What to Check on Your Home After a Big Storm

Storm damage accounts for almost 49% of home insurance claims. Gales and hail are often catastrophic, and Category Four hurricanes are even more hazardous to your home. Even robust, exceptionally built properties are prone to weather damage. Seemingly minor weak spots that form after calamitous weather can cause even more severe damage when a second storm strikes.

Water can’t be stopped. When it rises over foundations, sneaks beneath your siding, or forms puddles near your roofing, the effects can rack up significant repair costs. The sooner you resolve the damage, the more you can limit secondary harm. You should assess your property as soon as the sun comes out. Let’s find out how.

1. Inspect your roof for damage

Your roof is particularly prone to damage from windstorms and hail. High winds often rip shingles right off. If you’re particularly unlucky, they might even tear away whole sections of your roof, but even without wind, water can cause plenty of damage.

Look for missing or damaged shingles

Roof damage isn’t always as obvious as missing or cracked shingles. Dark spots and granule loss tell you your roof has lost an important protective layer. When the next shower arrives, weak points provide passage to water, allowing it to penetrate your delicate underlayment. Look for curling, warping, and flaking.

Even a subtle upward curve is a sign of water damage. It means moisture has been trapped beneath your shingles, so they’re hiding invisible problems that should not be ignored.

Check for leaks and water stains inside the home

The easiest way to identify a leak from your home’s interior is to look for ceiling stains. You might also notice signs of dampness at the tops of your walls. Bubbling paint and cracked tiles tell you everything you need to know: water has penetrated your roof and will continue to wreak damage every time it rains.

If you’ve endured a particularly humid spell, you might also notice chalked paint at the top or bottom of your walls. This could indicate rot, so get ahead of it before it causes a property-wide infestation.

Assess structural integrity and sagging areas

Your roof can only form an impervious barrier from winter challenges if it’s intact. Your roof may have lost its integrity if you see signs of rot, sagging, and mold. You can assess your roofing from ground level by checking for an uneven roofline. You can also look for dark stains on your interior walls. Don’t be tempted to simply cover them with a new coat of paint. Mold spreads and must be eradicated entirely.

2. Evaluate your gutters and downspouts

Gutter damage might seem inconsequential, but your roof and siding won’t survive it for long. Water will pool against your roofing and pass over your siding, causing catastrophic failure. Inspect your gutters by:

Looking for blockages and debris

The easiest way to identify a gutter problem is by looking for backed up water and debris. Even if you’ve only developed a minor blockage, it could lead to mold and an insect infestation. Worse yet, puddles might form, leading to expanding ice dams that cause cracks.

Check for signs of misalignment

Make sure your gutters have the correct slope and haven’t detached from your property. Misaligned seams, corners, and downspouts are warning signs of impending chaos. While you’re assessing your exterior, check your downspouts for cracks, missing bolts, and backed-up water. Blockages often need little more than an hour’s work.

3. Assess windows and doors

Storms often lead to shattered glass, but subtler forms of damage can obliterate your energy efficiency and encourage mold.

Check for leaks

Fractures are easy enough to spot, but windborne debris can also lead to dented frames and torn window screens. Discoloration is a sign of rot and mold, both of which are symptoms of water intrusion. Leaking frames can also present as condensation on the inside of your glass.

Ensure that doors open and close properly

You can easily check your door and window frames’ integrity by making sure they open and close smoothly. Sticking and expansion are sure signs of a dented or moisture-riddled frame. This form of damage will destroy your insulation and push up your HVAC energy costs.

4. Examine siding

Your siding has a powerful effect on your energy efficiency, but damage can also give water an entry point for creating untold destruction.

Look for cracks, dents, and warping

Hail and windborne debris often cause dents, particularly in aluminum and other metals. Warping is a common problem in humid environments, but it can also serve as a sign that hail and windborne debris have damaged your surface.

Check for moisture damage and mold growth

You can check for water intrusion by looking for mold and rot. If you see dark streaks or other forms of discoloration, it could point to an underlying mildew problem. Dark marks are often just a symptom of debris and dirt, but chalking is always a sign of degeneration. Water stains are another serious problem that indicates a compromised exterior.

Inspect paint for peeling and bubbling

Peeling and bubbling paint are sure signs that excessive moisture has penetrated the outermost surface. Much like your siding, your outer walls are prone to peeling and bubbling when moisture penetrates below the outside barrier. Cracking and peeling are two of the most obvious signs of weather damage. You might think about them as a mere aesthetic problem, but every crack allows the elements to penetrate your home’s shell.

Storms can cause immediate damage that’s relatively easy to spot. After the sun has come out, however, those dents, cracks, and leaks can cause secondary damage that’s even more destructive. You take great care to build an impervious shell to keep your interior and underlayment safe from leaks, but it can’t help you if that barrier has weaknesses.

Much like a chain, your home’s shell is only as strong as its weakest spot. Make sure you make it through the winter without racking up unnecessary expenses.

Need help with a roofing project? Click here for a free estimate from 1-800-HANSONS.