Your first reaction after a hail or rain storm has passed the Cobb area should be to assess your family's safety. Once you know that everyone's okay, then you can check on your roof - but not without following roof safety tips. Getting up on a ladder is a risk, especially if the ground is rain soaked and you don't have the experience working on one. The National Roofing Contractors Association recommends that homeowners hire a professional contractor to assess the roof's condition to prevent accidents.
Inclement weather, and in particular, hail can wreak havoc on your roof. It's important to contract the services of a professional right away to avoid further damage that moisture can have on a damaged roof. If you want to check your roof without risking your safety, here's how to do it:
- Look inside. It may not make sense to check inside the home when looking for roof damage. However, if significant damage was done to the roof, you may notice water leaking inside or maybe even a gaping hole.
- Check the ground. You may see a few shingles lying on the ground after a particularly windy storm. If there are shingles missing from the roof, you'll need to get these replaced right away before the rain and moisture penetrates through the roof.
- Inspect the gutters. Shingles can sustain damage even if they remain secured to the roof. Strong winds, rain and hail can remove the granules on the shingles. The granules will wash away from the roof and then move through the gutters. Check the area where downspouts meet the ground. If you see a pile of granules there, you've got roof problems.
- Do a walk-around. If you're able, get far enough away from the home to do a visual inspection. Borrow a pair of binoculars if you can to get a closer look. Watch for damaged shingles and flashing, holes in the roof or a missing chimney cap.
Don't check on your roof without following these roof safety tips. For expert advice or to have one of our professionals assess your roof, contact Findlay Roofing today!
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