As fall moves along, we experience even more blustery weather, which can lead to more storm damage. Now is a good time to review your property to take steps to better protect your home and reduce the risk of water damage.
Why Storms Are Hard on Roofs
Wind can lift off tiles and strip away ridge mortar, and take flashing with it. Driving rain will find a way through any imperfection in the roof covering. Even the smallest weakness can let water in, which can spread to other areas of the roof structure.
Walk Around and Look Up
Take a walk around your house to look for problem areas. Do a visual inspection for roof tiles that appear to be cracked or have shifted, valleys in the ridge lines that appear to be uneven, and areas where there is loose or collected debris on lower roofs or porches. If something doesn’t appear right to you from the ground, chances are it warrants a closer inspection from a professional.
Keep the Water Moving
Blocked gutters and downpipes can lead to damp patches on walls and ceilings. Make sure leaves and silt are not blocking the gutters and check joints for leaks. Make sure brackets are affixed firmly so they do not become dislodged during heavy downpours.
Secure the Details
Chimneys, flashing and vents can take a real beating in bad weather. Look for broken or cracked pointing, or lifting lead or cement fillets. All of these can allow water behind flashing and other flashings, and will eventually cause water damage. Repairing these small areas will be a lot cheaper than repairing interior damage caused by water.
Check Inside Too
On a dry day, take a torch up into the loft. Drips, stains on timbers and insulation, or daylight peeking through the roof, suggest a leak or a poor roof. It’s better to see these things in October, than in a January gale.
After the Storm
When the wind has stopped, look at the roof from the ground and see if there is any damage. If there is damage, then you need to take photos of the damage to make a claim on your insurance. Contact a roofer to come and make a temporary fix to the roof.
Need your roofs inspected? Stockton Roofs can do that. We can repair roofs as well. Don’t know how your roof will hold up this winter? Call us for a free discussion.