Disasters can strike at any time, and when they do, it is often unexpected. Whether the disaster is caused by fire, a storm, or other types of natural disasters, there are ways that you can prepare your roof and protect it. Preparing your roof for natural disasters is the best way to protect your home. Once your roof becomes damaged, your home can very quickly begin to deteriorate. Your roof is a frontline measure that protects against the elements, and they can be very costly and laborious to replace.
This article will tell you a few simple ways in which you can prepare your home’s roof against major disasters of all kinds. Preparing your roof is a preventative measure to ensure that your home is protected, so it is absolutely essential for all homeowners. By the end of this article, you will be able to protect your roof in the face of all kinds of disasters. Some of the suggestions on this page will be preventative, others will be safeguarding measures [such as insurance].
Here are a few simple ways that you can prepare your home’s roof against major disasters.
Inspecting Your Roof
Having your roof regularly inspected is a great way to ensure that it is in good condition and can withstand a storm. Our roof is a very important part of our home, and according to the roofing specialists of Avidus Roofing, it is our first line of defense, which is why it is instrumental to protecting our home to have it checked and inspected regularly. Roof inspections should be undertaken at least once a year. You can hire a roofer to come and inspect your roof, or if you are insured [which we will discuss], you can ask your insurance company to come and send someone out.
Insurance
Insurance is a great way to ensure that should damage your roof occur that you will be compensated for the costs of the repairs. Roofing repairs can cost a massive amount of money – which is why insurance should be at the front of everyone’s minds. Natural disasters are occurring with alarming frequency across North America, so insurance is more relevant than ever. Shop around for your insurance and try to find the best deal you can to save yourself money. Insurance is an absolute necessity and ensures you are always covered for natural disasters.
Fix Loose Tiles or Shingles
If you find that on your roof, you have loose tiles or shingles, it’s best to repair them. In high winds, loose tiles and shingles can detach from your roof and cause damage to your home, roof, or even cars below. Loose tiles and shingles are a great danger to anyone standing beneath them. If tiles and shingles detach from your roof, then this increases the chances of water damage occurring in your home, which can lead to further damages and costs. You can likely repair loose shingles and tiles yourself, although if you are not confident, definitely hire a roofing contractor to do it for you.
Secure Furniture Outdoors
While not, of course, related to your roof, it is worth mentioning that if you have any furniture in your garden or loose pieces of equipment lying around, secure them. In serious storms, such as hurricanes or tornadoes, these can be sucked upwards and can actually end up on your roof, however unlikely it sounds. Additionally, they can be thrust into your home and can cause significant damage to your house. It is always good to secure outdoor furniture when you are not using them, or just in general. For example, if you have tables and chairs, consider screwing them into the ground to secure them.
Fascia and Soffit
Fascia boards are found just beneath the metal lining of your roof, and soffit boards beneath the overhanging areas of your roof. Rotting wood on either of these can be a big problem should a tornado or hurricane strike. If they are rotten, they will be weak, so in high winds [like in a tornado or hurricane], they will be more easily torn from the roof. Fascia and soffit boards should always be inspected and repaired should any damage occur to them, for they are very important parts of protecting and preserving your roof.
Overhanging Trees or Dead Branches
If you have a garden with tall trees, it is worth having a tree surgeon come in and inspect your tree for dead branches and to reduce overhanging branches. In hurricanes or tornadoes, these can be a big problem. Truthfully, if you live in an area prone to natural disasters, you might want to just have the trees cut down. If you have tall trees in your yard, they can easily snap and fall, crushing your home and potentially injuring you and your family.
Tarpaulin
In the wake of a storm or natural disaster, roofers are usually in high-demand and hard to find. In order to protect your home from water damage or just to prevent anything from getting into your home, like leaves or birds, a tarpaulin is necessary. But, just like roofers will be in high demand, so too will tarpaulin. It may be best, as a preventative measure, to buy a tarpaulin beforehand so that if a storm strikes, you will be prepared, and your home will be able to withstand the storm without sustaining any more damage.
Debris, Junk, and Rubbish
Clearing debris, junk, leaves, and rubbish from your gutters will mean that after a storm, your gutters will allow the rainwater to flow instead of blocking up. Blocked up gutters can quickly break or lead to leaks forming in your home [or water damage occurring]. Water damage and leaks can lead to mold, which can be toxic in some cases. Always clean your gutters so that if a storm does occur, you will be able to prevent your home from flooding or your gutters from detaching and breaking.
With the help of this page, you now know a few ways to prepare your roof for a storm or any type of disaster. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure, and that is a sentiment we share, which is why we have compiled this list for you.
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