walk around your house to check for visible changes and only call the roofers if you notice significant damages, such as damaged or missing shingles.
Trim the Young Trees
While your beautiful trees enhance your home’s curb appeal and protect your roof from harsh elements, they can also pose a danger when they grow too close to your house. Tree limbs or branches hanging too close to your roof could break over it during a storm, causing expensive damages. They could also give raccoons and rodents an easier route to your roof, enabling them to create homes under your shingles and weaken them.
Rather than waiting for the branch to fall on your roof to cause damage, it’s best to monitor their growth and trim them on time to avert danger. You can trim your trees annually and ensure branches are kept at least six feet from your roof. This helps protect your roof from falling branches and leaves while offering optimal protection against the elements.
Remove Large, Aged, and Weak Trees
Large, aged, and weak trees are a ticking time bomb waiting to explode on your roof at the opportune time. They can break or become uprooted during a storm and fall directly on your roof, causing irreparable damage or even physical harm to people. You can avoid all these by constantly checking for signs of weakness on large, old trees beside your house.
Look for common tell-tale signs like deformation, dead limbs, missing barks, or withered branches, and call the pros for further inspection. A leaning tree could be a sign of a weak root system and may not be too strong to withstand heavy winds. Even if the tree appears not to be too close to your house, you might be surprised by what the storm can do. Be sure to have every weak and deformed tree removed early before the storm to protect your roof.
Keep Your Gutters and Downspouts Clean
A clogged gutter or downspout is the last thing you’d want on your roof during a storm. The clogs would prevent water from flowing freely off your roof, causing huge water paddles on your roof that can cause several serious damages. The stagnant water could leak into your home, weakening your internal roof structures and further exposing your home to severe damage.
If you notice dented or uneven gutters, you should replace them early before the storm, as these could prevent water from flowing seamlessly to the downspouts. You can have someone clean your gutter every so often to minimize clogs and damage for long-lasting, reliable performance.
Store or Secure Loose Items Next to Your House
Storm winds possess massive powers that can haul anything in their path and drop them on your roof in an instant. If you have outdoor structures like trampolines, patio furniture, lawn decorations, or anything loose next to your house, remove or secure them before the storm. You could store them in your garage for the period or tie them firmly to ensure they don’t become projectiles that could destroy your home or someone else’s.
Even if the flying debris has no chance of hitting your roof directly, it could still break windows and create an imbalance in air pressure. This varying internal and external air pressure could compromise your roof’s stability, leading to the roof being lifted off your house completely.
Even if you’ve survived previous storms with minimal preparations and precautions, you never know when a nasty one can come knocking. By implementing these precautionary tips, you can keep your family safe and protect your investment from adverse damages.
