Windstorm Damage in Vancouver, WA
2/18/2022 (Permalink)
High winds can cause an immense amount of damage. When storms cause shingles to tear off or a tree to fall on your home it can be hard to know exactly what to do. You want to fix the problem before a roof leak starts, but where do you start?
Protect the Damaged Area
Your first step should be to call in a storm damage specialist. These experts will be able to help you locate the damage, come up with a repair plan and work with the insurance company. However, these specialists may not be able to get to your building right away. If you can't get professional help right away, you need to protect your roof so it doesn't get damaged further. If you want to stop a damaged roof from becoming a bigger problem, you need to use certain tools to cover the damaged area.
• Use tarps and plywood to cover any ripped, cracked or missing shingles.
• Remove weakened tree limbs to ensure they don't crash onto your building.
• Get rid of debris from the roof as this can tear up more shingles if high winds return.
Doing everything you can to protect the vulnerable part of your roof can help you avoid larger headaches. Your contractor may be able to give you more tips on how to get by until he or she can arrive.
Start a Repair Plan
Once the damaged roof has been assessed, you need to quickly enact a repair plan. If you wait too long to fix the issue, the missing shingles can turn into a roof leak. As you know, leaks can lead to major water damage that can take a lot of money to fix. It's better for you and your building if you can start a repair plan as quickly after the storm as possible.
The last thing you want after a storm is to worry about a roof leak. However, damaged shingles can lead to that exact situation. Taking the proper steps after a storm may help you mitigate your problems.