Storm season brings torrential rains, high winds, and thunderstorms that can wreak havoc on an unprepared home. If you are bracing for storm season, it is essential to take good care of your roof and determine whether there is anything you do to defend your home against the severe weather that’s coming.
At Mr. Roof, we want our customers to know how to keep their homes as safe and comfortable as possible, no matter how the weather turns. We’ve compiled a short checklist of the tasks you can complete that will help you prepare your roof and your home for storm season. If you’d like a professional roofing inspection to identify your home’s vulnerabilities, Mr. Roof can help with that. In the meantime, keep the following tips in mind for preparing your roof for storm season.
Look for Shingle Damage
You can inspect shingles from the ground to check for discoloration, warping, and curling. If you take a walk around your yard after a heavy storm, you might notice bits of shingles in your grass or small deposits of shingle granules around the bases of your downspouts. These are signs that your roof’s shingles may require attention sooner rather than later. Once your shingles start cracking, chipping, and deteriorating, it is only a matter of time before you will need to replace your roof to prevent serious water damage.
Consider Roof Replacement
You may be forced into a choice between dealing with a ramshackle roof during storm season and addressing any problems that arise as they happen or footing the cost of a full roof replacement. While replacing your roof will be expensive, allowing your roof to remain in disrepair during storm season is not only unwise but also unsafe. Investing in a roof replacement before storm season will mean your roof will be in the best state it will ever be in to handle severe storm conditions and will provide reliable storm season protection for many seasons to come.
Inspect Your Roof’s Interior
Your home should allow some way to inspect the underside of your roof, whether you have a finished attic, an attic storeroom, or a simple crawlspace. Check this space during a sunny day and see any light entering through small cracks in the roof’s walls, ceiling, or planes. If so, you need to have this addressed as soon as possible. One night of heavy rainfall into a leak in your attic could lead to thousands of dollars in water damage to the inside of your home.
A professional roof inspection can reveal hidden problems with your roof that could lead to costly damage during storm season. Conduct as much of an attic inspection as you can on your own before arranging a professional roof inspection to ensure the interior of your roof is well-protected.
Check Your Gutters
Your home’s gutter system must be able to reliably funnel water off your home and into your drainage system. It’s vital to maintain your gutters and check them before the storm season hits. Severe storms can cause high winds that carry debris through the air, and the water hitting your home may also carry sediment and debris. Your gutters should be completely clear, so these substances do not accumulate and cause blockages.
A blocked gutter could cause water to start spilling onto the side of the home, eventually working its way behind the home’s siding, and causing significant water damage. If you have older gutters, the strain of holding lots of heavy sediment and debris could cause some gutters to break. Mr. Roof can also install gutter guards that act as filters against leaves, twigs, and other debris, keeping your gutters clear all storm season long.
Inspect for Wear and Tear
A professionally installed asphalt shingle roof will last 20 to 25 years under favorable conditions. If your area experiences regular storm seasons, this life could be shorter. No matter what type of roof you have over your home, it’s vital to inspect it regularly for signs of wear and tear. Some signs of a roof in need of attention before storm season include missing shingles, shingle debris on the ground or in gutters, rust around flashings and roof protrusions, and other signs of physical damage.
It’s also important to check for signs of mold or rot on asphalt shingle roofs. The shingles themselves may appear fine, but if they are sunken, appear distorted, or the roof seems to be caving inward slightly, this could be a sign that the wood under the shingles has started to rot.
Consider Additional Water Protection
If you are thinking about roof repairs, upgrades, or replacement before storm season, one of your chief concerns is moisture protection. Roofing systems use many water barriers, including the shingles and exterior coverings, waterproof underlayment, and coated roof decking. Once you have a team perform a professional roof inspection, you will know exactly what type of water barrier your roof has and your options for strengthening it. For example, not all roofs are installed with underlayment. Suppose you need to replace your roof anyway, and you did not have underlayment installed. In that case, it’s probably a good idea to consider a secondary water barrier, such as an underlayment installation for the new roof.
Work With an Experienced Roofing Team
One of the most crucial steps to take to protect your home during storm season is to choose the right roofer if you require any professional work to your home’s roof. Whether you need a complete replacement or a few tweaks to handle storm season with confidence, Mr. Roof can help. Our team is thoroughly trained and highly experienced when it comes to storm protection for our customers. We can conduct a professional roof inspection to understand your roof’s exact state and make an informed decision about your roofing services.
Storm season can bring strong winds, heavy rains, and other damaging storm conditions, so it’s vital to ensure your roof is as ready as possible to handle it. Contact Mr. Roof today to schedule a professional roof inspection and find out more about how you can protect your home during storm season.
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