Preparing Your Roof For a Hurricane

The hurricane season in Florida can be catastrophic to many types of roof designs. Throughout the end of November there are many Floridians that are often forced to pick up the pieces and manage roofing repairs after a heavy thunderstorm or tropical storm. When you are upgrading your roof or doing repairs, preparing your roof for a hurricane or tropical storm is important to remember. One of the best ways to save money on roofing repairs especially throughout the hurricane season is to properly prepare. Here are some of the easiest ways that you can make sure your roof is hurricane ready when the storm season comes!

Get a Proper Inspection

If you haven’t had an inspection for your roof in some time, make sure that you can get an inspection from a qualified roofing contractor. A qualified roofer will check through the integrity of your roof and identify various weak areas throughout that could pose a problem when they are affected by high winds. Working with a professional roofing contractor will secure your roof and identify problems early on.

Reinforcing a Roof With Proper Tie Downs

Hurricane straps are one of the best ways that you can protect your roof during severe storms and high winds. Hurricane straps are metal strips that will adhere to your roofing type and make sure that it can stay attached to the walls of your home. A roofing contractor will be able to install these hurricane straps to make sure that your roof can stay supported even during high winds. These are simple precautions that you can take to protect your home from a hurricane and offer extra reinforcement to prevent the chance that roofing materials will blow off and affect your neighbors homes.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters and drainage systems are some of the most important aspects of a roof. If you know that there’s a storm coming you need to make sure that you are getting proper drainage. By cleaning out any of the leaves on your roof and making sure that your gutters and downspouts are clear, you’ll make sure that any rain water that comes as a result of a storm will be able to flow down through your roof without any resistance. If there is a buildup of debris you can experience further damage to the structure of your home.

Trimming Back Trees And Bushes on Your Property

If you have any type of trees or plant life that overhangs your roof, this could be potentially dangerous during a hurricane. Tree limbs can easily be torn down during a hurricane and they can land on and damage your roof. Trimming back trees can prevent debris buildup on your roof and reduce the chance that your roof could collapse. Debris also has a tendency of collecting moisture which can lead to mold and algae growth in your roofing tiles. A proper trimming of your trees and plant life around your home before a storm can make a world of difference in preventing roofing issues.

Perform General Maintenance

If you feel like your roof may not be able to stand up to a major storm, it could be time to work on some general maintenance. If your roof has not been inspected or replaced in the last 15 years you may want to consider speaking to a roofing professional to perform an assessment and to potentially replace your roofing materials before hurricane season.