How You Can Protect Your Roof During Severe Weather Season

The primary cause of damage to your roof is weather, and Texas happens to be an area susceptible to extreme weather. Tornados, large hail, damaging winds, flooding, and lightning are weather events familiar to the Texas resident, and the negative impacts to a homeowner’s roof can be significant.

The best thing you can do as a homeowner is to become aware of the risks to your roof during storm season, and to partner with a professional to provide preventative maintenance. Here are some ways to prep your roof for potential weather damage and help minimize potential expenditures.

Get an Inspection:

The foundation of a home is important, and so is the roof, which is why roof maintenance is important for homeowners as well as for property managers. Roof maintenance helps alleviate issues before damage occurs.

If it’s been a while since your roof was last inspected, reaching out to a roofing service company is a great idea. Not only is it safer to hire a professional to scale your roof, but service roofers can thoroughly inspect the quality of your current roof and provide assistance if any damage is found.

For example, shingles serve as the protective layer to your home, and if your roof has missing, loose, or damaged shingles, weather elements like wind, rain, and hail can cause damage to your home or surrounding homes.

Any area on your property that shows signs of wear and tear or damage is more likely to cause issues during a severe weather event. This is why it is important to survey your roof before storm season begins.

Clean Gutters, Downspouts, and Remove Debris:

Gutters and downspouts function as a way to collect water drop off during rainstorms or when snow melts, and redirect it away from the foundation of homes or commercial buildings.

If the gutter or downspout is blocked off for any reason, then it prevents water from flowing safely off your roof. This means the water can get backed up onto your roof and make leaks more likely to occur.

Damage to gutters like dents or uneven installations prevents water from flowing properly through those channels. This means that water can pool inside the gutter also causing issues to the home.

Be sure to look out for any loose or weak fasteners in your gutters. They are what help hold gutters in place. When gutters get filled with leaves and debris, any unstable or faulty screws can break away and take pieces of the eaves with them. Gutters and downspouts are a huge part of roof maintenance so make sure to include that in the regular inspection of your home.

Any debris collected onto your roof can end up in your gutters clogging them. Every three months or so, check your roof and clear it of any debris so you lessen the chance of seeing mold and rot on your roof.

Check Your Trees:

Tree limbs or smaller branches extending over six feet from the house can cause roof damage. On a windy day or during a storm, any branch or tree limb close enough to touch your roof, can cause damage or lift up the roof’s shingles.

Large or dead branches can cause severe damage if they were to completely break off and land on your roof. Damage of this size can cause cracked or broken roof beams – even leaving a hole in your roof.

Annual tree trims help reduce the risk of branches and other debris from falling or collecting on your roof.

Proximity isn’t the only factor at play in tree maintenance. Weak or diseased trees can cause major issues to your roof if not addressed properly. If heavy winds occur, those trees can break or uproot, becoming dangerous debris. This is why periodically inspecting any trees near or on your property is important.

It doesn’t take a professional to tell you your tree is unhealthy. Trees will normally tell you if they are unhealthy or under any stress. Things like deformed or dropped leaves, dead limbs, leaning trees, withered branches etc., are all signs a tree is under stress and needs maintenance. Hiring a tree surgeon can help in preserve the health of your trees and minimize the risk of major accidents occurring during a severe weather event.

Secure Your Home:

Loose items around your house like patio furniture and outdoor decorations can also become projectiles if intense wind is present. The best preventative measure a homeowner can take is to buy items like tarps to help prepare for any potential damage during a weather event.

Any projectile that flies into your home can cause damage not only to the house itself but the rooftop. This is especially common in areas where tornadoes or hurricanes are common. Any damage to your home during these events can cause pressure changes in your home harming your roof’s stability.

Get Good Coverage:

If you’ve experienced any damage to your roof, you will want to file an insurance claim. If you’re already set up with a good insurance company, you’ll want to review your current insurance policy. Make sure you understand what your policy covers, and get a roof warranty and insurance policy that’s easily accessible.

In the event a power outage takes place, downloading a claims form is a homeowner’s best option. Make sure to take photos of any damage that occurs as a way to document the condition of your roof before and after a storm takes place. This provides proof that helps in expediting your claim and ensures approval from your insurance company.

Think Ahead:

Texans know all too well the devastation and fall-out from severe weather unpreparedness. Taking preventative measures and protecting yourself financially is important, because when damage does occur, you can act on it promptly and prevent more damage from occurring not only to your investment, but to your wallet.Severe weather season is officially upon us, so be prepared and maintain the integrity of your roof. Norwest Roofing is here to help. Contact us for a Free Roofing Estimate with No Obligation.