How to Prevent Roof Damage from Storms in North Georgia
Hailstorms and high winds terrorize more than just the family pet. They can also be traumatic for your roof, especially in the North Georgia area, where aggressive storms are common from June through October. As winter approaches, take these steps to avoid storm damage to your roof.
Install the Right Roof
Choose an installer with general liability insurance, warranty coverage, and a reputation for providing excellent work. Then, ask your contractor questions about the quality and value of different roofing materials. Remember, a cheap roof today might mean greater susceptibility to storm damage tomorrow.
We can help you determine what kind of shingles and style will best suit your home.
Trim Back Tall Trees
A stately tree may look great in your yard when the sun is shining, but as soon as the clouds roll in and the wind starts howling, it becomes a liability. Hail and strong winds may be enough to snap prominent branches or topple the entire tree onto your house. The damage from this kind of incident can extend well beyond your roof and cause severe property damage to the interior.
Protect your roof and the rest of your home by carefully assessing the trees on your property. If any have branches that extend over the roof, consider trimming them back. You might even want to remove the entire tree if it’s dangerously close to your home’s foundation.
Schedule Yearly Roof Inspections
Set aside one afternoon per year to check the condition of your roof. You can do this yourself by walking around your home’s perimeter (do not walk on the roof itself!), or you can hire a professional. Look for curled or missing shingles, loose nails, damaged flashing, and other signs of a weak roof. If a storm hits, the vulnerable areas could allow high winds to work other shingles loose, creating a potentially drastic domino effect. Making minor preventative repairs now could help your roof withstand harsh storm conditions in the future.
Toughen Up Your Roof
You can help make your roof less susceptible to storm damage with these tricks:
- Secure the shingles with ring-shank nails.
- Apply roofing cement under shingle tabs and around the edges of the roof where the sides of shingles are exposed.
- Install a sealed roof deck to keep water out of your home if the roof cover blows off.
- Anchor your roof frame where it connects with the wall to withstand high winds.
Properly Ventilate the Attic
Many attics lack proper ventilation, and many aren’t ventilated at all! This allows the temperature to reach 150 degrees F or higher on the hottest days in Georgia. The high heat and humidity encourage mold growth, damaging the structural integrity of your roof and essentially destroying it from the inside out.
The Federal Housing Administration recommends ventilating your attic with one square foot of vent per three hundred square feet of attic floor. Passive vents are located at the eaves and along the roofline. Make sure insulation doesn’t obstruct these openings. You can increase airflow and decrease the temperature even further with a fan that creates active ventilation. Reasonable attic temperatures help maintain the structural integrity of your roof so it can withstand storm damage.
Check Your Insurance Policy
Despite your best efforts, your roof may still be damaged in a severe Georgia thunderstorm. Before it does, look into your homeowner’s insurance policy to ensure roof damage is covered. This way, you’ll have peace of mind knowing you aren’t responsible for the cost of repairing your storm-damaged roof.
Be aware that you might qualify for an insurance premium discount if you make storm mitigation efforts like the ones listed above. Call your insurance provider for more details about how to lower your rate.
Prevent Further Damage: Repair Your Storm-Damaged Roof Today
If you suspect your roof has been damaged in a storm, schedule a free storm damage inspection. We’ll assess the condition of your roof and recommend either a repair or replacement, depending on the extent of the damage and the age of your roof.
Don’t delay repairing your storm-damaged roof— Contact Fowler Exteriors today for roof repair in the North Atlanta/Canton area!