A Homeowner’s Guide to Roof Checkups: Prepare for Hurricane Season

Every year, hurricane season comes with the chance of major wind and water damage. Here in Texas, more than 81 tropical or subtropical cyclones have hit our state since 1980, plus 66 hurricanes since 1851 and Bankrate says that you can expect to see about three hurricanes or cyclones in any four-year period as a Texas homeowner.

That’s why it’s so important for you and your home to be prepared when bad weather hits. Hurricanes usually do the most damage to the top of your house – your roof. If you don’t fix problems early, these storms can tear up your roof, causing huge damage and leading to pricey repairs. They might even put your belongings and loved ones at risk.

To help you stay safe, there’s one key step you should take: perform a roof check before storm clouds appear. This simple review helps you find weak spots, fix them and strengthen your roof against heavy winds and pouring rain. In this guide, we’ll walk you through this important process and share some helpful tips and action steps that you can use right away. Let’s dig into the details.

Hurricanes and How They Affect Roofing

Hurricanes can really mess up your home, especially your roof. When these big storms hit, they come with winds that might be strong enough to rip the shingles right off, damage the whole structure and sometimes even make your roof cave in completely.

The rain that comes with hurricanes isn’t any better. If your roof already has some small problems or weak spots, the water will find its way in and cause leaks and water damage inside your house.

You also need to watch out for flying objects during hurricanes. Things like branches, lawn furniture or other debris can slam into your roof, which makes holes or causing other damage that ruins your roof’s ability to protect your home.

You can prevent a lot of this damage before it happens by getting your roof checked out. A solid check-up helps you find any weak spots or damage that might get worse during a hurricane. Fixing these problems ahead of time lowers your chances of ending up with major damage when a storm hits.

Getting your roof looked at also can give you some a chance to strengthen parts that might not hold up well in hurricane conditions. This could mean adding some extra supports or making sure that everything is secured properly.

It’s really helpful to have regular roof check-ups, especially right before hurricane season starts. This helps you stay ahead of any roof problems and saves you money, time and a lot of stress down the road. Making sure that your roof is in nice shape is one of the best ways to protect your home and family when bad weather strikes. A roof check serves as your first step in keeping everyone safe and sound.

What Can You Do To Protect Your Roof in a Hurricane?

Getting your roof checked is a significant part of your long-term plan to keep your property safe during hurricane season. When you check your roof before the storms hit, you can find and fix some small problems before they turn into bigger headaches during a hurricane.

This helps you avoid dealing with major roof damage when the winds and rain are at their worst. You’ll want to schedule these roof checks well ahead of hurricane season, giving you plenty of time to take care of any repairs or add extra support where your roof needs it the most. The nice thing is that these regular checks can help you build a solid plan to protect your home from the damage and destruction that hurricanes can cause.

The Steps in a Preseason Roof Inspection

A helpful preseason roof inspection from a pro can make a big difference in getting ready for hurricanes. It helps you spot any troubles that may need to be fixed.

Pros know what hurricane damage looks like, so they’re a smart choice for checking if your roof can handle major storms. They have seen all of the common problems before and know exactly what to look for when they’re up there.

You’ll save yourself a lot of headaches by bringing someone in before hurricane season starts. This way, you can take care of any problems early. You won’t be scrambling when a storm is coming. Many people wait until the last minute and then can’t find anyone to help them.

Getting your roof checked ahead of time really does help keep your home safe during hurricane season. It’s one of those simple and effective steps that can make a big difference when heavy winds and rains come.

Building Codes and Roof Stability

Building codes for your home exist for a solid reason – they help make sure that your house stays safe and protected when bad weather hits. These codes tell you which building methods and materials to use to help your roof stand up better against strong winds and keep water out.

Making your home hurricane-ready includes many different steps that all work together.

Getting a professional to check that your roof meets these standards is a significant part of keeping your home safe. When they give you the thumbs up, you can feel a bit more at ease when hurricane season comes around!

The Importance of Hurricane Ties: Why You Should Add or Inspect Them

Hurricane ties can help keep your roof in place during a storm. Some people think that they’re really helpful, while others don’t believe they make much of a difference and the truth mostly depends on what kind of roof you have and how your house is built. If they’re a suitable fit for your particular situation, they’re definitely worth getting.

These metal straps create a strong connection between your roof and the walls of your house, which makes your home more resistant to high winds. The extra support from hurricane ties helps prevent uplift, which is when strong winds push your roof upward and can cause major damage during hurricanes.

You should check if your roof already has hurricane ties as part of your regular roof inspection. Most newer homes come with them already installed. But older houses might not have them, so if you do have ties, make sure they’re properly attached and don’t show any signs of rust or damage.

If you don’t have any ties or if the ones you have look worn out, it’s a smart idea to get a professional to add them before hurricane season starts. Adding or checking hurricane ties is a simple step that can help lower the risk of serious damage during a hurricane and makes them a significant part of keeping your roof safe!

More Top for Protecting Your Home

Taking care of leaks right away, especially the ones in your roof vents, is a meaningful part of your roof check routine. This stops more damage from happening and keeps your roof strong. If you ignore these leaks, you might end up with water damage all over your house, a roof that’s not safe anymore and mold that could make you sick.

Keep a list of all of the times you have checked your roof, fixed it or made improvements to it. Make sure to put these significant papers somewhere safe. Having these records really helps when you need to make insurance claims after a hurricane and they also show that you have been taking good care of your roof and following the building rules.

When you’re checking your roof, look for things that might fly around during a hurricane. Put these things away in a safe place. Doing this helps cut down on the damage that might happen during a hurricane when things get thrown around by the wind.

Make sure your home insurance covers damage from storms and hurricanes, including any damage to your roof. Having the right insurance is a important part of getting ready for disasters because it helps pay for repairs you might need later.

It’s a smart move to have a tarp ready to go. Tarps can give your damaged roof some protection after a hurricane until you can get it fixed properly. Being ready with a tarp helps you quickly stop more damage from happening while you wait for someone who can fix your roof. These extra steps, along with checking your roof regularly, are the building blocks of a strong plan to keep your home safe and sound during hurricane season. Just remember that doing things before there’s a problem can save you time, money and stress down the road!

Conclusion

Before hurricane season starts, check your roof to spot any weak spots quickly and figure out what repairs you may need. If you take the steps that we talked about, you’ll likely be able to make your home as safe as possible during a storm.

If you act early, it really helps keep your home and your family more secure. If you’re interested, you might want to get in touch with Roof Republic for a free roof check because they’re one of the top roofing companies around.

It’s wiser to find out if your roof has any problems now rather than during a big storm. Take charge of the situation before the bad weather hits!