News Details

How To Prepare Your Roof for Hurricane Season


 

 

Posted On: October 14, 2022

Hurricane season in Florida can cause panic. You want to protect your family, your home and property, and everything else you hold near and dear. Concerning your property, the best way to ensure your home or business is kept safe is to ensure your roof is hurricane ready. Keep reading to learn more about preparing yourself and your home for hurricane season.

 

What kind of damage can a hurricane cause?

 

Wind Damage

It’s crazy how something you can’t even see can cause so much damage. Wind can wreak a ton of havoc on your roof. Hurricane force winds can cause damage in a number of ways:

  • Blow off roof or roof accessories
  • Throwing items onto your roof
  • Ripping mounted hardware out of your roof

 

Water Damage

Where there are strong winds, water and hail are likely to be close behind. Where the wind can cause damage to your roof system, there are vulnerable areas for water to enter your home. This water can cause issues with your building insulation, structure, and your property inside.

 

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season

 

Schedule an Inspection

If you are in a hurricane-prone area, yearly roof inspections are a must. Having a knowledgeable roofing contractor inspect your roof before hurricane season will ensure that there are no issues that a hurricane may make worse. Before hurricane season is the best time to have a contractor perform repairs and double check the integrity of your roof.

 

Your roofing contractor will look at the following areas of your roof:

  • Membrane –  ensure there are no rips, punctures, holes or effects of aging.
  • Flashings –  ensure all flashings are correctly attached and sealed.
  • Mounted Equipment – ensure the penetrations are properly sealed and that the equipment is securely attached.
  • Gutters/Downspouts – ensure all gutters, drains, and downspouts are properly attached and flowing to the proper location.
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To be even more safe, you can schedule two annual inspections: one before and one after hurricane season.

 

Trim Nearby Trees

Strong winds of a hurricane can destroy buildings and throw cars across town, so definitely don’t trust low hanging branches that are near your property.

When you reach May or June, right before hurricane season, take a walk around your property and identify dead, broken or oversized trees and tree branches. These can easily be blown off during a storm and cause major damage.

 

Clear Gutters and Drains

We discussed the damage that can come from water during and after a hurricane. Cleaning and making sure your gutters are clear is essential because your gutter system takes water from your roof system down to the ground.

If your gutters are clogged, the backed-up water will sit on your roof, and the probability of water sneaking into your home will increase. Water can cause just as much damage as wind, equally as expensive and time consuming to repair.

 

Continue with Regular Maintenance

A maintenance program is a great way to be proactive with your roof system. Having a roofing contractor keep up the maintenance of your roof is one of the best ways to ensure that your roof is ready to keep your home and business safe from incoming hurricanes.

Regular maintenance can catch preliminary roof issues before they get worse, saving you money in the long run!

 

Keep Up to Date with Insurance and Warranties

When a hurricane passes through your area, it can be chaotic in the aftermath. You can be a step ahead for your peace of mind by having all of your documentation prepared and in a safe and easily accessible place.

 

Document to keep track of:

  • Any applicable warranties
  • Insurance documentation
  • Any before photos
  • Contact information for contractors, insurance agents and other key contacts
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When hurricane season comes, protecting your loved ones is the most important. With a thought-out and well-implemented preparation plan, you don’t have to think twice about your roof during a hurricane! A big piece of that plan is having a roofing company you can rely on. Johnson Roofing Solutions team provides free estimates AND financing to homes and businesses across the panhandle of Florida. We have offices in Panama City, Chipley and Graceville with our service area expanding from Tallahassee to Pensacola. We are fully licensed and insured, family owned and operated and prepared to take on any roofing project from minor repairs to complete replacements or even new construction. Contact us today and let us be your solution!

 

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