Tips for Preparing Your Roof for Storm Season

Storm season can come with many different types of elemental weather. There could be heavy amounts of rain, high gusts of wind, lightning strikes, tornadoes, and much more. Your home, especially the roof, becomes quite vulnerable during this time. Preparing your roof for storm season is a must when you live in an area that experiences frequent storms. Minimize the risk of damage to your roof with our preparation tips.

Look for Shingle and Roof Damage

You might think that if the shingles on your roof already have damage, you should wait until after storm season to repair this. It’s going to become more damaged anyway, right? This couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s unwise to do this and can be very unsafe for your family.

The current damage to your roof will only worsen throughout the storm season. Invest in replacing and repairing certain areas to provide the best protection during storms. The better condition your roof is in before storm season, the less likely you will need to make repairs after the season is over.

Clear Your Gutters

Clearing your gutters is crucial when preparing your roof for storm season because it can help funnel water away from your roof. Gutters full of debris become clogged, creating the perfect conditions for the water to seep onto your roof or down the sides of your home. You want to prevent this to avoid a costly repair due to water damage.

Tarp the Roof

Another way to prevent water damage to your roof is to place a tarp over vulnerable areas. Tarp can cover the weak spots in the roof by preventing water and moisture from leaking through. Some people nail this material to their roofs, but we recommend using sandbags if this is a temporary fix. Sandbags are heavy enough to keep the tarp in place but easy to remove once storm season is over.

Trim Trees Above Your Home

Do you have trees that branch above your home? In the event of high winds, these tree branches could break away and land on your roof. We don’t think you want to learn what happens when a large tree branch falls on your home.

When storm season is approaching, ensure you’re taking the time to trim these branches so they cannot fall on your roof. The best rule of thumb is to keep branches at least six feet away from your home and roof to minimize this risk.

Regardless of how much effort you put into preventing wear and tear to your roof during storm season, there are still instances where this can happen. Ensure you know what to do after storm damage to your roof so you can quickly clean the mess and make repairs. Your roof is very vulnerable during storms, which is why preparing for wear and tear can minimize the amount of damage that can occur.