The Best Course of Action in the Case of Emergency
The weather can be unpredictable and sometimes extreme, leaving our property vulnerable to damage. In some cases, your home’s roof might be subject to damage from extreme winds or a falling tree among other things.
Roofing emergencies aren’t typically an everyday occurrence, and so it can be difficult to know what to do in this situation. There are a number of steps you are advised to take in a roofing emergency. Here’s a little guide to assist you.
Get to Safety
When a roofing disaster occurs, it may be necessary to evacuate your home. If your roof is severely compromised by a fallen tree or severe winds, it can weaken the frame of your home and lead to structural collapses. Even minor holes or leaks can cause electrical shorting, which is a serious fire hazard.
If outside weather makes leaving impossible, turn off your home’s power and relocate to a central room of your home on the first floor or basement. These areas are the strongest structurally and least likely to collapse. Use common sense and protect you and your loved ones before worrying about the damage to your home.
Assess the Damage
After the weather has subsided and you and your family are safe, perform a simple visual assessment to confirm roof damage. Try and assess the damage from the ground rather than climbing onto your potentially unstable or weakened roof. Simply walk around the perimeter of your house from the ground to look for signs of damage. Additionally, depending on the scale of the damage, you can inspect the inside of your roof through your attic.
You should take pictures and notes of any damage that you find so that you can provide details to both your roofer and insurance company.
Inform Your Roofer
The next step is to call your professional roofing contractor to inform them of the damages and ask when their soonest availability is for an emergency. If the damage to your roof has been caused by extreme weather it’s likely that the roofers will be receiving plenty of other phone calls, so the quicker you call the better.
When speaking to your roofer it’s helpful to provide as much detail as possible so that they can prepare sufficiently for the situation. This includes details of the damage, the material of the roof, how big of an area the damage has occurred on, if any leaking is visible from the interior or any other interior damages, and if there are power outlets outside for the roofers to plug in their tools.
WARNING: “Storm Chaser” roofers will often knock doors in the days following severe weather in a community. DO NOT hire these companies. Storm chasers are notorious for cutting corners and then skipping town without a trace. Find a local roofer that your friends and neighbors trust. That is the only way to insure you’re getting the best bang for your buck when it comes to your roof.
Contact Your Insurance Company
When damage occurs to your property you should make it a priority to call your insurance company to inform them of the events and the damage caused. You should provide the insurance company with as much detail as possible, too, so that they can accurately assess the situation. It’s helpful to provide evidence of the damages using photographs, though you should not risk any hazardous situations to obtain these images, such as climbing onto your damaged roof.
Consider a Roof Replacement
In the case of severe damage, it is often more cost-effective and even necessary to replace the roof rather than repair it. Depending on the age of your roof and the severity of the damage, your roofer will advise you on the best course of action.
If your roof has any damages or you’d like to ask a question don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Peach State Roofing.
