The roof of your house offers the main protection against the elements. Sometimes, however, the elements take their toll and your roof may be left damaged and the rest of your house at risk. Hurricanes are notorious for leaving wreckage in their path and often leave homeowners utterly devastated.
Below, we take a look at how to check for damage to your roof and how to go about repairing it.
How to Check for Damage
Once the hurricane has subsided and it is safe to go outside, it’s important to assess the damage. Here is where to start.
Safety First
Safety always comes first. Make sure that the hurricane has fully subsided and it is safe to return to your home or go outside. Further, when assessing the damage to your roof, make sure you are wearing the necessary PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
Hard hats and safety shoes are an example. This is to prevent injury from damaged parts of the roof or the rest of the house that are loose and may fall off.
Start on the Inside
When assessing the damage to your roof, start on the inside of your house. Certain signs on the inside of your house may be an indication of damage to your roof on the outside. Further, there may be openings in the roof that may lead to further damage to the house if you don’t fix them immediately.
When inside the house, look for watermarks on the ceilings and walls. This will help ascertain where openings or damage may be. Light is also an indication of roof damage. If there is light coming through parts of the ceiling, it may indicate cracks in the roof.
Once the inside has been examined, it’s a good idea to take a walk around the outside of the house at a safe distance. Use binoculars to help you maintain your distance and ensure your own safety. Look for broken gutters and damage to windows to get an indication of where the hurricane may have hit your roof the worst.
Lastly, whether you are examining the inside or the outside of your roof, it is a good idea to have a camera handy to take pictures of the damaged areas.
What to do When Your Roof Sustains Hurricane Damage
Once you have an idea of the extent of the damage to your roof, you need to know how to fix it.
Make Temporary Fixes
After examining your roof, check to see if there are any quick and necessary repairs that you can do. For example, covering up holes that if left open may lead to water damage inside of the house.
If you are unable to repair the damage immediately, make sure you move any furniture and valuables that are directly under the opening out of harm’s way.
These immediate fix-ups will help you protect the rest of your house against any further damage from the elements.
Contact your Insurance Company
Depending on the extent of the damage to your roof, it may be necessary to lodge a claim with your insurance provider. You must get your claim in as soon as possible. This is because when hurricanes hit a large residential area, insurance companies are usually inundated with claims.
So, to ensure your roof is seen to timeously, the sooner you contact your insurance company the better!
Contact your Trusted Local Contractor
Once you have taken a look at the damage, it may be beneficial to contact your local contractor. If you have little construction knowledge, your contractor may be able to give you sound advice.
For example, the damage to your roof may not warrant a claim from insurance as the damage may be fairly minor. As a result, you can save on excess payments and admin and have your contractor repair your roof instead.
Final Thoughts on How to Handle Hurricane Roof Damage
Damage to your roof as a result of a hurricane can be extremely overwhelming – especially because your roof protects the rest of your house. However, it is important to remain calm and level-headed in this situation. By following these tips on how to handle hurricane roof damage, your home will be repaired in no time.