The summer months in the Midwest can bring a variety of weather patterns that can cause stress to rooftops and gutter systems. To ensure your roof can stand up against Mother Nature, review these four maintenance tips to be sure your home is prepared for high winds, torrential rain and hail. Ensuring that your home is prepared against severe storms can help prevent your home from falling victim to costly interior and exterior repairs.
Clean Your Gutters
One of the first places you will want to inspect is your gutter system. Not only should your gutters and downspouts be free of leaves, sticks and other natural debris, you will also want to be sure they are still securely attached and aligned to the roof. High winds and hail storms can cause a lot of stress on your gutters and downspouts. Gutters that are not properly attached can leave your roof vulnerable to water damage. If you find that your gutter system has become significantly damaged after the recent hail storms, our team at Exterior Remodel and Design is here to help!
Check for Nesting Spots
While you are inspecting your gutters, be sure to remove any bird, squirrel or rodent nests that may be trying to call your roof home. Rodents and squirrels can cause significant damage to the interior and exterior of your home. These animals can chew their way through your roof and can cause damage to your electrical insulation. If left undetected, this type of damage can quickly become a fire hazard.
Inspect Skylights
If your home has a skylight, checking the flashing around the area is key. Flashing can easily become loose after a severe storm hits. Ensuring that the flashing is secure will greatly decrease the chances of the area developing a leak. While checking the flashing, it’s also important to check the overall condition of the glass. It can be hard to see any cracks from inside the home.
Review Overall Condition of Shingles
One of the easiest ways to extend the lifespan of your roof is to routinely check the shingles for damage. This is especially important after a severe storms rolls through your neighborhood. Depending on the design of your roof, damage can be difficult to locate from the ground level.
Even if you notice that only one or two shingles have become dislodged after a storm, it’s still important to address the problem. A compromised area will continue to deteriorate and will become a bigger problem for your home. Whether you get on the roof yourself or hire a professional, these are the following conditions to look for.
- Missing or dislodged shingles
- Shingles that are missing patches of the granular coating
- Curling on the edges of the shingles
- Shingles that have holes or a black discoloration due to the impact of large hail
Contact ERD
If you have discovered that your roof or gutters have been damaged this summer, it’s important to address it quickly to ensure the damage remains limited. Call Exterior Remodel and Design Roofing today to get a fast, free estimate from the most trusted roofers in Omaha. Our team has become a well-trusted name when it comes to roofing in Omaha, because we are willing to work with our customers and always take pride in doing a job the right way. Our roofers are always updating their knowledge of the industry and strive to leave customers as pleased as possible with their new roof.
Contact us by phone at (402) 861-0000, by email, or by contact form.