Extreme storms and weather conditions can pose significant threats to your home, causing major wear and tear on your roof. Storm damage can be catastrophic in regions where tornadoes, hail, or hurricanes are common. Winter storms, characterized by heavy snowfall and ice, can damage your roof structure and lead to ice dams that cause melting snow to leak into your home. Proactive preparation for storm seasons can prevent or drastically minimize roof damage.
Tip 1. Get Your Roof Inspected in Advance
Maintaining your roof is crucial for maximizing its lifespan. It’s especially important to have your roof inspected before storm seasons. Routine maintenance helps detect minor weaknesses or damage that could worsen during a storm. Damaged or missing shingles can allow rain and snow to penetrate the protective layer of your roof. Missing or cracked tiles should be promptly replaced or repaired. Any section of your roof showing signs of damage is more likely to fail during a severe storm.
Tip 2. Trim Trees
Tree limbs or branches that extend over your roof could lead to disaster during a storm. Trees don’t need to fall on your roof to destroy it, and branches don’t need to break off to cause damage. Wind can blow branches close enough to touch your roof, lifting off shingles or roofing tiles as the tree sways. Dead limbs or branches that break off completely can cause serious damage, potentially cracking beams or puncturing the roof. Trim your trees annually and keep branches at least six feet away from the roof to minimize the risk of falling branches and prevent debris accumulation that could lead to mold and mildew damage.
Tip 3. Remove Debris
If debris collects on the roof, you want to remove it from the roof and the gutters. Debris in the gutters can clog them, leading to mold and rot. Ensure that your roof is free of debris multiple times a year, especially before storm season happens.
Tip 4. Fortify Your Roof From the Inside
A key part of inspecting and reinforcing your roof is to inspect it from the inside. Head up to your attic and look for any fragile pieces that might be crumbling or falling apart. Check for water or mold stains, which could indicate a leak. If you see signs of structural weakness or leaks, talk to your roofing technician and have them make the needed repairs.
Tip 5. Have Your Gutters Cleaned
Part of your annual roofing maintenance inspection should include having your gutters cleaned. Heavy rain could back up if your gutters are packed with debris. If water is allowed to stay in contact with the roof, it can leak into other areas of your home. Before the storm season, have roofing professionals come out and clean your gutters. Don’t try to do it yourself.
Tip 6. Check For Rust
Before a major storm arises, look for any rusted nails or metal connections. Rust on any metal part of your roof is an indication that your roof is starting to wear out. Even a mild storm that blows through your area, let alone a tornado or hurricane, could lead to rusted metal parts of your roof giving out.
Tip 7. Use Blue Tarps to Create a Buffer Zone
Have you ever seen blue tarps covering roofs during hurricane season? Blue tarps can protect roofs temporarily. They shield shingles and tiles from heavy rain, wind-propelled debris, hail, and other things that could damage the roof. High-quality hurricane tarps create a waterproof buffer and are usually made from strong polyethylene.
Tip 8. Use Roof Straps
Galvanized and stainless steel offer effective solutions when hurricane-force winds loom. Hurricane roof straps and metal brackets that typically connect beams to wall structures disperse wind uplift from the roof to your home’s foundation.
While many new buildings already integrate these essential safeguards during construction, older homes can also benefit. This ever-advancing technology can be installed on existing residences.
Tip 9. Reinforce Flashing
Flashing is what keeps the rain out during a hurricane or heavy storm. Have a roofing technician check the flashing to ensure that it is effective and in good condition. If there are gaps in the flashing or it looks like it may be decaying, you’ll want your roofing professional to reinforce, replace, or seal your flashing to keep you safe and dry during the storm.
Tip 10. Use Roofing Cement and Construction Adhesive
If you’re considering having a roofing professional reinforce your roof, they can apply a line of roofing cement around the edge of a shingle that’s still in good condition but may be at risk of lifting. They’ll extend the roofing cement across much of the roof to ensure a secure hold on any identified shingles. Additionally, they can reinforce the rafters and trusses to prevent them from dislodging during severe weather. Using construction adhesive, they’ll apply a bead along the connection points of the rafters and trusses with the roof deck to ensure structural stability under high-stress conditions.
Understanding the Signs of Water Damage on Your Roof
Water damage commonly affects roofs, particularly during storm season. Ensuring proper maintenance of your roof is essential to prevent such damage. Recognizing the signs of water damage allows you to promptly contact a roofing professional to address the issue and prevent further deterioration.
Stains on Walls and Ceilings
If you see brown or yellow stains on your walls and ceilings after a heavy storm, it is likely because of a leaky roof. These water spots are often found near the center of the room and may also be seen on the corners or exterior wall.
Mold on Exterior Walls
If you see mold growing on exterior walls after a storm, you likely have a leak. It can be a challenge to identify the location of the leak. However, a roofer can help you find the source of the water and then lay out a plan to fix the issue.
Dripping Water
If you see or hear water dripping in your attic or another part of your house during or after the storm, this is a clear sign that you have a roof leak. Even if the leak is only present during a heavy storm, you still want to get it checked out to ensure that it does not get worse. Winter storms may lead to an ice dam forming. Even intermittent leaks can cause serious problems.
Trusted HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, and Roofing Professionals in Greensboro, North Carolina
At Aurora Pro Services Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electrical, & Roofing, we have committed ourselves to becoming licensed and insured as qualified contractors in many areas. Our goal is to ensure that we can take care of your home’s needs. Over the years, we have garnered several awards and certifications proving the quality of our work. We have more than a thousand excellent Google reviews and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
Our services include roofing inspections, repairs, and replacements. We also offer general plumbing, HVAC installation and repair, electrical repair, electrical installation, and safety inspections. Contact Aurora Pro Services Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electrical, & Roofing today and see for yourself our commitment to our customers.
