What to Do After Storm Damage 2021
What to Do After Storm Damage? Good question… Severe weather can turn your life upside down in the blink of an eye, especially here in tornado alley. When you’re busy handling a hundred million things that come at you in your everyday life, it’s hard to know what to do when your home, your family, and all of your life’s most precious possessions suddenly get upturned by a violent weather outbreak.
If you have been hit by severe weather, you will need to know how to inspect for damages, choose a contractor, and work with your insurer throughout the claims process. That said, the purpose of this article is to make sure that if you do get hit by a severe weather occurrence, you are well prepared for it.
We hope this article will help you get your home, your family, and life back to normal as fast and as easily as possible after a storm…
Need Help with a Storm Damage Claim?
Sellers Roofing Company – New Brighton specializes in all types of storm damage repair and severe weather damage restorations. We are only a call away if you need the opinion of an experienced local professional, and our advice is always free. Give us a call during normal business hours at (651) 703 2336, or click any of the buttons like the one below on our site to schedule a meeting with one of our storm damage experts at your convenience!
What to Do After Storm Damage
During a storm, your roof generally gets the brunt of the beating because it is the part of your home that is the most exposed to the harsh elements. If you have been the victim of a violent windstorm, ice storm, tornado, or other severe weather occurrence, and you think you may have taken on damages, the first thing that you should do thoroughly inspect your home’s exterior.
This next section will go over the main areas that could be hit on your home’s exterior during severe weather, and give you tips on each one to make sure you can inspect for storm damages like the pros!
Roof Hail Damage Inspection Checklist
Hail can damage your home in many areas, from damaging gutters and bruising shingles to chipping paint off on your fence and even breaking windows. The storm damage inspection checklist below will go over all of the areas that you should inspect if you believe that your home has suffered hail damage, and tell you what to look for in each area.
But before we get started… Here is a heads up on safety:
SAFETY TIP: Always have someone to spot you on the ladder, and never climb onto the roof unless you know how to do it safely. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that in 2018 alone, more than 493,500 ladder-related injuries were treated in emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and clinics. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that 97% of falls from ladders happen at home. So be careful!
Again, our expert storm damage inspectors are available for storm damage evaluations free of charge! If you need us don’t hesitate to contact us.
Materials You Will Need for the Job:
- A Notepad and Pen
- A Tape Measure for Documentation of Key Areas of Damage
- Sidewalk Chalk to Mark Damaged Areas
- A Ladder (and a helper to spot you)
- A Digital Camera (the one on your phone is fine if it’s over 5mp)
How to Inspect Asphalt Shingle Roofs for Hail Damage
According to the Insurance Information Institute, (III) Minnesota was ranked #5 in the country for hail damage claims in 2019, with 49,973 hail damage claims. That’s not counting all of the hail damage that was left unseen or untreated, which, from our experience, would make the number significantly higher.
Here’s the thing…
Hail damage is hard to spot; sometimes impossible to see from ground level. Many times, hail damage to asphalt shingles is not even noticed and therefore allowed to go untreated, which causes the damaged areas to worsen over time and cause costly damages that could have been avoided if properly inspected to begin with.
Here is how to inspect your asphalt shingles for hail damage:
To inspect asphalt shingles hail damage, you want to inspect the surface of the shingle carefully for indentions and/or areas where the surface granules are missing. Look for dark spots (bruises) on the shingle surface, cracks in the shingles, or broken or missing shingles. Always inspect the gutters and valleys for dents and signs of granule loss, as the broken off granules will accumulate in these areas after a storm.
How to Inspect Cedar Shake Roofs for Hail Damage
To inspect cedar shake roofs for hail damage, check the surface for any scrapes, splinters, or cracks in the shakes. What you are looking for are hail impact marks on or near fresh splits in the wood. Small hailstones will generally not cause enough damage to wood shingles or wood shakes to cause any significant damages to shake roof functionality.
How to Inspect Slate Tile Roofs for Hail Damage
To inspect slate tile roofs for hail damage, inspect for cracks and fissures, punctures, or broken shingles. These types of damages could potentially be functional damage, meaning that they could weaken the integrity of your roof system and cause more costly damages to the underlayment and decking beneath.
Also, look for areas where the tiles appear to have layers broken off. Slate is a sedimentary stone composed of layers, so hail damage may take a portion of the layers off of the surface upon impact. The layers missing could be functional damage if they are severe enough.
How to Inspect Metal Roofs for Hail Damage
To inspect metal roofs for hail damage, wait until after a rain when the roof is still wet, and look for small dings and craters in the surface. If you are safe climbing on the roof, you can use the side of your sidewalk chalk to reveal small dents. If you have aluminum combustion vent caps, you can also inspect those for damage, because they dent much easier than your metal roof, and will definitely show signs of damage if you have taken on any.
How to Inspect Your Roof for Wind Damage
The wind has a tendency to move over your roof erratically, so the corners and edges of the roof are more susceptible to higher wind pressures, while the center is susceptible to lower stresses. The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) points out something that you may already know… If you’ve ever seen a strip off roofing material pulled back by the wind, then you’ve seen how most wind damage to a roof starts.
That being said, make sure that the materials on the edges and corners of your roof are strong and in good condition to withstand high winds. Look for areas of your roof where the roofing material looks a little loose, because the wind can move under it and push it up, When this type of damage starts, it will gradually worsen with repeated exposure to wind. This peeling effect causes the roof deck to be exposed to the weather, and then rain can get in and start to cause leaks and water damage.
Signs of a Wind Damaged Roof
Something you want to keep in mind when you are inspecting your property after a wind storm is that wind damage to your roof and your home’s exterior will show differently depending on the type of material that it damages. The damages could anywhere from be minimal to severe depending on the wind’s direction, strength, duration, and speed.
The first thing your want to look for if you believe you could have wind damage to your home’s exterior is dents and dings on your siding, roof, air conditioner, and other exterior places that could have been impacted. High winds tend to carry dirt, debris, and even branches and furniture with it when it blows hard enough, so inspect anything of value that could have been damaged outside.
Here is a list of what to inspect for it you believe your property may have suffered wind damage:
- Visible Loose or Missing Shingles (check the yard and the roof)
- Dents or Other Damages to Chimney or Roof Vents
- Curled or Peeling Shingles
- Granule Loss (check gutters, valleys, and drainage points for excess granules)
- Damaged Soffit or Fascia Areas
- Indoor Signs Such as Leaks or Broken Windows
- Air Conditioner, Patio, and Outdoor Furniture, Siding. etc.
Contact Your Contractor and Insurance Agent
Severe storms and the resulting damage to your property can be very stressful. After you finish inspecting your property and documenting any damages, the next step is to call your insurance agent to file a claim for storm damage. You will also want to contact an experienced contractor to assesss the damages and estimate repairs and give you a timeline for repairs that need to be done.
Your insurance agent or adjuster will also give you a timeline for potential payouts, so you can figure out your finances on your end. If your home or commercial property is uninhabitable for a period of time, (in cases where you are in need of a total roof replacement, for example), you may be able to recoup some of the interim costs. – Just check with your insurance company.
You can learn more about navigating the claims process here.
What to Do After Storm Damage – Final Thoughts
We hope that this information has answered your question, “What to do after storm damage?” and given you ample information on what to look for if your think that your home has been damaged.
Sellers Roofing Company – New Brighton specializes in storm damage repair, so the first thing on our agenda after your initial assessment is helping you to mitigate the damages by using tarps or other protective materials as soon as possible. This is an important part of the storm damage claim process because insurance companies have been known to tax you if they find out that the necessary steps weren’t taken to make sure that the damages were not allowed to worsen.
Since 2007, we have helped countless customers in the Minneapolis area with navigating claims processes, working hand in hand with their insurance agents to get them the money that they need for repairs. We always work with your best interests in mind, and our opinion is always free!
If you believe that your roof or siding has suffered damages from a recent storm, we would love to come out at your convenience and give you a free assessment of damages and develop a timeline for repairs for you! Click the button below if you need assistance with a storm damage claim now!
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