For houses in hurricane-prone areas, hurricane season and its tools of the trade—high-speed winds—are a nightmare. However, it is feasible to safeguard your property and family from the ravages of hurricanes by avoiding water, wind, and mold damage through adequate planning and roof repair.
Let’s take a closer look at how to do that.
Damages Caused By Hurricanes
According to the National Storm Center, the peak hurricane season runs from mid-August through late October. Various types of property damage can occur during this period, including wind and flood damage.
Indeed, while the wind is invisible, its ability to wreak havoc on your home, particularly the roof, is unrivaled.
Hurricane gusts can reach up to 160 mph, which can cause damage to your roof by hurling objects onto it, blowing it and its attachments off, or pulling vital roofing hardware off. However, the wind is never alone in a storm.
Water and hail are soon behind, and they, too, can exacerbate roof and property damage. Water that seeps in can severely impact the construction, insulation, and inside of your building. Mold can grow in the most unlikely places and cause illness in family members.
Storms can combine with tornadoes to tear a structure apart in the worst-case scenario.
Tips On Reinforcing Your Roof Before The Hurricane Season
Here’s how you reinforce the roof:
- Regular Maintenance
Annual roof inspections are required for properties located in hurricane-prone zones. A reputable contractor will inspect the roof’s integrity and, if necessary, perform the necessary repairs before the hurricane. The best time to have your roof inspected is before hurricane season.
The contractor will inspect the roof membranes for holes, rips, and other signs of wear and tear throughout the evaluation. They’ll check the seals and attachments of all flashings.
Additionally, the contractor will inspect any installed equipment to ensure secure and adequately sealed against all penetrations.
Always have a roofing contractor inspect and maintain your roof regularly. Regular maintenance will identify minor concerns and allow for resolutions before they become serious ones. Avoid rushing to the roofing repair specialist when hurricane season starts, as they will be unable to help much.
- Clean the Gutters and Drains
A properly working gutter system clears the water from the roof quickly to prevent stagnant water that causes water damage. You can unclog the gutters and drains by replacing the weak or worn-down accessories.
- Secure the Furniture and Other Equipment on Your Yard
Your yard’s furniture and tools might become dangerous projectiles, causing damage to your roof and property. Hurricane-force winds have the potential to fling your movable pool onto the roof at Porsche-like speeds, posing a severe safety hazard.
Shift furniture, trampolines, and other equipment to a shed or garage to protect your family and property. If anything is too heavy to move, properly secure it in place.
- Work on the Tiles and Shingles
When a hurricane makes landfall, exposed tiles and shingles may be thrown off, causing water damage to the roof and residence. The roof is your property’s first line of defense. As such, make sure that it can endure a hurricane assault. A roof inspection would undoubtedly identify loose shingles or tiles that required repair before the hurricane.
Apart from mending the tiles and shingles, roof straps can be used to secure the roof. Straps are the most recent advancement in the roofing industry. They reinforce the connection between the ceiling and the roof, making it more difficult for the hurricane to separate them.
- Trim the Trees and Get Rid of any Debris Around the Home
The thick roots and stems are no match for the hurricane winds, and it’s not uncommon to find fallen trees all over after the season. Consider removing any large trees near the home.
While shade from the tree in your yard may be great during the summer, a tree going through the roof and landing in your living room is not a pretty sight. On the other hand, having too many branches near the roof and windows is never a good idea. The branches can rub against the shingles, tiles, or even the windows and cause major damage.
Preparing your roof for a hurricane is vital to avoid property damage and prevent injuries. Schedule the roof maintenance you’ve been putting off, and contact a roof repair professional before the hurricane season.
