Little Known Facts About Storm Roof Damage
Our Florida roofing experts, Nick Soverns and Marcus Keilch share the knowledge they’ve gained over years of assessing damage to roofs after hurricanes so that homeowners are aware that you can’t always see all the damages.
Tip #1: Roof Damage Assessments are free, so be sure to request one.
After a hurricane, you’ll probably do what we all do – take a look around your home or business and see if there is any damage. Some damage is obvious, but many types of damage aren’t. Even if you don’t see something that stands out, it’s best to pull in a professional for a free, no-obligation damage assessment.
The last thing anyone wants is to have sustained hurricane damage and be unaware of it, especially in the heart of the storm and rainy seasons. It can create complications with the health and well-being inside, appraisal values, insurance companies’ relationships with clients, and lead to further deterioration.
Unseen Damage
As an expert roofer who has walked thousands of properties in Southern Florida since 2017 Hurricane Irma, Nick wants to reiterate that there are still many old roofs that have not been replaced and are already compromised from past storms. If you have an older roof, this “insider” information can be especially timely.
By the time most hurricanes close in, they have the potential of exceeding 100 MPH sustained winds, accompanied by inches of driving rain, localized tornadoes, and impact strikes caused by airborne debris. The older roofs in particular are extremely susceptible to losing shingles and tiles, especially around past repairs.
What you probably don’t know, is that even the trained eye of an expert can’t usually see much damage from the ground. Nick says, “it wasn’t until I inspected the roofs from above that I found a plethora of issues.” The slope of the average roof is too shallow to get a true idea of the conditions. So it’s important that your inspector does not just assess damage from ground level. “I have only witnessed about 15-20 roofs during inspections over the past couple of years that had no storm damage.”
Discontinued Products
Many homeowners down know that their roof may contain discontinued products. Any home with damage to a discontinued product won’t be able to be matched because the replacement products don’t interlock, overlap, and connect correctly, whether the materials are concrete or clay tiles, asphalt shingles, built-up/flat roofing membranes, composite materials, or metal panels.
Percentage of Damage
If the roof’s materials can be found, but the repairs (which would start from the top down to the damaged area) cover over 25% of the roof surface, the roof would be covered under an insurance claim. Or If the materials have been affected by wind uplift, all of which are Florida statutes, would, with the right guidance and team, entitle your home or business to new roofs.
Stay Safe Out There
When hurricanes hit, the most important thing is to get to safety. Once the storm passes, the next step is to assess the damage. We hope these tips have been helpful and if you’re in the Bonita Springs or Miami areas, give us a call for a free assessment – 833-441-ROOF (7663)
What to Do When a Hurricane Damages Your Roof
It’s estimated that insured losses from hurricane damage will total $300 to $600 million by the time the average hurricane season is done. Florida residents know that with every tropical storm and hurricane that their chances of having to make an insurance claim go up.
After the Storm Passes it’s critical to assess for roof damage.
After the storm passes, it’s important to assess for damage of your home.
Be on the lookout for:
- Missing roof tiles or shingles
- Cracked tiles or curled shingles
- Bare shingles where the asphalt material has been stripped off
- Bent or detached flashing or rain gutters
- Check for light coming through in attic spaces or other obvious holes and water damage
Rising Star are GAF Certified Master Elite roofing contractors. You can download a helpful Roof Inspection checklist from GAF here.
It’s imperative to prevent further damage.
We will come and tarp your roof right away, as any reputable roofing company knows this is a key step in stopping additional damage after the storm. This is can also give you peace of mind that what’s under your roof stays safe while the insurance claim process proceeds.
The sooner you move to file a claim with your insurance company, the better, as there are time limitations in Florida. This also lessens the probability of additional damage occurring long after the initial storm.
Once the claims process is initiated, Rising Star will get to work protecting your most valuable asset. We have years of experience with repairs, restoration, and replacement according to insurance claims.
Get a free, no obligation quote today and put your mind at ease.
The Top 3 Winter Roof Issues to Look Out for In Connecticut
As a resident of Connecticut, winter roof issues can easily arise because of freezing temperatures, snowfall, ice, and storms. Your roof protects your home and your family from the elements, but sometimes materials can fail or the winter weather can take a toll and cause damage.
Below are the top 3 types of winter roof issues we see frequently in this area and some tips on what to do about them.
#1 – Loose or Missing Shingles
It’s not just Nor’easters that can cause wind damage to your roof. Old or failing roof shingles are particularly prone to the perfect gust of wind blowing them off. This type of damage is particularly deceptive since it may seem like just a few shingles need to be replaced. Typically, this is a warning sign that your entire roof system is reaching the end of its lifespan. Additional damage can quickly happen once roof underlayment is exposed. Additionally, not taking immediate steps to protect the roof may in prohibit your changes of filing a successful claim to with your insurance company.
Tips:
After wind and rainstorms, it’s always a good idea to walk around your home and inspect for any damage, but especially loose or missing shingles. If you see anything unusual, it’s best to call in a pro for a damage assessment and free estimate.
#2 – Ice Dams
When accumulated snow melts too quickly, it can flow down your roof and refreeze close to the eves causing what is called an ice dam. Once formed, additional melting snow can back up under shingles causing damage and leaks. Additionally, ice is extremely heavy on your roof – an average of 57 pounds per square foot. So the ice dams can cause additional damage to your rain gutters as well.
Tips:
Avoid the urge to knock down icicles as that can cause more damage to your eves or create a falling hazard. Hire a professional to remove the ice dams and assess for damage.
To help prevent ice dams, ensure that your attic space has the proper amount of insulation, air leaks are sealed, and ensure that your roof has proper ventilation and properly installed shingles.
#3 – Heavy Snow
A storm dropping fluffy light snow isn’t as troublesome as the wetter stuff. Wet, heavy snow can weigh an average of 21 pounds per square foot. The average residential roof can support 20 pounds per square foot of snow. When multiple storms stack up and snow doesn’t properly melt, your roof can endure a lot of stress and slowly cause damage over time.
Tips:
Ensure your home has the proper amount of insulation to keep the attic cool. This will go a long way to help prevent ice dams as well as stress from heavy snow accumulation as the snow will be slowly melting from your roof.
If accumulation becomes too great (over 1 foot), it might be time to call in the pros to help remove some of the excess snow to avoid one of the rare, but worst case scenarios: roof collapse. If you notice your roof is visibly sagging, if there are interior wall or ceiling cracks, or interior water leaks, call in a professional right away.
Suspect roof damage? We can help!
If you’re in the Hartford, CT area, we are the company you need when you have to make an insurance claim. If you have come through a storm but aren’t sure whether you have sustained storm damage, give us a call at 860-796-5668 and schedule your free inspection and estimate.
See also:
6 Questions to Ask to Find the Right Roofing Contractor for You
