If you live in a region that is prone to harsh weather conditions, chances are that your homes and living spaces are built in a way to withstand high temperatures and harsh winds. However, irrespective of how strong you may construct your homes to be, there is going to be a point where they break down and suffer weather damage. The roof in your home is the one part of it that is the most prone to weather damage due to it being the first point of contact for heavy rains and storms. Your roof also is your home’s first line of defense, and hence it is important to ensure its upkeep at all times. If your roof has suffered from storm or hail damage, given below are three things you should be doing at the earliest:
1. Assess and make temporary fixes
The very first step you take after experiencing weather damage to your roof is to assess the damage. This would help you gauge just how much time and money you would have to spend on your roof’s repair, and would also help you communicate better with your insurance provider and with any commercial roofing companies you contact. Make estimations about the damaged square footage and take pictures to document the damage. Coordinating with insurance companies and contractors may take some time, and in the meanwhile, you should make temporary fixes wherever applicable. These may include placing buckets under leaks, and waterproofing using a tarp.
2. Speak to your insurance provider
The next logical step you should take following a damaged roof is to contact your insurance provider. Depending on your policy, your provider may or may not cover roof damage under home insurance, and may or may not cover natural disasters. Hence, you should be able to better understand the nuances of your insurance policy by speaking to a representative at your insurance provider. This would give you more clarity as to what your next steps are likely to be. You would have to most likely hire a contractor to fix your roof, and your choice of the contractor may differ based on in-network and out-of-network providers depending on what your insurance company permits.
3. Contact a reliable contractor
Once you have sorted out the terms with your insurance company, you should speak to a reliable contractor that will help you repair the roof in your home. Be sure to hire a certified roofing contractor that has experience in storm or hail damage stucco repair. If homes in the entire area have suffered damage, chances are that you may not find a reliable contractor as most of them are likely to be already busy. Beware of contractors that travel specifically to storm-affected areas to find work as it is likely that they do not have a good reputation or workmanship.
Conclusion
The roof over your home is your first line of defense against harsh weather conditions, and hence you should ensure that it is in its best condition at all times. By following the above-mentioned in case of storm damage, you are likely to ensure its maintenance and upkeep to withstand harsh temperatures in the future as well.
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