First of all, are you okay? Thank God that that’s the only thing the hurricane took. Either way, sorry for your loss and I hope you will be able to get your life back together. Life is very important and I hope you haven’t experienced any loss. In case you have, receive my condolences.

Now, let’s get to the matter at hand: what to do in case your roof got damaged in a hurricane? Hurricanes have no mercy, just like what the Hurricane Michael taught us. This hurricane caused over $15 billion on damaged properties and about 60 losses of life. Others were injured. Some of us have not recovered from the tragic experience of that day.

All in all, life has to continue, and we all have to pick up the pieces and count the little blessings that we still have. Even if you took extreme precautions to protect your home from the storm, you might still have some losses including your roof. Those are some of the bad claws of Mother Nature.

But that’s not the only thing that might have damaged your roof. Debris and punishing winds also take a toll on your roof. The best thing to do is to start arranging for a post-storm check up with a local GAF Master Elite roofer (the most reliable type of contractor licenses around).

Such problems could be very costly and at the same time, you might have to stay out of your home for quite some time.  What’s more, if the whole thing is not handled correctly, you might just have to dig deeper in your pocket.

If you are a homeowner dealing with storm or hurricane related roof damage then the most important thing to do is you need to know how to protect your property. This will help prevent any further damage.

DIY Inspections on your roof after a storm

It is important to remember that professionals would do an even better job. All in all, if you are a hands-on person, there are a few things you can help with to salvage the situation.

Remember that the integrity of your home is compromised and it might fall at any moment. Therefore you need to be careful when conducting your inspection or you might lose more than just the property.

You can start by inspecting inside the attic:

• Conduct your inspection during the day time. This will give you a better view of the condition of your roof and you can also use the sunlight to your advantage. When you see sunlight showing through the plywood, then that’s the first sign that there might be a problem. This shows that there’s a serious hole that needs repair.
• In case you don’t see any holes, then use a flashlight to see any sagging, streaks or dark stains. This will indicate the presence of moisture in your roofing system

The next step is to inspect outside the attic:

• Outside, you might not be able to see most of it at the ground level. But you can walk around the house while examining any signs of roof damages.
• Check for missing shingles which means that they need to be replaced as soon as possible.
• Also, check for cracked shingles that are caused by high winds and flying debris.
• Look for dark patches where the granules might have come off on the shingle. These patches affect the overall look of the roof as well as leave the shingles vulnerable to the scorches of the sun. In time, this will dry the asphalt and cause leaks.
• In addition, you can also look out for bent flashing. These flashings help keep water away from the chimney or any other roof penetrations. Therefore, they should be thoroughly be sealed with some CertainTeed Smart-Flash to prevent any water intrusion.
• Finally, you can look for debris. A simple branch on your roof might seem like a small thing. However, over time, the branch will end up rubbing its granules on the shingles hence leading to a crack. The worst part is that the granules might cover up a crack on the part they have landed on.

Afterward, if the weather has calmed down, you can use a ladder. This will give you a close up look at your roof. Take this time to check for:

• Loose nails: such nails are not easy to see on the ground floor. More to that, the nail might be a storm away from letting go completely.
• Debris in the gutter: these will contribute to ice dams in the coming years. If you are not comfortable doing this job, you can find a good contractor who will be able to do it for you.

So what happens if I find damage in the given areas?

Well, to be honest, I don’t doubt your expertise and I’m sure you can actually take care of your house on your own two hands. However, besides the fact the storm has traumatized you, you also are not well experienced in the area. There’s a certain sense of expertise that comes from doing such jobs over time. That means professionals will be able to handle the situation with ease.

But that shouldn’t worry you at all. You can easily get yourself a royal roofing treatment from a GAF Master licensed roofer (as we mentioned before). The best part is that our team responds instantly with the right tools. You don’t have to endanger your life trying to prove how strong and capable you are. Let us take care of you and your family. I promise we will be gentle with your house.

Final Verdict

Finding the best roofers is important especially after the storm passes. You might choose to return all the furniture to their places but don’t stay in the house until a professional has inspected the entire roof. Otherwise, you risk it collapsing on you.