Having a roof is pretty complicated, isn’t it? It’s the part of a building that you think about the least, but if you neglect it too much then it can cause some serious problems. One of the most common issues that roofs experience is storm damage.
Storms can be incredibly damaging to your roof and if you’re not careful, it can lead to needing repairs. Depending on the severity of the storm, different levels of repair might be necessary. Some buildings need commercial roof repair, while others do not. In this article, we’ll discuss how often storm damage leads to needing roof repair and what you can do to prevent it from happening too often.
Depending on the weather event, you might find yourself Googling something like “storm damage to roof” pretty frequently. It’s important to know what kind of damage storms can cause and what you should do about it if it happens to your home or business.
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What is a Storm?
This might seem like an obvious question but, believe it or not, there is a lot more to storms than you might realize. A storm is defined as a weather phenomenon that is characterized by the presence of one or more of the following: thunder, lightning, precipitation, strong winds, and/or hail.
There are a few types of storms that you should probably know about:
- Thunderstorms:
- These storms are defined by the presence of thunder and lightning. They usually also include precipitation, strong winds, and/or hail.
- Hurricanes:
- These tropical storms are characterized by very strong winds and can cause severe damage to property.
- Tornadoes:
- These dangerous storms feature rotating columns of air that can reach speeds of over 300 miles per hour. They often cause extensive damage to homes and businesses.
- Intense rain:
- While this might not seem like a traditional storm, it can still cause damage to your roof. Heavy rains can lead to leaks and other problems.
- Blizzards:
- These storms feature heavy snowfall and can be accompanied by high winds.
- Ice storms:
- These storms occur when rain falls and then freezes on surfaces. This can create a layer of ice that can be very dangerous.
Each of these storms can be catastrophic in its own way and can cause a lot of damage to your roof. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the different types of storms and what they can do.
These weather phenomena are caused by a variety of different things. For example, thunderstorms are usually caused by warm air rising and cold air sinking. This can create instability in the atmosphere and lead to a storm.
Similarly, hurricanes are caused by warm ocean waters. The water evaporates and rises into the atmosphere where it condenses and forms clouds. The hurricane is born when these cumulonimbus clouds start to spin around a low-pressure center.
Tornadoes form when there is instability in the atmosphere as well as differential heating at the surface of the earth. This can happen when cold air collides with warm air near the ground. The resulting rotating column of air can cause severe damage to homes and businesses if it touches down.
How Common is Storm Damage?
Alright, we all understand what a storm is and how they are caused. So, the next logical question is: how often does storm damage occur? Unfortunately, it’s actually pretty common. In fact, you might be surprised by just how often storms cause damage to roofs.
Here are some statistics that show just how common roof damage from storms can be:
- In the United States, thunderstorms occur an average of 100 times per day.
- There are approximately 10,000 thunderstorms every year in the United States.
- On average, there are about 1,200 tornadoes in the United States each year.
- Approximately 95% of all homeowners insurance claims are due to severe weather events such as storms.
- The cost of repairing hurricane and wind damage has increased by nearly 70% over the last decade.
- The cost of repairing hail damage has increased by nearly 30% over the last decade.
- 1 in 15 homes in the United States will be affected by a catastrophic wind or hail event each year.
As you can see, storm damage is actually pretty common. If you live in an area that is prone to severe weather, then it’s important to be prepared for the possibility of damage to your roof.
There are a few things that you can do to help prevent storm damage from happening to your roof. First, you should make sure that your gutters are clean and free of debris. This will help ensure that they can drain properly and won’t get clogged during a storm.
Second, you should inspect your roof regularly for any potential problems. If you catch something early on, it will be much easier (and cheaper) to fix than if you wait until the problem has gotten worse.
Third, if there is a severe weather forecast in your area, take steps to protect your property as much as possible ahead of time (e.g., bring patio furniture inside). By taking these precautions, you can help reduce the likelihood of sustaining serious damage during a storm.
Of course, even if you take all of the necessary precautions, there’s still a chance that your roof could be damaged during a storm. If this happens, it’s important to act quickly. The sooner you can get your roof repaired, the better. Otherwise, you could end up with more serious damage (and higher repair bills).
So, how often does storm damage cause roof repair? Unfortunately, it’s actually pretty common. However, by taking some simple precautionary measures and being prepared for the possibility of damage, you can help reduce the likelihood of sustaining serious damage during a storm.
What to do if You Experience Storm Damage to Your Roof
Knowing what to do if you experience storm damage to your roof is important. After all, if you don’t take care of the problem quickly, it could end up costing you a lot of money in repairs.
Here are some steps that you should take if your roof is damaged during a storm:
- Assess the damage:
- The first thing that you need to do is take a look at the damage and see how bad it is. If it’s just a few shingles that have been blown off, then the repair will be relatively simple (and cheap). However, if there is more extensive damage, then you’re going to need to call in a professional for help.
- Make sure it’s safe:
- Once you’ve assessed the damage, make sure that it’s safe to go onto your roof. If there are loose tiles or other debris that could fall and injure someone, then don’t try to remove them yourself. Wait for a professional who knows how to do so safely.
- Take pictures:
- Once you’re sure it’s safe to do so, take pictures of the damage. This will be helpful when you file an insurance claim.
- Call your insurance company:
- The next step is to call your insurance company and let them know about the damage. They will likely send out an adjuster to assess the damage and give you an estimate for repairs.
- Get quotes from contractors:
- Once you have an estimate from your insurance company, get quotes from a few different contractors for the repairs. Make sure to get at least three different estimates so that you can compare prices and find the best deal possible.
- Choose a contractor:
- After getting all of the necessary estimates, it’s time to choose a contractor. Be sure to do your research and pick someone who is reputable and has experience with roof repairs following storm damage.
- Start repairing!:
- The final step is actually fixing the problem! Your chosen contractor will come out and make all of the necessary repairs so that your roof is as good as new again.
This process might seem big and scary, but it’s actually not that difficult. The most important thing is to act quickly. The sooner you can get the damage repaired, the better.
Of course, sometimes the damage is so severe that you can’t repair it on your own. In this case, you might need to replace your roof entirely. This is a much more expensive undertaking, but it might be necessary if the damage is bad enough.
Knowing About Storm Damage
Knowing about storm damage to roofs and how to respond to them is important. Roofs are one of the most important parts of our homes and businesses and they need to be well-maintained in order to protect us from the elements.
If you do experience storm damage to your roof, don’t panic! Just follow the steps that we outlined above and you’ll be able to get your roof repaired quickly (and hopefully without too much expense).
The most important thing is that you stay safe and don’t try to repair the damage yourself if it looks like it might be too dangerous. Leave that to the professionals!