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Identifying Storm Damage to Your Home & Roof
If you live in the Metro Atlanta area, you know all too well that Georgia's tornado season got off to a very busy start. With severe storms during the first few weeks of spring, you may already be on high alert regarding identifying and preventing storm damage. To help you know what to look for, we've put together a list of signs your home was damaged recently by severe weather.
Checking Your Roof
There are many ways to inspect your roof for potential damage without having to subject yourself to a dangerous climb. Take a walk around the perimeter of your home. Check the areas of the roof you can see from the ground and identify and lifted or damaged shingles. If there are heavy branches on your roof, they may have punched through the shingles as well. In addition to looking up, be sure to look down. Pieces of broken shingles in your yard can be a sign that something has broken or lifted away during a storm. If you notice any of these preliminary signs of roof damage, call Trotter Roofing & Gutters right away for a full inspection.
Inspecting Your Gutters
Your gutters are an essential part of ensuring your home doesn't suffer secondary damage from storms such as basement flooding or foundation damage. Signs such as peeling paint on your gutters, cracks on the surface of the gutters, or rush can indicate that rainwater isn't being properly diverted from your home. Additionally, it's a good idea to check for moisture in your basement and signs of leaves clogging the gutters themselves.
Ceiling Wet Spots
One obvious but potentially very serious sign of damage is the appearance of wet spots on your ceiling. These can be particularly obvious once the moisture has evaporated, leaving a discolored stain behind. While those signs are the most obvious, keep an eye out for sagging, moisture, or even dripping from your ceiling, as those signs can indicate a more serious leak. Wet spots in a ceiling can be particularly serious because they can indicate a leak far away from the original source which has just settled at that point – while the wet spot itself may be small, it could be a sign of a much larger, hidden problem.
Vents and Weather Stripping
Metal vents in your roof might start to show signs of denting after a particularly harsh storm. Hail can sometimes cause hard to see damage, such as these dents in gable vents and overhangs, which might be a sign of further damage still. In addition, be sure to check the weather stripping around doors and windows periodically, as friction, storms, and even sunlight can cause this protective sealant to break down over time.
What to Do Next
Once you've noticed signs of storm damage to your home, it's important to get in contact with Trotter Roofing & Gutters right away. Small signs of damage can lead to much larger impacts on your home; an ounce of prevention can save a pound of cure!
