Dealing with Roof Damage After a Storm
After an intense storm has ravaged your roof, it can sustain significant damage in a matter of minutes. Hail might cause impact marks or even fractures to the asphalt shingles, while forceful winds can lift, cremate or outright obliterate them entirely. Even without immediate visible evidence, a poorly intact roofing system can facilitate moisture penetration, leading to later-stage issues.
With recent severe weather, the presence of hail, high winds or other serious conditions, taking the necessary post-storm actions is key to protecting your investment and simplifying the roof repair endeavor. The subsequent, straightforward, step-by-step checklist applies to homeowners in Middle Tennessee:
1. Make Safety Priority Number One
Upon return from a powerful storm, prioritize personal safety first, as entering a damaged or water-laden roof is extremely dangerous. Never walk on or over damaged shingles or any unstable area; even something as seemingly innocuous as wet shingles, debris from fallen trees or the compromised nature of roofing materials itself can produce serious hazards.
The best post-storm approach involves assessing damage from ground level, once conditions are safe enough. Look for clearly visible issues like gaps or removed shingles, unprotected areas of roof, damage to roof valleys or along chimney lines, and any considerable debris left by the storm. If structural damage is evident such as an uneven roofline, a clearly sagging area, severe interior water damage, or power lines threatening to fall to the ground-steer clear and contact a qualified specialist.
2. Look for Visual Indicators of Roof Damage
Hail and wind storms can manifest visible impacts in several ways. Both have different potential causes and may lead to any of the signs detailed below; high winds often result in the displacement and often-dislodging of shingles, while hail strikes can result in bruise marks, cracks and even missing granules on shingles.
Here are just a few common signs to watch for from the ground: Missing, dislodged or split shingles / Creased, torn or even cracked shingles / Dent-like hail impact marks / A high number of granules littered around the property after the storm / Shingles that have broken at their valleys/where two roof planes meet / Roof vents being dislodged or damaged / Anything that’s fallen onto the roof as a result of the wind.
Many times, problems are unseen and a professional will need to access and analyze them. TCS Roofing offers free, thorough storm inspections to homeowners, at no obligation whatsoever to you.
3. Photograph Each Visible Mark of Damage
As soon as safely possible, snap photos or take video recordings of the property if any part of the roof itself has been damaged. Photograph fallen tree debris, any interior water damage seen on ceilings or interior walls, and other damage, such as exposed decking and any missing or damaged shingles or valley damage.
Aim to get close-up and far-away photos showing the severity, as well as the general appearance of the entire home structure. You will also want to include the date and exact location of each item and maintain a record of where temporary repairs may have been implemented. This visual evidence is important when dealing with your insurance agent and roofer alike.
4. Protect Your Home From Further Water Intrusion
Should a storm create even the slightest breach in the roof system, any new rainfall will naturally exacerbate the damage. The water can seep between shingles, reaching the underlying insulation, home decking, interior walls and more.
If there are signs of active water damage or leaking within your home, move out any valuable furnishings or property from beneath the drip and place buckets, bowls, or trash cans directly beneath it. A professional contractor has many ways of effectively temporary-patching your roof until it can be repaired in full or replacement occurs.
Call emergency services immediately if there is visible damage threatening structural integrity and the experts will assess its condition and implement needed protective measures. TCS Roofing Company’s storm-response teams can secure your home with either simple temporary repairs or full storm-related renovations.
5. Have a Professional Inspect Your Roof
Often, hail can weaken shingles on an inconspicuous part of the roof and can actually damage other more vulnerable elements, though no symptoms may seem evident at ground level. A professional inspection not only assesses what can be seen but also what isn’t immediately obvious, taking into account wind and impact damage factors, flashing, vulnerable sections of the roof, and everything else on the entire roof area.
As stated, a TCS Roofing specialist can and will offer a free inspection of your home, analyze the cause of damage, prepare a no-obligation bid and upon approval, complete the necessary repair, then conduct a follow up inspection. Knowing what is actually causing the roof damage, rather than guessing will ensure it doesn’t recur and can help you decide between smaller repair jobs or total roof replacement.
6. Notify Your Insurance Provider
For homeowners where a severe storm has done significant damage to the home’s roofing system, contact the insurance company and explain the damage along with inquiring about what the insurance policy covers and how claims are processed. Keep records of all necessary documentation which would include photographs of any damage observed from the ground along with the reports from any inspections performed on site. Photos of water damage on the interior and exterior of the home should also be considered in the documentation.
Your roofer can and may prepare an estimate, providing detailed descriptions, but your policy dictates exactly what’s covered, so speak with your insurance carrier to confirm details and requirements specific to your individual policy.
7. Don’t Put Off Small Repairs
Don’t procrastinate or discount small roof-related issues – something as minor as broken or popped shingles are problematic when left unattended. They’ll enable water to permeate underlying structural support for your shingles, leading to larger repair costs such as rot and deterioration of home decking.
TCS Roofing Company repairs leaking roofs, fallen shingles, wind/hail damage and other roof work affecting asphalt shingles all throughout Middle Tennessee.
Watch Now: Protect Your Home with Expert Asphalt Shingle Roofing
Contact TCS Roofing Today
Storm damage, no matter how seemingly minimal, can bring many stressful inconveniences. By following these crucial steps after a storm, your home will be protected and you’ll be better equipped to handle the roof repair process.
Get professional storm and hail damage roofing services you can rely on to assist you with: wind and hail damage repairs, emergency repairs for the storm, overall professional repairs, roof inspections, and re-roofing for residential and commercial property needs throughout the greater Middle Tennessee region. Our complimentary, no-obligation roof inspections are where your path to storm damage repair-from finding out the problem to scheduling repairs-begins.
Was your roof hit with hail or high winds this season? Don’t wait, a simple repair now may save you costly replacement down the road!
Call the roof repair and inspection experts at TCS Roofing today.
Contact us: (615) 997-4276 Website: https://tcsroofer.com/
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