4 Ways to Prepare Your Home for Summer Storms
Who doesn’t love the lazy, crazy, hazy days of summer? You get balmy weather, long sunny days, and lots of lush greenery. Unfortunately, summer is also the perfect time for severe storm weather.
As the premier Boynton Beach roofer, we want you to keep your home safe. In this post, we’ll tell you the top ways to prepare for those summer storms.
A Roof Inspection
Step one is for you to check out the situation on the roof. Do make sure that you use safety equipment and don’t go walking on the roof itself. Find yourself a vantage point that allows you to check for:
- Shingles or tiles that are missing, bent, broken, or curled.
- Asphalt shingles that seem to have been worn smooth. The asphalt is what keeps the shingles watertight. But it does chip off over time, though.
- Debris and dirt. This must be removed to avoid further damage.
- Clogged gutters.
- Lots of algae or moss
- Cracked rubber or caulk
- Pooling water
- Damage to the fixtures – rust, rot, cracks, and so on
- Leaks inside the house
We also recommend having a professional roof inspection done every six to twelve months. This will help ensure that any potential issues are dealt with early on.
Clean Out the Gutters
The gutters are designed to speed water away from the roof. If they’re clogged, they cannot do their job. Water pooling can cause damage to the shingles themselves. It will also add extra weight to the roof area.
Also, the roof never really gets to dry out properly in those areas. This makes it ideal for rot to set in.
Do check the gutters regularly to make sure that you don’t have this issue.
Check the Garden
Trees in the yard offer shade and a place for your kids to play. Unfortunately, the branches can be a hazard to your roof during a storm. It’s best to trim off any large branches close to the house.
The branches shouldn’t be touching the house or hanging over the roof.
It’s also a good idea to trim off broken or weakened branches. In a storm, these can easily become detached.
Also, check the other shrubs and bushes in the yard. Do try and keep the yard neat and tidy. Leaves and twigs can blow up onto the roof and cause damage. They could also clog the gutters.
So also make sure that any garden furniture you have is properly weighted down. Take down umbrellas and put them away when not in use. Look at every item in your garden and asses it’s potential to become flying debris during a storm.
Do Regular Maintenance
By performing regular maintenance tasks, you can ensure that the roof can withstand the brunt of the next storm. A single missing shingle might not seem like a big deal. During a storm, however, the wind can howl through that gap and lift other shingles.
Get the repairs done as soon as possible before they become major issues.
Final Notes
Your best defense against summer storms is vigilance. There’s not much that you can do while Mother Nature is wreaking havoc. You can, however, deal with the aftereffects as quickly and effectively as possible.
Gustafson Roofing is a local, family-owned roofing company that has been serving the Boynton Beach, Florida area since 1948. As one of the most experienced roofing contractors in the region, Gustafson Roofing provides a full range of roofing services, from installation of new roofing systems to repairs and maintenance. They are experts in roof replacements, installing various types of roofs, including asphalt shingle, metal, tile, and flat roofs. In addition to reroofing, the company offers roof leak repairs and inspection services to keep clients’ roofs protected. With over 60 years in business, Gustafson Roofing prides itself on quality craftsmanship and customer satisfaction.