Expert Advice

Seasonal Advice

The Fall season is a good time to visually inspect your roof and determine if any work around it will need to be done. You want to check for any debris such as fallen leaves, pine straw or anything else laying on the roof that will promote the growth of mold or fungus. Mold and fungus can damage the surface of the shingle and reduce the life span of your roof. Leaves and debris in the valley sections of the roof can cause water to back up under the shingle and potentially cause leaks inside the house. If you do have moss, mold or fungus growing, your roof will need to be cleaned by a professional.

You will also want to check for any branches that could be touching the roof or hanging over and preventing sunlight from helping to reduce any mold build-up from moist and shaded areas. Branches that are touching the roof will scrape on the shingle during high winds and damage the granules on them.

If you have gutters check to see that they are clear of any sitting debris and the downspouts are clear of any blockages as well. Rain water that cannot be channeled off the roof may back up and produce leaks inside the house. Installing gutter guards will keep you from having to check your gutters seasonally and keep debris from blocking the flow of rainwater.

Roof Damage Advice

Please note that you should not be on your roof unless you can do so safely and even then it can be dangerous. The best course of action is to call a professional roofer to get on your roof and do an inspection. Weather-Tek offers inspections and repairs!

What should you do if your roof suffers minor damage from a storm or other natural occurrence?

1. First assess the damage.
2. Walk around your house and look for any visible damage on the roof.
3. Document any visible damage or debris that has impacted your roof surface negatively.
4. Take pictures and keep notes describing the damage. This is a very important step in dealing with your insurance company. It is always in your best interest to document any damage or suspected damage.
5. Look for any shingles that are missing or broken or that are not laying flat like they are supposed to be.
6. Check attic spaces if you can gain access to them.
7. Look for any wet spots or dark stains on the wood or framing. These could be signs of water intrusion.
8. If you have active water intrusion into your attic space or into your heated space do your best to protect your home from water damage. It is important as the homeowner to reduce the damage as quickly and as best as you can! That is called “mitigating your loss” and is an important step you will take regarding your insurance claim.
9. If you are not able to repair the damage then you will need to call a trusted roofer/contractor, such as Weather-Tek, to come out and repair your roof as soon as possible.
10. After you have inspected the damage you should contact your insurance company right away so you can file a claim based on their guidelines and the documented evidence you have obtained.

We have years of experience in dealing with claims involving storm damage and will work with you and your insurance company to get your roof back to normal.