Storms come in all shapes and sizes. There are booming thunderstorms, frosty snowstorms, battering hailstorms, and forceful winds, just to name a few of Mother Nature’s most destructive creations.
Storms can be exciting to watch from the comfort of your living room couch, but ironically, they damage the very things that allow you to lounge around comfortably without rain pummeling on your head or your furniture being knocked the ground by powerful gusts—the roof, the siding, and windows.
Storms can cause all sorts of damage to your home, ranging from torn-off shingles to shattered window panes. Here are some
types of storm damage to watch out for
the next time a storm rolls into town and how to deal with it once the weather settles down.
Water Damage
With rainstorms and thunderstorms come massive amounts of water. If this water manages to sneak inside your home through pre-existing cracks and holes in the roof or window frames, it can wreak havoc on the structure of your home and even compromise your family’s well-being.
The biggest moisture-related problem is structural damage. You might start noticing discoloration on the walls and ceiling, sagging or warped floors, rust on any appliances, or even a rotten or cracked foundation. Not only does this damage look unsightly—but if you don’t address it, your home will slowly start to fall apart.
Moisture can also lead to mold growth. People who are exposed to mold may begin experiencing symptoms such as coughing, eye irritation, nasal stuffiness, skin irritation, throat irritation, and wheezing. Though exposure to mold is rarely deadly, it can leave everyone in the home feeling icky and out of sorts.
Keeping water out of your home is a matter of blocking off any entry points. Damaged roofs, siding, and windows are all factors that can contribute to water infiltration. If your home was damaged by a previous storm, it’s crucial to have that damage repaired before the next storm comes along. Storm damage contractors can handle any storm-related damage, while mold remediation companies can deal with mold growth that occurred as a result of that damage.
Snow Damage
When the weather turns nippy, thunderstorms take time to recuperate and let snowstorms handle their fair share of the destruction in the meantime. The part of your home that snow and frost pose the most peril to is the roof. A snowflake might be as light as a feather, but as snow continues to accumulate, it becomes heavier and heavier. If the snow on your roof becomes too much for the structure and materials to bear, and cracks can begin to form. In worst-case scenarios, the entire roof can even cave in, and snow can also cause leaks or other problems with moisture.
Your gutters and downspouts aren’t safe from winter’s wrath, either. With snow comes ice, which can be just as destructive. If snow that’s accumulated in the gutters melts and refreezes, the weight of the ice can overburden the gutters and cause them to tear off. Ice that forms on the eaves, called ice dams, can likewise result in substantial gutter and roof damage.
The most effective way to prevent snow and ice from destroying your gutters and roof is to regularly clean them. You can clean out the gutters yourself, but be careful—climbing ladders in cold and slippery weather can be dangerous.
If it’s been a particularly snowy week and your roof has started to sag or make unusual cracking or popping noises, call a contractor so they can come and remove the excess weight from your roof before it starts to cause additional problems.
Wind (and Debris) Damage
A light breeze on a sweltering summer eve can be refreshing, but a powerful squall that rips shingles off the roof, topples trees, and sends sticks and other debris crashing through the window panes is decidedly less pleasant. The next
type of storm damage to watch out for
is wind damage (and the debris the wind kicks up).
Wind can damage your roof by loosening or tearing off roofing materials or by battering it with heavy debris. It can leave siding with splits, cracks, chips, breaks, and holes, and shatter even the strongest panes of glass with a well-aimed tree branch.
If the wind is strong enough to tear the roots of a mature tree out from the ground, watch out—if that tree comes crashing down onto the roof or barrels into the side of your home, it can cause extensive damage or even seriously injure someone.
Minor wind damage can be repaired quickly and easily, but major damage caused by large and heavy debris often necessitates replacing whatever part of the home was damaged. That means a whole new roof, new siding, new windows, and more—which can be extremely pricey. Thankfully, your insurance is likely to shoulder most or all the cost so long as you make a timely claim.
To prevent wind damage, consider installing sturdy exterior shutters on the windows. Trimming overhanging tree branches or removing decaying trees can keep them away from your siding and roof.
Hail Damage
Hailstorms happen infrequently, but they can cause a surprising amount of damage to everything from your brand-new car to your roof when they do occur. Even the tiniest hailstones can result in damage, so don’t neglect to inspect your property once the storm subsides just because the hail looked diminutive and harmless.
Hail can damage your roof by cracking or denting it. It can also tear shingles straight off or chip away at their granules. It can dent and ding the siding, dent or chip window frames, and fragment or shatter window panes.
There’s no surefire way to prevent hail from damaging your property, but homes that are in excellent condition will generally hold up to hailstorms better than ones that aren’t. Performing regular property maintenance can better prepare your roof, siding, and windows for riding out the storm. If damage occurs regardless, get in touch with a storm damage contractor to schedule an inspection and the necessary repairs.
If you need reliable and trustworthy storm damage contractors in Minnesota
to help you handle damage in the wake of a ruinous storm, contact the reliable and friendly professionals at Viking Contractors today!
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