The weather outside is frightful…
Sheets of rain wash over your house. Booming thunder shakes the skies. Arching lighting illuminates storm clouds in eerie silhouettes. Branches scratch against your windows. Hail bombards your roof.
Eventually the storm passes, but you’re left wondering is my roof okay? So let’s walk through the steps you should take immediately after a storm hits your roof.
First, Inspect Your Home.
Once the storm settles, walk around the perimeter of your house and check the roof from the ground. We recommend using binoculars to get an up close look at any bent flashing or peeling shingles. Check out our blog: How to Safely Inspect Your Roof for more information.
Inside check your ceilings and upper walls for any water damage. Look out for grey stains, subtle drips, or musty smells. If possible check inside your attic for the same things. Leaks are likely to appear within the attic before they make it inside. We have an entire blog on finding and fixing leaks.
We cannot reiterate this enough: for your own safety, please do NOT walk on your roof. Leave that to your local roofing company in Virginia Beach. We have the safety harness, hard hats, non-slip shoes— all the safety precautions we need to protect ourselves.
If you really want to get on your roof, call your local roofing contractor in Virginia Beach. Roofers like us offer free, no-obligation roof inspections to keep you safe.
Next, Document the Damage.
Documentation is essential for insurance claims. It will also help your roofers understand the problem. So include photos of any missing shingles, holes, debris, attic water marks, ceiling leaks, or damaged gutters.
Again, do so safely. No need to get on your roof when your phone camera has a zoom function.
If Your Home is at Risk, Prevent Further Damage.
If you have holes in your roof or leaks dripping into your home, contact a trusted roofing company in Virginia Beach. We can provide emergency tarping until we can get out there and complete the roof repair. Virginia Beach is known for its frequent storms and harsh winds. So once you find the problem, don’t let it become any worse.
If You Haven’t Already Done so, Call in the Professionals.
Contact a certified roofing contractor in Virginia Beach for a formal inspection if you haven’t already done so. Yes, we know we’re starting to sound like a broken record. But the reason we harp on formal inspections is because they protect you.
We can spot non-obvious issues that you might have missed. If left unseen, they might spiral into expensive repairs. Secondly, our inspections document the damage, helping you with your insurance claim.
Call Your Insurance Company.
Now some roofers will say they will cover all communication with the insurance company. Even then, it is still a good idea to cover all your bases. Call your insurance company and provide all that documentation. Insurance companies will often do everything in their power to avoid paying a claim, so come prepared.
Finally, Keep the Documentation.
Once the roof repair is complete and the insurance claim is settled, it is still a good idea to keep the documentation. You never know when you might need it again. Also, our inspections provide you with a diagnosis of your roof’s health. That diagnosis can inform big decisions like when to replace your roof.
In fact, 33% of all roof replacements are done because of storm damage. So stay ahead of the damage and contact us for a free inspection.