The roofing industry has changed quite a lot over the years. These days, homeowners are rarely opting for the standard, 3-tab shingles that were so popular a few decades ago. Instead, they are going with architectural shingles, and in some cases, with even more eco-friendly options like green roofing or slate. Whether you're shopping around for a new roof or are thinking of having repairs made to your current roof, it pays to be educated. Learn the basics on this blog, where we discuss roofing in the modern world. We explore various roofing materials, roofing techniques, and how to find the right roofer.
Severe weather can cause a lot of damage to buildings, and this damage to your home usually starts with the roofing. Therefore, you may want to inspect your roof for damage after the threat of storms has passed. You should know the proper safety precautions and the signs of damage that you need to look for on your roof. The following roof inspection guide will help you safely inspect the roof of your home after the threat of storms has passed:
1. Understand the Hazards and Safety Precautions Before Inspecting the Roof
Storms can often cause safety hazards that you will want to be aware of. Start by looking for problems with utility lines and fallen tree branches. Call for help with repairs to the utility lines before inspecting the roof or doing repairs. You should also remove the branches out of the way before you set up your extension ladder to inspect the damage on your roof.
2. Visually Inspect the Damage and Find a Safe Place to Place the Extension Ladder
After you have dealt with the hazards, you will be ready to prepare your ladder. Find an area of your roof without damage and less debris to set up the ladder. Use a broom to sweep away material from around the area where you climb up the ladder to get on your roof. Avoid placing your extension ladder in areas with severe roof and structural damage or near utility lines.
3. Be Aware of Storm Debris and Look for Wind Damage on Shingles
The storm could have blown a lot of debris from trees or nearby areas on the roof. Therefore, you will want to be aware of this debris and avoid walking over it. If debris is in your path to inspect all the areas of your roof, use the broom to sweep it out of the way. You will want to look closely at the shingles for signs of wind damage like torn tabs or raised shingles that have been damaged by the high winds during storms.
4. Look for Pitting and Worn Aggregate Granules
Hail and heavy rains can also cause severe damage to the shingles on your roof. First, you will want to look for damage due to hail, which can be seen because of the pitting that it causes; it's sometimes more visible on flashing, vents, and other materials. In addition, heavy rains can wash the granules off of the shingles, so you may need to replace the shingles that are smooth and have lost their aggregate granules.
These are some of the things that you will need to do to inspect your home for signs of roof damage after severe weather has passed. If your home has recently been damaged during storms, contact a storm damage roofing repair service to fix these problems before they cause more damage to your home.