The weather in the Northern Virginia and Maryland area can be extremely rough on the exterior of your home. With the diverse weather conditions and damaging storms, it can be a major concern when you are trying to maintain your home. One of the most common types of damages that occur to the exterior of your home is roof damage. Unfortunately, it is also common for some damages to the roof to go unnoticed, until it is too late.
Here are a few tips on how to check for storm damage to the roof and remember if you aren’t comfortable climbing on the roof to inspect it, American Home Contractors are here to help.
Visual Inspection
The first step to identifying storm damage is a visual inspection of the roof. If you aren’t comfortable climbing onto the roof, you can typically do an inspection from the ground. If you feel there is something wrong call American Home Contractors.
Piles of Granules
Outside of missing shingles, one of the most noticeable signs of storm damage is piles of granules along the foundation of your home and/or in the gutters and downspouts. It might also be worthwhile to have your foundation inspected should you feel the storm damage could have caused some water damage to your property, finding a company to inspect the condition of your foundation should be easy. If you notice shingle granules (they look like small, broken pieces of the shingles), you should contact us as soon as possible for an estimate of repairs.
Active Leaks
Storms are one of the most common causes of roof leaks. Water can penetrate the roof and enter your home from a wide variety of angles, so it is essential that you carefully check for leaks before a minor leak turns into a bigger, more serious problem. If you have missing or damaged shingles, it’s safe to assume that water has leaked into your home, but to verify it, the first place to check is the attic. Using a flashlight, shine the light on all areas of the attic, including out-of-the-way corners and small crevices, and search for any sign of water. Also, check for discoloration or water stains on the ceilings, walls, and floors throughout your home, as well as your doors. Another common sign is peeling or cracking paint.
If you find any sign of water leaks or mold from the leaks inside your home, contact American Home Contractors as soon as possible.
Dents on Metal Vents
While inspecting for storm damage, don’t forget to check the features of your roof as well, including the flashing and metal venting systems. Hail can cause extensive damage or even crush metal vents, which can prevent them from doing their job which is to prevent moisture damage by allowing air to pass through. If there is damage to the vents, it can result in a buildup of moisture inside your home, eventually causing mold and mildew. And this is the last thing that you’d want to happen. So, that’s why it’s important to look for services that offer mold removal at the first sign of mold, as if you leave it too long, it could have a serious effect on your health and your property.
The roof is one of the most important parts of the structure of your home, so it is essential that you put aside the temptations to do repairs yourself. Not only is working on the roof dangerous for those who are inexperienced but making small mistakes during the repairs can result in bigger and more expensive problems.