You want a safe home. You want a warm home. And of course, you want an energy-efficient home. Do you know what can help you achieve all of these goals? Your roof. That's right, if you call up a roofer and tell them about your desires, they can recommend some roofing repairs or materials to help you achieve those desires. They may recommend a metal roof, or they might recommend adding zinc strips to the roof peak. It all depends. One thing we can promise, though, is that learning more about roofing is a good idea. This blog is a good resource, but we recommend looking for other ones, too.
Things a Roofer May Look For When Checking Your Roof for Storm Damage
You may need residential roofing services after a bad storm affects your area. Asphalt shingles are made to tolerate storms, but sometimes winds can be so strong and damaging that shingles are damaged or ripped off. When that happens, having repairs done as soon as possible protects your home from water damage. Here are some things the roofer may look for when inspecting your shingles for storm damage.
Circular Marks on the Shingles
The roofer looks for hail damage by examining the shingles for circular spots that look like dents or bruises. Shingles with these marks need to be replaced because they are at a high risk of leaking as time goes by. If the hail damage covers a large part of your roof, the contractor might recommend that your roof is replaced.
Loose and Missing Shingles
When the wind lifts shingles, it can pull shingles out of place or tear them off. Loose shingles need to be nailed down and missing shingles need to be replaced. If most of your roof is torn off, then a roof replacement may be recommended. Also, the roofer may suggest covering your roof with a tarp so rain stays out of your house.
Deck Damage From Debris
The roofer also checks the structure of your deck to make sure there are no holes from tree limbs or other debris slamming against your roof. Holes need to be patched right away, but since it might take time to work through your insurance company and schedule the work, the roofer might suggest temporarily patching the hole or covering it with a tarp.
Loose Chimney Bricks
If the roofer finds loose bricks or chimney damage, they'll let you know so you can schedule repairs. A damaged chimney might eventually affect your roof if bricks fall or the chimney collapses. The roofer may also check the flashing around the chimney and other places on your roof to make sure the flashing still looks intact and watertight.
Once your roof has been checked, you'll know if you need to repair storm damage and if you want to file a claim with your insurance company. You won't need your roof checked after every storm, but when you see a lot of damage in your neighborhood, or if the storm had big hail, getting your roof checked as soon as you can could save you from roof leaks later on.
Residential roofing services may be in high demand when a storm causes a lot of damage in your city, so calling a roofer right after the storm could get you an appointment earlier so you don't have to live with a storm-damaged roof any longer than necessary.