How to Best Prepare Your Roof for a Storm

Storms are devastating forces of nature. They can do significant damage to the environment and your home. Even the most durable roofs can suffer under the strength of a storm. Dealing with the repercussions of a damaged roof is not ideal, especially for those living in high-risk areas.

While Mother Nature is unpredictable, your roof’s durability doesn’t have to be. By taking the necessary precautions, you can keep your roof safe during a storm. With these 10 roof storm preparation tips, you and your roof can weather any storm.

1. Check for Missing Shingles

Shingles play a crucial role in keeping your roof protected from the elements. They act as a barrier between your roof and the weather. Missing shingles can lead to severe damage in a storm. These gaps create openings for high winds to get underneath the adjacent shingles and tear them off.

If you notice any missing spots or damaged shingles, call your local roofing company and have us repair or replace the shingles as soon as possible. Fully intact shingles help keep moisture from damaging your roof’s underlayment and leaking into your home.

Keep on the lookout for buckled or curled shingles, too. Shingles should be flush with one another and create a tight seal.

Visual Inspections To Prepare Roof for a Storm Infographic

2. Visual Inspections

While you are on your roof checking for missing and damaged shingles, you should keep an eye out for other damages. Remove any mold, moss or leaf piles you notice. These can trap moisture and slowly damage your roof.

You should also pay attention to the flashings around the chimney, dormers and vent pipes. Damaged flashing can let water into the underlayment and your house.

3. Look for Existing Leaks

Aside from missing or damaged shingles, you should always check for signs of water damage or leaks. If your roof has any leaks before a storm, it can undermine your roof’s integrity. Water damage weakens the structure underneath. It rots wood and leaves soft spots. If the leaks damage your roof stability, a storm can create a sizable hole.

If left unchecked, these leaks will not only increase your roof’s risk, but can also lead to other issues with the durability of walls, electrical wiring and insulation.

Don’t forget to check your attic!

Clean Gutters to Prepare Roof for a Storm Infographic

4. Clean Gutters

Gutters help make your home more durable by channeling rainwater runoff away. However, when leaves and other debris clog your gutters, the water has no place to go and will overflow into your roof’s soffit and fascia. If left unchecked, the overflow will cause moisture damage. Try to keep your gutters as clean and blockage-free as possible.

5. Cut and Prune Trees

Even if your roof is in excellent condition and durable enough to withstand a storm, trees can cause significant damage. Strong winds can tear apart the sturdiest of trees and send branches flailing into your roof. To combat this threat, you will want to cut or prune any surrounding trees.

Tour your yard and look for dead, broken and oversized tree branches that could pose a risk. Hire a professional team to trim back encroaching tree branches.

6. Remove or Secure Outside Objects

No one wants their things blowing away during a storm, but more importantly, no one wants their belongings crashing into your house and damaging it. If you fail to secure objects around your yard, you run the risk of them flying around during inclement weather.

Before the storm arrives, bring any plants, patio furniture, fixtures, lawn ornaments and other such objects inside. Find a way to secure larger or bulkier items to the ground. Don’t forget about your vehicle — park it in your garage, if you can.

7. Close All Doors and Windows

Houses are all about maintaining pressure inside and outside. If something manages to fly through your window or you leave it open, the pressure outside will force its way inside the house. Now, your house functions similarly to a hot-air balloon. Your house is the basket, and your roof is the parachute.

If applicable, cover your windows and doors with plywood to reinforce them as much as possible. Wood is less fragile than glass.

8. Schedule an Evaluation

If you are concerned with any aspect of your roof and your home’s integrity, schedule a professional evaluation. Trained pros know what to look for. They’ll tell you what you need to fix and inform you of various proactive strategies to protect your home from damaging storms.

9. Check Your Insurance Policy

Before your roof accrues any severe damage, evaluate your current insurance policy and adjust it as necessary. If you lack adequate coverage, contact your insurer to learn more about all your options. If something happens to necessitate roof repairs or a full replacement, insurance can help cover some, if not all, of the costs.

Once you’ve confirmed the necessary paperwork, keep it in a safe and accessible location. Once the storm passes, you will be one step ahead and have your insurance documentation ready.

10. Don’t Neglect Regular Maintenance

No one wants to realize that their roof is in poor shape before a storm approaches. You might run out of time to get it fixed before the weather hits.

Scheduling regular roof evaluations is a wise strategy for keeping your roof in top condition and ready for the worst. This planning will save you time and money during storm season, while helping you remedy problematic situations. Trustworthy roofers can identify and repair minor issues before they snowball into worse problems.

Get Quality Roof Protection From a Storm

Since 1995, Scro’s Roofing Company has been the go-to roofing expert for residential and commercial customers throughout Raleigh and the Triangle. Our quality work and attention to detail will give you the best roof possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please call our team at 919-551-5104 or contact us online.

Don’t wait until your roof is already damaged to have someone take a look at it. Schedule an appointment today and ensure your roof is ready for storm season.

We had significant hail damage due to the May 2016 hail storm in Cary, and warded off all the storm chasers that came through our area for 2 months after. I called Scro’s Roofing after the insurance adjusted had written off the roof, and they worked us into their busy schedule. Amazing job done by an amazing and hard-working crew. I was impressed by the way they used tarps to protect the landscaping around the house, and Patricia was pretty particular about cleaning up after the crew. Danny was a pleasure to work with, and he provided several improvements to our roof like a installing a chimney cricket and ridge vents. We used Moire black shingles and the roof looks...

Larry O. | Cary, NC

In life you get what you pay for and this is certainly true with Scro’s Roofing. There are so many “fly be night” roofing companies out there who do not have the long standing customer service and support that a local roofing company can offer. Everyone should take the time to educate themselves about the roofing process and the track record of the company, as this is a very larger investment and an area where you don’t want to cut corners. The team at Scro’s Roofing provided me with many educational links and never pressured me into a sale. They wanted to ensure that I fully understood the process and trusted that I would make an intelligent decision. This sharing...

Kevin A. | Wake Forest, NC

Scro’s Roofing installed a new roof on our home and everything went exactly as planned and scheduled. The installation crew covered all our plants and deck when removing the roof and then cleaned up perfectly when the job was done. We were kept informed all along the job from start to finish so we knew how and when everything would be done. I’ve never experienced a contractor, a company or an owner like Danny who worked with us on every detail. Further, we had gotten several other quotes with Scro’s being the best. This project couldn’t have been done more smoothly… We greatly appreciate Danny the owner and Sarah our scheduling contact. They both were there for all and every...

Joe V. | Cary, NC

We just had our roof done by Scro’s Roofing, and we are very happy with the results. Danny and his office were very helpful in answering all of my questions. I did a good bit of research beforehand, and after talking with Danny, I had a lot of confidence that they are up to date on best practices and latest materials. In particular, I liked that they hand nail the shingles, use a synthetic underlayment instead of tar paper, install a drip edge, and provide a 10-year labor warranty. The thing about getting a new roof is that most people may not find out whether the installer did a bad job or used inferior materials for 5-10 years when they...

Matt B. | Cary, NC

The big hail storm of May 2, 2016 did extensive damage to our roof (and Leaf-Guard gutters as well). Our insurance company appraised the roof and said it all needed to be replaced. My first choice was again Scro’s Roofing. I was not about to use one of the “storm chasers” that descended on our neighborhood like carpetbaggers from who knows where. Danny, the owner of Scro’s Roofing looked up my record from seven years ago and was able to give me an estimate almost immediately from the information he already had on file. Their estimate was within a couple percent of what our insurance had already written a check which made the decision to go with Scro’s Roofing again...

David C. | Cary, NC

I had a great experience working with Danny and his team. Danny even recommended a less expensive roofing product based on our needs. Sarah was so helpful and accommodating throughout the process. I wish all home repairs/renovations were this easy and professional. A wonderful company to work with!

Kate L. | Cary, NC