Many radars can tell you that a storm is coming, but it cannot show you the damage that the wind will do to your roof. There is not too much you can do to protect a roof from a storm, but there are some things to keep in mind if damage does occur.
It is not easy to assess the damage to the roof after a storm. Small repairs may be needed, or the entire roof may have to be replaced. It is best to have a professional Vancouver roof repair contractor to assess the damage inflicted to the roof.
Storm Damage and Your Roof
Wind, hail, falling trees, and rain can cause damage to your roof. These are the most common elements that damage roofs. Wind can blow the shingles off of the roof, leaving it open to water damage. Water can get into the underlayment and leak into the home. Even a small number of missing shingles can allow water into the house. Nailing a shingle back in place does not always solve the problem. The individual shingles may need to be replaced, or the roof may need to be replaced depending on the number of missing shingles.
If the shingles have blown off during the storm, the underlayment must be checked. If not corrected, there may be additional problems in the future. The number of shingles that have blown off will determine if a repair or replacement is needed. Water damage and the age of the roof will also assist in resolving this.
Hail that hits the home can remove the granules from the shingles. The granules protect the home from UV rays. If shingles are prematurely damaged, they may crack and may blow off the roof.
The fewer the granules on the shingles, the lower level of protection from UV rays the roof is receiving. The roof will also age quicker and will need to be replaced sooner. Insurance adjusters can look at the roof, and there is a formula to determine if hail has caused enough damage where the roof will need to be replaced.
Insurance companies also vary when it comes to covering the cost of repairs, or deciding if the entire roof needs to be replaced. There is a unique formula that they use that can determine the rate at which the hail was hitting the roof and the amount of damage that it caused.
Falling trees can damage the roof. The tree can make a hole in the roof, allowing water and wind to get inside of the home. If the damage is only partial, the areas affected can be rebuilt. If the impact from the tree goes beyond visible damage, water may have gotten into the home, causing a more significant issue.
Pieces of the tree can continue to fall onto the roof even after the initial impact. The entire tree may land on the roof, so it is better to be safe and leave home until everything is settled.
Rain alone will not cause a significant amount of damage to the roof unless there is also a problem in the structure of the roof. There are some things to be aware of to detect interior water damage after a storm. You may not notice right away that shingles are missing, and that water is slowly making its way into the home.
By the time you notice the water damage, there may be additional issues. If the roof has a history of water damage issues due to poor quality installation, then replacement or repairs may not be covered.
Assessing the Damage
The most common type of damage from a storm is leaking water. Go to the attic and check this out. Look for damp spots on the ceiling and check the insulation to see if it is moist. Many leaks are not broad enough to notice.
A trip to the attic can help the homeowner find other issues as well. Be sure to contact a roofing contractor is anything looks out of place.
Tarping the Roof
If a storm is expected, the most important thing that a homeowner can do is to put a tarp on the roof. Many home supply stores have roofing tarps. If the tarp is not big enough for the entire roof, place it over the spots that are damaged. This will help prevent the amount of damage done to the roof.
You will need to make sure the tarp is secure. Edge the entire perimeter of the tarp with two by four boards and nail them onto the roof. Since the damage areas will need to be repaired anyways, the nails will not hurt it.
It is recommended to nail the boards down and not just the tarp. This will provide additional protection to the roof.
Working with a Roofing Contractor
After a storm, calling a roofing storm damage restoration company can be frustrating. They are often busy, and it may take several weeks to get an appointment. Storm damage keeps contractors very busy. If the roof is damaged, you need to tarpit to prevent further damage to the home until a contractor can come out and fix it.
At this time you also need to contact your insurance company adjuster and take pictures of the damage and the damage it is causing to the rest of your home. Do not answer to any random person that comes to your door and offers to fix your roof right away. There is a chance they can be skilled, but more than likely they are shabby contractors that will leave your roof in worse shape than when you started.
These fly by night contractors often don’t take responsibility for the work they do and leave town as soon as the project is over. They are less likely to provide quality work, and you may not even be able to contact them down the road if there is a problem.
Cooper Roofing Vancouver
1285 W Broadway #600, Vancouver, BC V6H 3X8
(604) 674-0319
https://cooperroofs.ca/