A hail, lightning, or ice storm can have a negative impact on your home’s roof. There is a possibility of shingle, gutter, or other types of damage that might make it and the rest of the house vulnerable to moisture and other issues. This is why it’s important to have your home inspected quickly after severe weather hits to determine if you need storm damage repair for your roof.
When Should the Roof Be Inspected?
Ideally, your roof will be inspected the moment it’s safe to do so. Before attempting to take even a cursory look at it, it’s important to ensure that there are no live wires, large branches or other hazards surrounding it. If you were ordered to evacuate prior to a severe weather event, it may be several days before you’re allowed back onto your property to assess the damage done.
However, in most cases, an inspection can take place within hours. It’s worth noting that it may take some time to get someone to look at your home, as there will likely be a number of other homeowners looking to schedule service fast. While you wait for someone to take a look at your roof, it is a good idea to collect evidence that can be used if you decide to file an insurance claim.
For instance, you might want to take pictures of the roof, gutters, or downspouts to verify that damage occurred because of a severe weather event. If you have advance warning, you might want to take pictures of the roof before the storm hits to show that it was in good condition prior to the bad weather.
Who Should Inspect Your Home’s Roof?
Ideally, the inspection will be completed by a professional who understands what to look for and can walk on a roof safely. Knowing how to walk on a roof may prevent further damage to shingles or other components that weren’t degraded in a severe weather event. Professionals will also have access to tools that can prevent them from slipping, tripping, or falling off a structure.
A professional will be able to spot the signs of hail or lightning damage, such as pinpoint holes in shingles or charred streaks on the roof. These are clues that you might not notice from the ground or may overlook even if you decide to climb on your roof to get a closer look at its condition. An inspection might also reveal other signs of hidden damage such as fascia that is rotted or has peeling paint.
What Happens During a Roof Inspection?
During a roof inspection, a professional will take a detailed look at shingles, flashing and anything else that’s attached to the roof. In addition, expert roof inspectors may take a look inside your home’s attic or other interior spaces for signs of a leak or other problems stemming from a damaged roof.
These signs may include stains on an interior ceiling, mold growth in the attic or the smell of mold or mildew coming from inside a wall. As water tends to flow to the lowest possible point in a house, a cracked foundation could be a clue that there is a leak coming from the roof.
Whoever does the inspection will create a detailed report outlining any problems that they discovered. For example, if shingles have shriveled, are coming loose or are missing, the report will disclose the problem as well as its possible consequences.
The report might also note any exposed or damaged decking or damage to gutters or downspouts. After you have a chance to review the report, you’ll receive a recommendation as to whether the roof should be repaired or replaced to provide the best long-term protection.
It’s possible that your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover the cost of repairing or replacing your roof. A contractor’s report will ideally be included when you submit a claim for payment or reimbursement. Your preferred contractor may be able to submit documents on your behalf or take other steps to ensure that your claim gets processed and paid out in a timely manner.
How Long Does a Roof Inspection Take?
A roof inspection can take anywhere from a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on the size of your roof. You can expect a thorough inspection to take anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes. With our team at KPost Company, storm inspections are free of charge!
By understanding what’s wrong with your house’s roof, you can be proactive in fixing it, which can save more money in the long run. You should be informed ahead of time what an inspection entails and if you will be charged for it.
How to Decide Whether to Repair or Replace Your Roof
The age of your roof and the extent of the damage will typically determine whether you opt to repair or replace it. For instance, if there are a few missing shingles or a few that were damaged by hail, it may be best to simply replace them and move on.
However, if 90% of the shingles on your roof are in poor condition after a storm, it makes more sense to just tear it off and put fresh shingles on. The same is also likely true if the majority of the shingles were blown off, are shriveled or are covered in mold or mildew.
If your roof was installed more than 20 years ago, it may be best to simply replace it even if the damage can easily be fixed. This is because most shingle roofs have a useful life of about two decades. After that, they are more likely to fail simply because the condition of shingles, decking and other materials will degrade over time.
In the event of significant damage, it doesn’t matter how old the roof is, as it will need to be replaced anyway. However, assuming that the damage is caused directly by a storm, there is a good chance that your insurance company will pay to replace a roof that was within its anticipated lifespan.
Take Action Quickly
It’s important to schedule repairs or a roof replacement quickly after a storm hits. In some cases, you may be able to have work done within hours or days, depending on how busy your preferred contractor is. If work can’t begin right away, a professional may take steps such as putting tarps or other waterproof materials over any holes in the structure as a temporary measure.
At KPost Company, we can help with gutter installation and work with customers who need emergency roofing service, including roof repairs or replacements after a storm. We can repair, replace, or inspect metal, tile, and slate roofs in addition to traditional shingle roofs.
If you need a timely roof inspection service, contact our team at KPost Company in Dallas today.
