It’s that time of year again. Hurricane season is upon us, and the experts are already predicting an active season. If you live in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, or any other state prone to hurricanes, now is the time to start thinking about how to hurricane-proof your roof.
You can do a few things to help make sure your roof withstands a hurricane.
Here’s how to get your roof ready for a hurricane (and you don’t have to be a roofing or construction expert to do these things):
Ready? Let’s get started.
Nail Down Loose Shingles
Asphalt shingles are not all created equal. Even if they were made in the same plant and installed on the same roof, each shingle has its own distinct life that may cause it to stay or fly away like confetti at a children’s birthday party.
So climb up on your roof and ensure that all shingles are nailed down and secure.
The last thing you want to do is watch as the storm starts tearing off shingles one by one, and all you can do is wish you’d taken steps to protect your roof BEFORE the storm!
Ensure each one is properly nailed down.
One of the keys to keeping your shingles is to ensure that each one is properly nailed down.
The easiest way to do this is to regularly inspect your roof before and after each strong storm. Look for any nails that may have come loose and hammer them back into place.
Replace any missing nails and ensure that all nails are driven flush with the shingle.
Get a FREE Roof Inspection
Another way to tell whether or not your shingles are adequately fastened is to get a roof inspection.
A certified roofing contractor will be able to tell you if any of your shingles are loose or missing and recommend the best way to fix the problem.
The best way to know if your shingles will survive a hurricane is to have them inspected by a professional roofing contractor before the storm season begins.
We can help you with that!
Schedule a free roof inspection from Better Built Contractors, a Denham Springs, Louisiana roofing contractor, today. We can help you make sure your roof is ready for whatever this hurricane season throws your way.
If we find any issues with your roof, we can deal with your homeowners’ insurance company to get the repairs covered.
Trust us; they’d much rather pay to fix your roof before the storm hits than deal with the aftermath of a hurricane!
Don’t wait until your shingles are missing and water is pouring through your roof to discover that you should have hurricane-proofed your roof! Take action now, and be prepared for whatever storms come your way.
Call us at (225) 369-1119 or complete our online form to schedule your free roof inspection.
Use Hurricane Clips to Secure Your Roof
If you live in an area that is particularly prone to hurricanes, you may want to consider using hurricane clips to secure your roof.
These clips are metal fasteners that attach the rafters to the roof deck and help to keep everything in place during high winds.
You can find them at most hardware stores.
After all, the best way to hurricane-proof your roof is to keep it on your house, right?
Now, let’s discuss things you can do around your home.
Put Some Construction Adhesive on Rafters and Trusses
You’ll also want to strengthen your rafters and/or trusses to ensure that they stay put as the wind and tree branches begin blowing all over the place.
When your house is under maximum strain, apply a bead of construction adhesive on the rafters and trusses where they meet with the roof deck to keep everything together.
Inspect and Clean Your Gutters/Downspouts
Your gutters and downspouts play an important role in protecting your home from water damage, so keeping them clean and in good shape is vital.
During hurricane season, it’s a good idea to inspect them monthly to make sure they’re not clogged with leaves or other debris.
Clogged Gutters or Downspouts
If your gutters or downspouts are clogged, water will back up and seep under your shingles, causing damage to your roof and possibly your home’s interior.
So, be sure to clean them out regularly, especially during hurricane season.
Loose Gutters or Downspouts
With hurricanes come high winds, and those high winds can cause your gutters to come loose.
Inspect them regularly to make sure they’re securely fastened to your home.
If you find any that are loose, simply reattach them using screws or new brackets.
Do Your Gutters Need Hurricane-Proofing?
Your gutters are essential to your home’s hurricane protection system, but they can only do their job if they’re in good condition.
Clogged or loose gutters can’t do their job correctly and may even cause water damage to your home.
Better Built Contractors can help you make sure your gutters are in good condition and ready to do their job this hurricane season.
It only takes one failed section to cause water damage to your home, so don’t take chances – call us today to learn how we can help.
Reinforce Your Flashing
Your roof flashing keeps the rain out; therefore, you’ll want to ensure it’s in good condition and properly installed.
Inspect your flashing regularly to make sure it’s not cracked, loose, or missing. By checking your flashing before the storm, you’ll be able to determine if it’s ready to withstand the wind associated with a hurricane.
If you do find any damage, simply repair or replace the damaged sections
Unsure if your Roof Flashing Will Survive the Storm?
If you’re unsure if your roof flashing is up to keeping your home dry during a hurricane, call Better Built Contractors at (225) 369-1119 today.
We can inspect your roof and make sure your flashing is in good condition and properly installed.
Don’t wait until it’s too late; prepare your roof before the storm hits.
Pay Special Attention to Your Vent Pipes
Your vent pipes are another weak spot on your roof that can lead to water damage if not properly maintained.
Inspect them regularly to make sure they’re not loose, cracked, or missing.
If you find any damage, simply repair or replace the damaged sections.
You may also want to consider installing hurricane straps or clamps to help keep them in place during high winds.
Install Hurricane Shutters or Impact-Resistant Windows
If there’s one thing that last year’s Hurricane Ida taught us, it’s that windows are vulnerable during a hurricane.
The high winds and flying debris can easily shatter your windows, leaving your home exposed to the elements.
One way to protect your windows is to install hurricane shutters. Hurricane shutters come in various styles and can be used on both windows and doors.
If you don’t want to install shutters, another option is to replace your windows with impact-resistant windows. Impact-resistant windows are made with a special type of glass designed to withstand high winds and flying debris.
Reinforce Your Garage Door
Your garage door is one of the most vulnerable parts of your home during a hurricane.
The high winds can easily tear it off its hinges, leaving your home exposed to the elements.
To reinforce your garage door, install hurricane straps or wind bracing. Hurricane straps attach the door to the frame, while wind bracing is a system of metal brackets and braces that secure the door to the wall and floor.
Both of these systems can be found at most home improvement stores.
Use Hurricane Clips to Secure Your Roof
If you live in an area that is particularly prone to hurricanes, you may want to consider using hurricane clips to secure your roof system.
These clips are metal fasteners that attach the rafters to the roof deck and help to keep everything in place during high winds.
You can find them at most hardware stores.
After all, the best way to hurricane-proof your roof is to keep it on your house, right?
Now, let’s discuss things you can do around your home.
Trim Trees and Shrubs Near Your Home
Trees and shrubs can act as windbreaks, which is excellent in the winter but not so great during a hurricane.
As we said earlier, high wind speeds can cause trees and branches to snap and fly through the air, causing damage to your home.
So, if you have any trees or shrubs near your home, be sure to trim them back before hurricane season.
This will help reduce the chances of them causing damage to your home during a storm.
Remove or Secure Outdoor Furniture and Debris
The high winds associated with hurricanes can quickly turn outdoor furniture and debris into projectiles that can damage your home.
Although this isn’t necessarily roof-related, we’ve all seen videos of trampolines and patio furniture flying through the air and smashing into houses or cars.
To avoid this, remove any outdoor furniture and debris from your yard before a hurricane is expected to hit.
If you can’t remove them, secure them as best as possible. For example, weigh down trampolines with sandbags or secure your patio furniture with rope or bungee cords.
Key Takeaways
As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
The best way to hurricane-proof your roof is to take preventive measures to make sure it can withstand the high winds and flying debris associated with hurricanes.
Start by inspecting your roof regularly and making repairs as needed. You should also install hurricane shutters or impact-resistant windows and use hurricane clips to secure your roof.
Finally, trim trees and shrubs near your home and remove or secure any outdoor furniture and debris.
By taking these simple steps, you can help to ensure that your roof stays in place during a hurricane.
Good luck, South Louisiana, and remember, be prepared!
Please contact us if you have any questions about getting your house ready for a hurricane or want a free roof inspection.
Whether you have a hip roof, a gable roof, or any other roof designs here in the Bayou State, we’ve got you covered!
We’re the Baton Rouge area’s leading roofing company and are here to help you protect your home or business.
We’re certified by the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) and the Metal Roofing Alliance (MRA), and we’re an A+-rated member of the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
We offer a wide variety of roofing services, including roof inspections, repairs, replacements, installations, etc.
So, if you’re looking for a roofing company that you can trust, look no further than us!
Contact us today to schedule a free roof inspection and be ready to weather the storm!
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