Tips for Preparing Your Roof for Severe Weather

As spring approaches, it’s important to make sure your roof is prepared for the potential of severe weather. With the right precautions and maintenance, you can ensure that your roof will be able to withstand whatever Mother Nature throws at it. From hiring a reliable roofing contractor to inspecting for minor damage, there are many steps you can take to protect your home from storms this season. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can prepare your roof for severe weather and what warning signs may indicate that it’s time to call in a professional.

1. Check for Minor Damage – Regularly inspect your roof for any signs of damage, such as missing or cracked tiles, curled shingles, and warped flashing. If these issues are not addressed in a timely manner, they can quickly worsen and lead to costly repairs.

2. Clean Gutters & Downspouts – Make sure that your gutters and downspouts are free of debris to ensure that waste does not build up on the roof or cause water to back up. Also, keep an eye out for rust spots on the gutter system which could be caused by water leaking from it and making its way onto the roof below.

3. Re-Caulk Flashing – Re-caulking gaps in the flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights and other penetrations is a great way to prevent moisture and water seeping into these areas during storms. Use a high quality silicone caulking to seal these areas properly and make sure there are no gaps or cracks left open.

4. Trim Trees & Shrubs – Overhanging branches from trees can act like sails in strong winds and put extra strain on your roof’s structure. Trim any tree branches located close to or overhanging your home so that they cannot cause damage during storms.

5. Install Roof Straps – To prevent uplifting winds from doing damage to your home’s roofing material during storms, install straps every three feet along eaves and rake edges of the house’s exterior walls all the way around it where possible. This will help keep materials firmly in place even when conditions outside are extreme.

6. Repair Missing Shingles – Missing shingles can allow rainwater to enter into your home’s attic space which can cause mold growth or even structural problems if left unchecked for too long. It’s important to repair any missing shingles as soon as possible before storms hit so you don’t have bigger problems later on down the line..

7. Invest in Impact-Resistant Roofing Materials – Impact resistant roofs have been designed specifically with severe weather conditions in mind and provide greater protection against hail damage, wind uplift, punctures from flying debris, etc., than standard asphalt shingle roofs do alone—especially if you live in an area prone to such weather events regularly occurring each year!

8 . Hire a Professional Roofing Contractor- It’s highly recommended that you hire a professional roofer who is experienced in dealing with severe weather conditions for any major repairs or maintenance work that needs doing because they will know exactly what precautions need taking before storm season hits (and possibly even after it has passed). This will also help ensure that all of your roof’s components are inspected properly before anything gets overlooked or left out due to inexperience on someone else’s part!

9 . Invest In Insurance Coverage – Having insurance coverage is another great way to protect yourself financially should anything happen due to bad weather (such as damage caused by hail stones). Have a chat with an insurance broker about what options may be available depending on where you live as this could save you lots of money should something happen later down the line.