Roofs are designed to withstand all weather conditions but are not immune to possible damage. For instance, severe weather conditions like heavy rain, thunderstorm, hurricane, or other kinds of storms can cause damage to a roof.
The aftermath of these conditions may be easily repairable, but sometimes, you may need to replace your roof. Regardless of the damage to your roof, you must act decisively to address the situation. You can inspect the extent of the damage with the help of professional roofing contractors like Roofpro. Aside from that, you can use the 5 steps in this article to resolve roof damage.
Steps to Take to Fix Roof Damages
Below are the steps you should take to fix your roof if you experience any damage.
· Access the extent of the damage
You must inspect your roof to assess the full extent of the damage you may be dealing with. You can start the inspection from your yard by looking around for any shingles or tiles that may have fallen off the roof during a storm.
Additionally, you should inspect the sides of your home building for signs of dents or warps. If you notice any of these, it is a sure indication that something may be wrong with your roof.
You should also check your attic to see if there are water stains or signs of water leaks in the walls or on the ceiling. Signs of water stains and leaks indicate the possibility of some damage to your roof.
Below is a breakdown of some signs to help you identify when your roof needs fixing.
- Fallen shingles around your yard
- Cracked shingles on your roof
- Obvious shingle granule loss
- Damaged gutters
- Leaks inside your home
The above signs are very handy for detecting roof damage; in some cases, only a professionally-trained eye can spot areas of damage. In such cases, you can contact Roofpro to help you.
· Check for signs of roof damage from Hail
Hail damages are a more specific way of detecting roof damage. You may hear hail dropping on your roof and windows in a thunderstorm. You may also see pellets of ice gathering around the floor. Since hail can dent your roof and tear away its shingles, any of the above signs may indicate damage to your roof.
Here is a more specific breakdown of the damage hail can cause to your roof. This means you should look out for:
- Detached shingles: Since hail can tear away roof shingles, you should check if there are gaps in the pattern on your roof or look out for pieces of exposed roofing.
- Damaged shingles: Check for dented, cracked, or curled shingles on your roof. They are clear signs of roof damage.
- The build-up of torn roofing granules: Check if your home’s gutters have collected a build-up of loose asphalt granules.
· Document the extent of the roof damage for insurance purposes
Most home and business owners usually have their assets under insurance coverage. This means that an insurance company will most likely take care of the damages on their property. If you also have insurance for your home, you will need to contact your insurance company to help fix the damages on your roof. However, before you do that, you will need to document the issues with your roof so that they can determine the extent of fixing they will need to do.
Before you remove anything, clean up, or fix any damage, document all the damage you can safely identify for yourself. One of the most recommended and easiest ways to document is to take photos and videos of the damage.
If you are not cut out for the stress, consider hiring a professional roof contractor to help you take pictures and make video recordings. If you don’t have insurance, damage documentation can also help you better explain the damage you must address to a contractor. With damage documentation, you will get an appropriate quote that addresses the things you need to fix.
· Contact your home insurance company
Once you’ve identified the damage’s extent and documented those things, you need to call your insurance company – if you have one. Find out if your current insurance policy covers the extent of the damage on your roof.
Depending on your policy type, they may or may not be able to cover the cost of a thorough fixing. Some of the things most policies consider include the type of damage incurred, the age of the roof, and your location. Once you’ve figured out that your insurance can cover the damages, go ahead and file a claim. Your insurance company will most likely send someone also to inspect your roof. If the insurance company approves your claim, they will grant you money to cover the roof repair cost. You can then hire the roofing company of your choice to help you with the repairs.
· Contact a professional roofing contractor
The last thing on the list is to contact a professional roofing contractor to help fix the damages. A professional will be able to assess the damage on your roof and then help you with the best type of repair.
If you can get the help of experienced professionals, they will be able to offer the best quality repair for your roof. Always ask many questions and do proper research before hiring any professional roofing contractor.
Call Roofpro for Your Roof Repairs
No matter how big or small the issue is, a damaged roof is always a massive headache for the homeowner. Getting the help of a competent and trustworthy roofing company is what makes the difference.
At Roofpro, we can help you locate and repair your roof damages. Reach out to us today to discuss how we can help you.