Inspect Your Home for Damage After a Major Storm
No matter where you live, storms that pass through the area can cause a lot of damage to your home. The damage might not be visible at first glance, but a thorough inspection of the home is the best way to determine if you have damage that will require the services of a contractor or restoration service.
Roof Damage
A good place to start your inspection is on the roof. If you are not sure of the condition of the roof, you may want to look at the roof from the ground or from a ladder without getting on the roof. Some of the things you will look for are missing roofing shingles, flashing missing along the roof’s edge or around chimneys and pipes that pass through the roof, and obvious dips in the roof structure.
Missing shingles are an obvious sign of damage, but look for areas where the shingles stick up or where the wind has gotten under the shingle and broken the bond between the shingles. If you can see the damage to the roof from the ground, have a contractor do a full inspection of the roof and the structure under it to ensure that everything is safe.
Hail Damage
Winter storms, summer thunderstorms, and tropical storms can all produce hail if the conditions are right. Falling hail can damage things around your home, such as the edges of your roof shingles, causing them to leak over time. If you have had a significant hailstorm pass through the area, include hail damage in your assessment of the property.
Water Damage
Storms that produce a lot of rainfall can create water damage in several parts of the home. Runoff and erosion can be a problem with significant rainfall, and the foundation and soil around the foundation may take the brunt of the damage from water.
Check the foundation inside your home for cracks or areas where water has infiltrated the blocks or walls. Check the foundation in the same area on the outside of the home as well. If damage exists to the soil there, soil excavation and a further foundation check by a qualified contractor is the next step.
If left without repair, the foundation can leak heavily during rain, and permanent damage to the foundation and basement of your home is the result.
If the basement flooded during the storm, all the electrical items that were under the flood line needs checking, and any outlets or bulbs that were underwater may need replacing. At the very least, the boxes, outlets, and fixtures need disassembly and inspection before using them.
Glass Damage
Damage to the glass in your home may seem like it would stand out after a storm, but small cracks in the window panes or a broken pane of glass in a multi-pane window might not be the first thing you see.
Walk around the house, and look at each window and any doors that have glass in them. Check for cracks in the glass that are small and hard to see at first glance. While the cracks may be small, they can become a stress point, and the glass can break when you least expect it.
The window frames should also get a thorough check for damage. If the frame has damage to it, the structural integrity of the window and frame may be a problem.
C & Z Construction can help if your home has been through a major storm and you need some help to inspect or repair the damage. Give us a call, and we will help you determine what needs addressing and what the best approach for your situation is.
