Major storms, whether snow, rain, or hail, can be devastating to home owners. Mother nature can cause serious and severe damage to your house. Much of this damage will be obvious and clearly visible, while some may be more subtle or even completely hidden.
For this reason, it is important that you thoroughly inspect your home after every major storm. Finding damage will allow you to make repairs before it becomes a much larger (and more expensive) fix.
However, inspecting your home can be easier said than done if you don’t know what to look for. This guide will help you learn how to inspect your home after a major storm hits.
Prioritize Safety First
First, remember that as important as your house is, the health and safety of you and your family should be your top priority. When inspecting your house, do not put yourself at risk.
This means waiting until the storm has completely cleared before beginning your inspection.
Additionally, while carrying out the inspection do not put yourself in harm’s way. This means avoiding hazards, such as fallen trees, downed electrical wires, tripping hazards, and sagging ceilings.
When you begin your inspection, these obvious dangers should also be the first thing that you fix, or more likely, hire somebody to fix. Once the truly dangerous damage is out of the way, you can continue your inspection.
Inspect the Roof for Damage
It’s usually best to start with the roof. The safest way to do this is using a drone. If that is not an option, it may be best to hire a professional. You should always be harnessed when on a roof, and professionals have that equipment available.
When it comes to your roof, you are looking for loose shingles, missing shingles, sagging, and leaks. Roof damage should be addressed immediately. A leaky roof lets water in, which will cause significant and costly damage to the underlying structure of your house.
Examine the Siding
After you’ve checked out the roof, it is time to move on to the siding. Specifically, you should be looking for cracks, dents, or loose panels. Any of these issues will allow water and other debris into the exterior walls, leading to structural damage, and even damage to the interior of your home.
Siding repairs can be tricky and should only be undertaken if you have professional experience in such matters. For most people, it is better to pay for professional siding installation and repair. These experts will be able to repair siding in such a way that any new panels will blend in perfectly with the old.
Inspect Gutters and Drainage Systems
Your gutters and drainage systems move water away from your home, preventing damage to your roof, walls, and foundation. After a storm, check that no gutters have fallen. You should also look for any loose fasteners or sagging gutters.
You should also ensure that no debris has fallen into the gutters. A clogged gutter will quickly become backed up, causing water to pull on the roof and make its way inside.
You must also ensure the drainage around your foundation is working properly after a storm. Look for any pooling water up against exterior walls. Foundation repairs can cost tens of thousands of dollars, so you should work to fix any drainage issues as soon as possible.
Assess Windows and Doors
Finally, you’ll want to examine your windows and doors. Check for any broken glass or leaks. You should also be sure to try opening all windows and doors.
Sometimes damage is not obvious until you do this. You do not want to find that a window doesn’t open months later when it is too late to make an insurance claim.
Document Any Damage
It is crucial that you document any and all damage that you find during your inspection. You should also keep any receipts for emergency repairs that had to be made. You will give all of this documentation to your homeowner’s insurance provider. Having evidence will make it much more likely that your claim is accepted, meaning that the costs of repairs wo
