Storm Damage Restoration: What to Expect
A storm is one of the most common types of natural disasters that people experience. It brings water and winds that could cause a lot of damage to homes.
After a storm, the first thing that most of us tend to do is inspect our home for damages, and rightly so. It’s important to check if any issues need immediate attention so that they don’t cause further damage.
But what happens after that? Here’s a detailed walkthrough of the storm damage restoration process. In other words, here’s what you should do after every storm.
Storm Damage Roof Restoration
Contact Your Insurance Company
The first thing you should do is contact your homeowners insurance company. A lot of people will want to have their homes checked by insurance adjusters as soon as possible after a storm. Most of these insurance companies follow a first-come, first-served basis. So, the sooner you contact them, the better.
While you usually have 12–24 months to file an insurance claim in these instances, it’s better to do it immediately. Even if there are no urgent repairs needed for your roof, it’s still important to have it checked. In this way, you can ensure that your roof stays durable and strong.
Check Your Roof
After talking to your insurance company, check your roof condition. You can do this yourself by climbing a ladder and looking for roof damages like missing shingles. Make sure to take proper caution when doing this.
This doesn’t have to be too detailed or thorough. Just take note of the damages you can see so that you have a general idea of your roof’s condition.
If you can’t do it yourself, contact a roof inspector to do the job for you. It will cost you money, but at least you’re assured that you won’t miss any roof issues you might have.
Make sure to take pictures of the damages you see. This will help you later on when you file your insurance claims.
Address Urgent Issues
If there are any holes or slots in your roof where water could seep into, try temporarily addressing them.
Use a sealant to block off the holes or reattach the shingles. For flat roofs, you can also siphon pooled water so that they don’t cause leaks in your home.
Remember that these are only temporary solutions while you wait for professionals to fix the damages properly.
Have an Insurance Adjuster Assess Your Roof Condition
After getting in touch with your insurance company, they would send an insurance adjuster. They will thoroughly assess the condition of your roof. They will also give you a cost estimate depending on the damage to your roof.
It might be good to have other roof inspectors or contractors assess your roof as well. In this way, you can get a point of reference for roof repair costs.
Hire a Roofing Contractor
Some insurance companies have a partner roofing contractor that could do the repairs for you. They often give discounts and warranties for their services. If the partner contractor has a good reputation, you can go ahead and hire them.
But you also have the right to hire a third-party roofing contractor. In doing so, you can choose the best-rated professionals to ensure that the job is done properly. If you know someone that can deliver the same quality of work for a lower price, you might want to hire them instead.
Repair or Replace Your Roof
After finding a roofing contractor, all that’s left is to actually repair or replace your roof. Minor damages like dents or a few chipped shingles only need to be repaired.
If the storm damage is more extensive, though, a repair might not be able to cover it. If a lot of water has already gotten into your roof structure, you might end up having to replace your roof completely.
Effects of Wind and Hail Damage on Your Roof
There are four main causes of roof damage you could get from a storm—wind, water, hail, or debris.
Strong winds can remove or curl your shingles. Missing or curled shingles allow water and other elements to get under them.
Water may also pool on your roof and cause leaks due to the weight. They could also clog gutters and cause moisture to seep into your roof.
Hail almost always brings damage to your roof. It can cause tears or missing granules on your shingles. It can also dent or cut other roofing materials.
Debris may sometimes get on your roof due to strong winds. These can be anywhere from simple dirt to a branch or twig that could damage your roof’s surface.
Here are some of the effects that water, debris, wind, and hail damage could bring to your roof if not addressed properly and as soon as possible.
Weakened Durability
Even minor damages to your roof can affect its durability. Missing granules might not seem like a big deal, but they affect the ability of your roof to be waterproof.
Pooled water on flat roofs may dry off. But it could cause your roofing material to bend inwards and cause leaks the next time it rains.
Shortened Roof Lifespan
A damaged roof also causes its lifespan to shorten. If broken shingles aren’t replaced, they could cause you more problems in the future.
You might think that your roof damage isn’t that severe to go through all the hassle since there are temporary solutions for them. But that’s all that these fixes are—temporary. Don’t compromise the quality of your roof just to save some money.
Having your roof last for five or ten years less than they’re intended to will actually cost you more money for a total reroofing later on.
Reduced Property Value
A damaged roof doesn’t work in its best condition. This fact alone already reduces your property value. Objectively speaking, why give value to something that doesn’t serve its purpose?
A damaged roof is also unpleasant to look at. It reduces your curb appeal. And it’s a big deal especially if you’re looking to sell your home.
Roof Replacement and Repairs After a Storm
You’re not required to go through the roof restoration process after every storm. It’s always up to you. Just remember that taking these preventive measures will pay off in the future. You’ll thank yourself for taking the time and effort now to make sure your roof stays in its best condition and lasts for years to come.
To recap, here’s the storm damage roof restoration process:
- Contact your homeowners insurance company. Let them know about your situation after the storm, whether there are visible damages or not.
- Climb a ladder and survey your roof for any damages. Document these to have better grounds for your insurance claims.
- If there are issues that need immediate attention, address them as soon as possible. You can resort to temporary fixes to prevent these issues from causing more problems.
- Have your roof condition thoroughly assessed by an insurance adjuster. You might also want to have other contractors inspect your roof and give you a cost estimate.
- Hire a roofing contractor to do the repairs. You can go with your insurance company’s partner contractor. But you can also hire your own contractor. It’s up to you.
- Have the necessary repairs done on your roof. If needed, you might have to replace your roof completely.