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Nature can be fearsome at times and it has the power to screw us at any time, that is why it is necessary to understand to a certain extent what kind of damages it can cause to something as important as our roof, which is our defense against all elements.
Hurricanes and hurricane season in particular are a fiend that we ought to take care from, since it can wreak havoc over our roof once that time of the year come, so of course is better to be safe than sorry.
When is the Hurricane season?
According to the National Hurricane Center, the hurricane season on the Atlantic Basin is from June 1ST to November 30TH and it is also stated that “The peak of the season is from mid-August to late October”.
What kind of damage may a hurricane cause on your roof?
High speed winds may blow away your roof, depending on the quality of the material, installation and remaining useful life.
Blown away rubble, branches, stones or in some extreme cases trees; may cause cracks and holes on your shingles, causing leak or major structural issues.
With a Hurricane usually comes strong precipitations and hail, which basically means you roof is gone have a tough time since these climate phenomena may wear or even erode the tiles and asphalt shingles.
Leaks caused by the bad weather may damage your house’s insulation or inside property.
Hardware installed on your roof such as antennas or solar panels could be blown off by the strong winds.
What can be done in order to prevent great damages or damages at all on your roof?
1. Trim nearby trees:
As we stated before but during the strong winds of a hurricane branches could be stranded right on to your roof causing a great deal of damage. So, we encourage to neatly trim any trees you may have on your garden.
2. Schedule an inspection:
It would be great to schedule a revision of your roof with an experienced contractor, since they will be able to spot any little details that may lead to a regrettable ending.
They will focus mainly on looking for:
Cracks, rips, holes, or punctures.
The integrity of the gutters drains and downspouts.
Mounted equipment, to check that they are properly sealed and attached.
The integrity of the flashings.
3. Solid foundations:
Believe it or not, most of the times the damage caused by the wind does not directly affect the roof’s material but the roofing on itself. Roof failure usually occurs when the wind slams on the side of the house and lifts the roof from the structural hangs.
How could be prevented the roof lifting:
Strong structural wall which supports bonds and beams.
All openings, like doors, windows, and garage doors, need adequate protection.
Vents must be properly sealed and closed during the storm.
Roof deck must be properly fastened and reinforced.
4. Make sure the gutter is clean:
As we mentioned earlier, water entering your home system can damage seriously your insulation and property, which means that making sure that the gutter is clean is a must since you need to allow water properly flows from your roof on to the ground.
5. Insurance and warranties are your friends:
The aftermath of a hurricane is usually a chaotic mess, which means it is a clever move to take a step ahead your neighbors and be prepared with:
Any applicable warranties
Proper insurance documentation
Photos of how it looked before the disaster for reference
Roofing contractor and agencies contact information so you can be the first to schedule for any quote, repair or replacement.
If you wish to learn more on how to make proper prevention for the hurricane season or you would like to get a revision in order to be prepared, you can contact us on Acre Roofing and get a free quote.
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