Key Takeaways:
- Homeowners should take proactive steps to prepare their roofs for the upcoming tornado season to reduce or even prevent damage to their homes.
- Get an inspection from a professional service provider and conduct a visual assessment outside your home before storm seasons arrive.
- Check the gutters surrounding your roof to ensure they are securely attached and draining correctly. Clogged gutters can force water to back up & leak into your roof, weakening its structure over time.
- Seal any areas that display signs of wear and tear, or are already damaged, before the onset of storm season. Doing so may help prevent catastrophic failure during severe weather conditions.
- Trim any trees within 10 feet of your home and remove any dead branches—this will reduce risk during storms when broken branches could hit rooftops, causing severe damage.
It’s that time of the year again: tornado season. It can be an incredibly nerve-racking reminder to check into your home’s roof and ensure it is secure against potential damage caused by high winds and other severe weather patterns. Don’t panic—there are many steps you can take as a homeowner to gear up your roof for the tornado season ahead.
This blog post by Standard Roofing Company will walk through specific measures you can take now to be ready when tornadoes come around.
Your Home’s Roof & The Severe Weather
The sun’s UV rays relentlessly attack the integrity of your roof; they degrade shingles and paint. Windstorms bring with them all manner of debris that can damage the roof. And let us not forget torrential rains! All these elements create an environment in which one must stay vigilant to escape harm.
Areas vulnerable to extreme weather like hurricanes, hailstorms, and tornados can experience devastating damage; winter storms should not be overlooked. Heavy snowfall accompanied by ice accumulation can cause structural damage to roofs, while melting snow leaking into your house is a typical result of the dreaded ice dam.
Don’t let storms catch you off guard! By taking proactive steps to prepare your home’s roof for the upcoming storm season, you can reduce or even completely prevent damage to your home. Use this 10-step checklist to prepare and ensure your roof is properly secured before bad weather.
Also read: How A Roof Inspection Protects Your Roof from Winter Damage?
The Tornado Storm Checklist
1. Get An Inspection
To guarantee your roof survives the test of time, it is critical to prioritize its maintenance. Before storm seasons arrive, inspect your home’s roof for any existing or potential issues that inclement weather could compound.
If it has been a while since you have had an inspection from a professional service provider, then make sure to call one today—they can accurately diagnose and eliminate any problems they detect during their examination. Even if you just recently got inspected, conduct a visual assessment outside your home or do another walk-around to observe if there are any changes worth noting.
Wind and rain can enter your roof’s protective layers through missing or damaged shingles. Furthermore, broken or moving tiles must be fixed or replaced to ensure safety during high winds; loose ones become hazardous projectiles!
Areas that display signs of wear and tear should be addressed before the onset of storm season. Doing so may help to prevent catastrophic failure during severe weather conditions.
2. Gutters And Downspouts
Check the gutters surrounding your roof to ensure they are securely attached and draining correctly. Clogged gutters can push water back up and leak into your roof, weakening its structure over time. Suppose water accumulates around the foundation of a home or penetrates a basement due to poor drainage. In that case, it could lead to costly repairs down the line.
3. Sealing
As part of comprehensive home roof maintenance, inspect the seals between shingles or tiles for any signs of damage. It’s best to use professional-grade sealants that meet manufacturer specifications to get the most out of this service. Sealing your roof can help reduce the risk of water damage, extend the life of your shingles or tiles and ensure proper ventilation.
4. Trim Trees
If a tree branch breaks off and hits the rooftop during a storm, it could cause severe damage. To reduce the risk of this happening, trim any trees within 10 feet of your home and remove any dead branches.
5. Check Large Trees for Age and Weakness:
To ensure the safety of your home, regularly inspect the trees around it for signs of weakness. While calling in a professional might be necessary from time to time, nature will give off clues that something is amiss. Keep an eye out for deformed leaves and branches, dropped foliage, and bark missing from trunks and limbs with no life left – these are all tell-tale indicators that a tree needs help.
A tree that is leaning can indicate a weak root system, making it vulnerable under strong winds and likely requiring removal before the onset of storm season. It’s essential to recognize that trees don’t have to be near your house for them to pose a risk – they might appear relatively small yet are often far taller than they look, which means if they were to topple in the wrong direction during bad weather, then it could prove disastrous for your roof!
Suppose you notice any warning signs that your tree may be vulnerable to strong winds or storms, get in touch with a certified arborist immediately. They can assess the situation and help decide whether saving it is feasible or needs to be removed entirely for home roof safety.
Get Help From The Best Roofers In Ardmore
As Oklahoma’s leading roofing and sheet metal contractor for over a century, Standard Roofing Company is proud to offer premium solutions with unparalleled craftsmanship. Our commitment to excellence has enabled us to stay ahead of the competition by continually improving our services and utilizing cutting-edge technologies. With more than 124 years in business, you can trust that your home’s roof is handled with the utmost care! If a tornado has damaged your roof, our highly skilled professionals can provide you with the best repair or replacement services available.
