With the devastation of Hurricane Harvey in Texas and, most recently, Hurricane Irma in Florida, it’s a good time to think about making sure your own home would be safe in the event of a hurricane hitting us here in Northern Virginia. While we are nowhere near as prone to devastating storms as states located on the Gulf of Mexico, that doesn’t mean that we are exempt from damaging catastrophes that could wreak havoc on your home.
High winds and heavy rain - even if they are not from a tropical storm or hurricane - can do a lot of damage to your roof and home if you are not diligent about upkeeping both. A major storm like a hurricane can pose a severe threat to your roof. It doesn’t take an expert to know that, if your roof goes, leaks can damage the contents of your home. You could even be dealing with a roof caving in, which is a danger to you and your loved ones. A roof leak need not even be major to cause damage to your home. According to R.M. Banning Roofing of Fairfax: “Water leaks can lead to the rotting and decaying of wooden structures in your home. Based on its size, and how long it persists before you seek repair, a water leak can wreak havoc on the foundation of your house, causing major structural damage that is both invasive and costly. In addition to rotting wood, leaks can also lead to mold,- another huge problem for many homes following big storms. Mold develops in damp or moist places (i.e. from the water leaks we just mentioned)! Its spores multiply very quickly, meaning that in relatively little time, your entire house could be infected with mold. Mold also poses many health risks, including allergic reactions and even allergy attacks.”
The only way to prevent a catastrophe like this from happening is to “hurricane proof” your roof while the weather is calm and serene. This can involve either repairing and fortifying an existing roof, or replacing an old one with a roof that is new, tough, and up to current hurricane standards. A new roof is undoubtedly expensive, costing tens of thousands of dollars. Considering the damage that hurricanes and other storms can do to the interior of your home, however, you can consider this a cost that pays for itself in prevention.
If a hurricane, tropical storm, or severe storm has already compromised your roof, it is critical that you contact a licensed roofing professional as soon as possible to assess the damage and make necessary repairs to ensure that you will be better prepared for the next bout of inclement weather that comes around.
