4 EASY STEPS TO PREPARE FOR FLORIDA’S SUMMER STORM SEASON
We are in the midst of our rainy season. Florida residents are familiar with our summer weather – heavy rain, strong winds, thunderstorms and hurricanes. Here are steps you can take to ensure that your roof is ready to handle severe weather.
Check for Leaks Inside– Turn on all the lights in your home or commercial property and walk around the entire building. Look carefully for any water stains on your ceiling or drywall. Contact a licensed roofing contractor to address the leaks before they get bigger.
Replace Damaged or Missing Shingles – High winds can loosen or dislodge shingles, leaving your roof vulnerable to the elements and exposing holes and/or gaps in the roofing system. This allows the winds to do further damage and can lead to water damage in your home. Replacing damaged or missing shingles is an easy fix, and much more cost effective than replacing an entire roof.
Trim Surrounding Trees – Falling trees and branches are common during heavy storms and hurricanes. A falling tree can cause major damage to your home, but small branches can also damage the surface of your shingles leading to granular loss and damage to the protective coating. It’s important to maintain any trees on your property by removing dead or weak branches and trimming trees that are close enough to fall on the roof. Generally, you’re aiming for 6 feet of clearance.
Clean Your Gutters – Clean gutters are necessary to keep water flowing off of your roof properly and to prevent the pooling of rainwater. Standing water can seep into the shingles, soffit, and fascia and add weight that could cause them to tear away from your home. Blocked gutters also cause water to fall away from the downspouts and spill down the exterior wall. This may deteriorate wood framing, saturate wallboards and spur mold growth inside the walls. An overflowing gutter will also saturate the ground directly below, making it more likely to penetrate cracks and pores in a concrete foundation.
