Going through a storm means having to check your home for damage once the danger passes. The roof often bears the brunt of any storm that moves through the Seattle, WA, area. If you’re surveying your home for damage in the aftermath of a storm system, having a plan for addressing anything amiss is critical.
Damage to the roof can lead to damage to your home, so swift action is critical. It’s imperative that you avoid trying to check for damage until it is safe to do so. Once it’s safe, you can begin to survey the damage.
Inspect the Roof for Damage
The first step in checking for damage is to make sure that there aren’t any fallen power lines. Check the areas where you’ll need to walk and the roof. Contact the power company if you see any fallen power lines. Don’t try to do anything before it’s safe to do so.
You can inspect the roof from the ground. Look for items that fell on the roof, such as tree branches. Check for broken, damaged, lifted, or missing shingles. If you see any damage or potential damage, contact Jimmy's Roofing to get someone out to closely inspect the damage to your home.
Document the Damage
Before you move anything as part of the clean process or make any repairs, document the damage. This may help you as you work with your insurance company for your claim.
Document the damage from the roof by taking pictures or videos of the roof. Be sure to include any damage to the downspouts, gutters, or other areas. Check the interior of your home to document any damage from water intrusion. If you have any electronics or other valuable items, grab a photo of the serial and model numbers if possible. You should also write out an inventory of any items with damage.
Contact Your Insurance Company
If you have a homeowners’ insurance policy, you need to start the claims process as quickly as possible. If your entire area is dealing with damage from the storm, the process may take longer than usual. Be ready to provide detailed information about the damage. An adjuster will likely come to the home to inspect the damage.
Mitigate Damage
It’s not always possible to have a roofing company come out immediately, especially after a major storm. Because of this, you need to take steps to protect your home just in case it begins to rain again. There are three primary considerations when you’re taking care of this.
Turn Off Electricity
Turn off the electricity to the home if there’s water dripping near any electrical components. You can do this by turning off the main breaker. Only do this if it’s completely safe to go to the electrical panel. If there’s water pooling on the floor or dripping near the electrical panel, it’s likely best to leave home and contact a pro to come in and take care of the problem.
Cover the Roof
Cover any damaged areas of the roof with a tarp. This includes obvious holes, damaged shingles, or bare spots. The tarp can channel water away from the damage to prevent water intrusion. If you can’t safely install the tarp from a ladder or the ground, you may need to contact a professional to take care of it.
Contain Leaks
Leaks dripping in your home can cause significant damage. Use buckets or containers to catch the water so that it’s contained. This can prevent structural damage from the water intrusion. Placing a towel in the bottom of the container may help to reduce the splashing that occurs when the water droplets hit the bottom of the container.
Have a Roof Inspection
After a large storm, door-to-door solicitation is likely because scammers see these storms as a way to make money. They prey on desperate homeowners by promising fast results at a low price. Remember the saying that you get what you pay for.
Our team of roofing professionals at Jimmy's Roofing is ready to help Seattle homeowners to handle every issue with their roofs. We can come out to inspect the roof and survey the damage. Our roofers can get on the roof while using proper safety protocols so that they can accurately gauge the damage to the roof.
When we’re inspecting your roof, we look at a variety of factors, including:
- Shingle condition
- Flashing and vent damage
- Gutter and downspout condition
- Interior water intrusion assessment
The inspection lets us know what options you have for addressing the damage to the roof. These may include:
Minor Repairs
It’s, sometimes, possible for us to replace a few shingles if there’s very little damage to the roof. This is often the case if the structure beneath the shingles didn’t suffer any damage and the roof is newer.
Partial Roof Replacement
When there’s more widespread damage to the roof but not the entire roof, a partial replacement might be possible. This might be more complex than replacing the entire roof because we have to try to match the shingles. Matching shingles is difficult sometimes because of fading or weathering of the shingles over time.
Full Roof Replacement
If your home’s roof is older or if there is considerable damage, a full roof replacement may be the best option. This is sometimes the most cost-effective solution for some homeowners. Insurance companies may favor this option, particularly if the current roof is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Moving Forward With the Roofing Work
For minor repairs or partial replacements, we try to match the shingles currently on the roof. When you need to have a full roof replacement, you can choose the type and color of shingles you want. This can give your home a completely different look, but you should carefully consider characteristics besides just the color. Each brand and type of shingles have different warranties, based on the ratings, so that’s another consideration.
Once you make all the decisions regarding your roofing project, our team steps in to get the work done. We understand that your home is a valuable asset, and we care for it as if it were our own. We hold our professional roofers to a high standard to ensure high-quality workmanship is always a priority.
Contact Jimmy's Roofing Today
Even when there isn’t storm damage present, ensuring your home’s roof is in good condition is a priority. Our team at Jimmy's Roofing is ready to complete every roofing job. We offer residential roofing and commercial service on pitched roofs, flat roofs, and green roofs. You can count on us for roof installation, maintenance, cleaning, roofing repair, and replacement.
As a proud member of the National Roofing Contractors Association, we believe that high-quality workmanship and impeccable customer service are critical. We have teams in Spokane, Seattle, Portland, and Coeur d’Alene ready to meet every roofing need. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
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