A good roofing system keeps a house safely protected in any type of weather conditions. But it is difficult to predict what natural disasters will do to your home’s roofing. Tropical storms for example, can cause severe damage to your roof in an instant. When a storm strikes your area, immediate response is critical to lower the percentage of damages in properties. Here are four ways to manage a storm-damaged roof.
Check Roof at Once
Do an ocular inspection of the roof after a typhoon. In executing this, safety should be top priority. Binoculars will help you get a better view, and if the storm was mild, use a ladder, but only if you’re comfortable on one. Check if there are holes, broken or cracked shingles that need replacement, or dented roof vents. Check the ceiling inside for any leaks and clear up gutters at once. Checking the roof allows you to document if necessary and calculate the amount needed for the repairs so you can decide on the next step. If needed, ask for an inspector to do further roof assessment. Do not get on your roof until it is safe and the storm has passed. If you’ve had significant damage, leave the physical inspection to the professionals.
Call Insurance Provider
Call your insurance provider once you’ve inspected the damage to discuss the coverage of your homes insurance policy. Most providers cover roof damage due to natural disasters. But if you live in an area that does not often experience storms, it’s best to find out about your coverage before a storm hits.
Home insurance providers check the age of the roof. For example, a roof system with a lifespan of no more than 10 years will most likely get full insurance coverage. On one hand, if it is more than 20 years, calculation of insurance coverage will be based on the worth of the roofing system at the time house was constructed. Be sure to take snaps of any visible roof damage after the storm. These photos are necessary for requesting claims for reimbursement of costs, whether partial or in full.
Contact Reputable Contractor
If the insurance provider does not have an option to fix your storm-damaged roof due to limited coverage, you can contact a reputable contractor to do the job. Most contractors would be very busy, but it is beneficial for you to contact a trusted roofing specialist to do the repairs. Professional roofers know how to completely fix partially or completely damaged roof systems, safely and with a guarantee. You can shop around and ask contractors for estimates to compare and choose who can give the best price with highest quality service. Ask about their experience in restoring damaged roofs after natural disasters, and check out reviews from previous clients about their service, just to be sure.
Choose High Quality Roofing Materials
After careful assessment, often times it is better to replace the whole roof, rather than try and repair a part of it. It may be costly, but it is the best option there is. In replacing the roofing system, your choice of roofing materials extends longevity and makes it highly durable to withstand changing weather conditions over time. There are options of metal, slate, clay tiles, shingles, and solar tiles as roofing materials. Choose the material that matches the current structure of the house.
Natural disasters are inevitable. These could severely damage your property, like the roofing system, in a blink of an eye. Effective management of storm-damaged roof is necessary for complete restoration, safety and peace of mind.
