After an intense storm season and the devastating destruction of storms like Hurricane Ian on parts of West Coast Florida, it’s safe to say you were lucky if your home did not experience significant damage. You might have taken extra precautions in protecting your home by boarding windows or sandbagging doors. But unfortunately, during the storm season, your roof stands alone and usually takes the brunt of the impact.
As a homeowner, there isn’t much we can actively do for our roof while a storm is raging, but there are ways to be proactive after a storm has hit by knowing exactly how a hurricane affects your roof’s lifespan.
The Hidden Dangers of Hurricane Season
It can be hard to understand the true extent of the damage after a storm, especially if a roof looks fine to an untrained eye. Still, hurricanes can cause hidden damages to your roof that can be detrimental during the next storm if not appropriately treated. The main devastators of your roof are all the severe elements that a hurricane brings when it comes to town: rain, wind, and flying debris.
How Rain Affects Your Roof
Roofs are installed to protect you from outdoor elements, especially rain, but that does not mean they are indestructible. Over time, if you do not have proper maintenance on your roof, hurricane-force heavy rain can cause immense damage. Rain can easily exploit missing shingles or cracked tiles, allowing water to seep into your home and cause severe structural damage not just to your roof deck, but to the inside of your home as well.
How Wind Affects Your Roof
During a hurricane, a mixture of strong, unpredictable winds works together to cause your roof to deteriorate much more quickly. You can lose tiles and gutters, and those powerful updraft winds can rip off asphalt shingles far easier than you might think. There is even the distinct possibility of severe structural damage to your roof’s framing if wind speeds are high enough to cause “uplift.”
How Debris Affects Your Roof
Shrubbery gets dislodged and thrown through the air during high windstorms. Most of the time, it just disrupts your landscaping, but with more severe storms, flying debris can shatter your windows, dent your siding, and puncture your roof. The larger the trees or bushes surrounding your home, the more your roof is at risk of catastrophic impact damage.
Protect Your Roof After the Storm
Even though your roof may look like it can handle a few more hurricanes, it is always better to be safe, as there is not much you can do once that next storm touches down.
Regular roof inspections and maintenance are the absolute best things you can do for your roof’s life, especially following a big storm or hurricane. Even if the visible damage seems minor, hiring a professional is always safer than ignoring the issue or attempting to fix the damage yourself.
Need a comprehensive roof inspection or maintenance after a major hurricane season? Call Certified Roofers & General Contractors, Inc. at (813) 643-8333 or contact us online to request a free quote today.
