2 Tips For Inspecting Your Roof For Damage After A Severe Thunderstorm

Posted on: 2 July 2020

If your area recently had a severe thunderstorm roll through, you may be concerned about the condition of your roof. This is especially true if the storm brought with it strong winds and/or heavy hail. As soon as possible after the storm has fully passed, use the tips below to conduct a precursory inspection of your roof to check for any obvious signs of damage.

1.  Start Your Inspection on the Inside of Your House

The first part of your roof's inspection begins before you step foot outside of your house. If any severe damage was done to the roof by the storm, there could already be water leaking through the damaged areas. If enough water is leaking, you will see evidence of it inside of your home.

If you have an attic, go up into the space with a flashlight, and look for damp spots that may be forming on the ceiling. If you cannot see any evidence of water leakage, listen carefully to see if you hear any loud dripping that could indicate a hidden leak.

If you do not have an attic, go to your home's highest level to perform the inspection. Do not forget to check the upper corners of the ceiling for any water spots.

2.  Examine Your Roof Outside While Staying Safely on the Ground

Once you have checked for water leaks inside, it is time to venture outdoors to see if the roof has been visibly damaged. Make sure you wait until the storm has fully passed before doing so.

Even if everything appears to be drying off quickly, you still do not want to go up on the roof or even a ladder at this point. The shingles of the roof may still be slippery, and drips from the roof, gutters, or trees may make the rungs slippery as well.

Instead, stand back as far as possible on your property to get a good look at one side of your roof. If you have a pair of binoculars, you can get a closer inspection. Look for any branches or limbs that have fallen on the roof as well as for areas that appear to be missing shingles.

If you find any leaks or see any damage, do not wait until the next thunderstorm rolls through and causes more damage to your roof. Contact a residential roofing service as soon as possible to have them fully inspect your home's roof and discuss your options for repairing any damage that they may find.

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