Prepping Your Roof For Hurricane Season

When temperatures rise and summer approaches, Charleston homeowners are traveling, spending more time outside, and making summer vacation plans. They are also starting to prep their homes for hurricane season. While you’re out enjoying the warmer weather and doing routine roof maintenance, consider these tips to help prepare your roof for hurricane season! 

Inspect The Roof 

The first thing you can do to prepare your home for a hurricane is to get up there and do a thorough inspection (or hire the pros to do it). This will give you a clear idea of the current state of the roof and what little issues (shingle replacement, removing mold or algae, etc.) can be taken care of now to make sure your roof is strong enough to withstand the impending storms.  

Safety is always the first priority. If you are scared of heights, or if your roof is higher than average or unique in size or pitch, hiring an expert may be the safest and most effective way to evaluate the current condition of the roof. Some telltale signs of damage that needs to be addressed right away include: 

• Cracked or worn boots around pipes 
• Rot on flashing 
• Exposed nails 
• Buckling or curling shingles 

Trim Trees 

When hurricanes come, they bring high-speed winds that can cause just as much damage as the rain. Strong winds can cause nearby trees to scratch your roof, tear off shingles and leave your roof vulnerable to the elements. Branches can also snap off in a hurricane and cause significant damage to your roof. Before the wind and the rain, take a good look around the yard and trim down large branches that hang over or close to your roof. 

Clean Gutters & Drainage 

An adequate drainage system on your roof helps to ride it of water and prevents water from pooling in one spot. Clearing the gutters of dirt, leaves, and debris will help the rain drain off of the roof into the gutters and quickly down to the ground. This is an easy way to take care of your roof and make sure it is equipped to handle a downpour. 

Replace Shingles 

If you have an asphalt shingle roof, you will want to make sure that all of the shingles are in place and are not curling or warping. Replacing shingles is a relatively easy roofing job and can help protect the underlying roofing materials from water damage.  

If you notice large areas with missing or damaged shingles, you may want to talk to your roofing contractor about partial re-roofing. This is a middle step in between necessary repairs and a full roof replacement that will help repair the damaged sections of your roof. If you see an excessive amount of shingle granules in your gutters, it could be a sign that your shingles have reached the end of their lifespan.  

Call RoofBoyz, LLC, Today 

Hurricane season is June 1 through November 30th, but Charleston usually sees its biggest storms from early August through October. Before the weather starts changing, contact RoofBoyz, LLC, today for a free inspection and to create a custom plan for the roof work you need.