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)